All hospitality venues in Belgium closed due to coronavirus. What about the Netherlands?
Although many people were initially still very level-headed about all the coronavirus news, panic is now beginning to set in for many. Hoarding has officially begun, a great many hospitality events have been cancelled and, following Italy’s example, all cafés and restaurants in Belgium have also been closed this evening until 3 April 2020 because of the coronavirus. What is the situation in the Netherlands?
Yesterday, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, together with Minister of Health Bruno Bruins and the RIVM, announced that all events with more than 100 people throughout the Netherlands would be cancelled. It immediately left a hole in my calendar. The Amsterdam Coffee Festival this weekend has been cancelled, as have the Groningen Beer Festival, The Independent Hotel Show, Amsterdam Cocktail Week, and I could go on for a while. Certain social activities, such as dining out at restaurants, are still allowed. According to Rutte, people must assess that risk for themselves.
Loss of hospitality revenue
Hotels and restaurants in the Netherlands do not have to close their doors yet, but they are facing an increasing number of cancellations. Research by Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN) into the coronavirus’s impact on the hospitality industry, conducted among nearly 4,000 hospitality entrepreneurs, shows that 55% are experiencing more cancellations of existing reservations than usual. In addition, they are experiencing an average 33% loss of revenue due to the advice and measures—and this was already the case before Rutte’s announcement, so the expectation is that this percentage will rise rapidly. Brabant and Amsterdam in particular have been hit hard.
No more waiting lists
Side effect: you can suddenly get into places that you previously could not get into, or could barely get into, because of the waiting lists. For example, two days ago Nick Bril of The Jane in Antwerp posted on Instagram that there was space in the restaurant—unfortunately followed a day later by a post saying that, by government order, The Jane had to close until 3 April…
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9m1r3zjNlI/
Above all, keep dining out
I cannot imagine a life without dining out and, as long as our hospitality industry is not forced to close its doors, I intend to continue doing so. Not only because I enjoy it immensely, but also to support our hospitality industry. I am not alone in this, either. Ron Blaauw is calling on everyone to visit their favourite restaurant (more often), especially now. ‘We can’t complain yet in our restaurants and, of course, we are seeing the number of covers decline, but they are still well filled. We are happy about that, but that is far from the case everywhere,’ he says on social media. ‘Go for a drink, or even if it’s only for a main course. Restaurants will welcome you with open arms and pamper you.’ An extra reason to eat at Ron Blaauw: because his Gastrobar will soon be celebrating its 7th anniversary, you pay only half with his festive 4=2, 6=3 or 8=4 offer* at Ron Gastrobar Oriëntal.
Spick and span
Besides Ron Blaauw, there are many other chefs and restaurateurs who would be happy to welcome you, with the message that the team feels in top shape and that any staff member who has doubts will stay at home. Stricter hygiene requirements are also being observed; door handles, toilets, sinks and the payment terminal are cleaned several times a day. In addition, the number of 100 covers is not exceeded and the tables have been arranged with sufficient distance between them.
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