Beach bars are defiant: we’re opening on Thursday
The reopening of the hospitality industry on Monday, June 1, is too long to wait for beach bar owners in The Hague and Scheveningen. ‘We’re opening our doors again on Thursday. A fine doesn’t matter if we’re going bankrupt anyway.’
The first warm days at the end of March, the beautiful weather in April and the glorious Easter weekend: beach bar owners probably had to watch it all through gritted teeth. The upcoming reopening of the hospitality industry on Monday, June 1, is therefore actually too late for them. They have sent a letter to the municipality of The Hague to say that they will already open their doors on Thursday, May 21 — Ascension Day.
Then let there be fines
This means they risk being fined by enforcement officers, but so be it, says André Triep, spokesperson for the beach operators’ association, to Omroep West. ‘We’re not receiving any support from the government either. If we’re going bankrupt anyway, a fine won’t make much difference.’ The owners say that in other municipalities, for example Hoek van Holland, beach bars are allowed to operate, albeit in an adapted form, whereas the municipality of The Hague is very strict.
No packed terraces
The beach bars between Kijkduin and Scheveningen do not want to immediately return to full capacity. They plan to open the toilets to visitors, offer food and drinks for takeaway and rent out some of the beach beds. This way, there is no risk of packed terraces, while the entrepreneurs can still take advantage of the beautiful weather that has been forecast.
Letter received
The municipality of The Hague is keeping its cards close to its chest. It has received the letter, but is not yet saying what it will do. It is waiting to hear what the cabinet announces about easing the measures. ‘After that, the municipality will announce how the easing will be implemented within The Hague and Scheveningen,’ a municipal spokesperson says.
