Starting Thursday, March 12, new measures to combat the spread of coronavirus will take effect across the Netherlands. Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Bruno Bruins outlined these steps—based on expert advice from the RIVM—during a national press conference.
Key measures include:
- For everyone in the Netherlands: Stay home if you have cold symptoms, cough, sore throat, or fever. Avoid social contact and only contact your doctor if symptoms worsen.
- Cancel all meetings and events with more than 100 people nationwide, including at public venues like museums, concert halls, theaters, sports clubs, and competitions.
- Work from home whenever possible or stagger working hours to reduce crowding.
- For vulnerable groups (elderly and those with weakened immunity): Avoid large gatherings and public transport. Limit visits to at-risk individuals overall.
- For healthcare workers and essential personnel: Continue working unless you have symptoms and fever—consult your employer if needed. Avoid all foreign travel.
- Colleges and universities should switch to online education instead of large in-person lectures.
- Primary schools, secondary schools, vocational education, and childcare centers remain open. Infections are low in these settings, which are less international. Children and youth face lower risks, and closures would have major social impacts with limited benefits against spread. Keep children with colds at home.
These measures apply nationwide—including North Brabant—until March 31.
