That’s great news: cafés in Belgium can stay open as usual again, and nightlife is reopening too

Well, well, now that’s what you call good news! As of today, a large number of Belgium’s coronavirus measures are being lifted. You can once again linger at the bar for as long as you did before corona, because cafés can stay open as long as they used to—and yes, nightlife is coming out of lockdown too. What a celebration!

In the Netherlands, relaxations are scheduled to begin on September 20, but our southern neighbors can already experience what life was more or less like before the pandemic. The measures will remain in place in Brussels for a little while longer, but everywhere else in the country, the following now applies:

Even buffets are allowed again

• Indoor parties and receptions may go ahead without restrictions.
• Dancing and buffets are also allowed. Officially, dancing is only permitted at a private party, but pay attention here: with an invitation sent by a café owner, an evening out dancing can already be called that too. (No, this isn’t a Belgian joke.) After October 1, dance halls, discos and nightclubs may open without that ‘restriction’.
• The obligation to wear a face mask does remain in place when moving around inside a hospitality venue—which I don’t really understand, by the way. Especially since:
• Indoor events with fewer than 200 spectators and outdoor events with fewer than 400 spectators may go ahead without restrictions.
• Indoor events with more than 200 spectators or outdoor events with more than 400 spectators must use the ‘Covid Safe Ticket’, comparable to our CoronaCheck app. In that case, the face-mask and social-distancing requirements also lapse. From October 1, this threshold will be raised to events with 500 spectators indoors and 750 spectators outdoors.
• In Flanders, restaurants and coffee bars are operating at full capacity again as of today. In Brussels, you can enjoy lunch at a table with 7 colleagues. There must also still be 1.5 meters of distance between 2 groups of diners.

What about the Netherlands again?

From Monday, September 20, the 1.5-meter social-distancing rule will disappear, assigned seating will no longer be required, and the mandatory midnight closing time will also be scrapped. The hospitality industry will, however, have to work with coronavirus entry passes for more than 75 guests.

These relaxations will only take effect if hospital admissions and the vaccination rate allow it. On September 17, the cabinet will announce more news. Nightlife hospitality venues will remain closed until November 1.

Ghent!

And to celebrate this joyful Belgian fact, I have a great tip for you: go for a weekend in Ghent! It’s a wonderful, super-relaxed city where you can eat and drink incredibly well.

Source: Misset Horeca

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