To pave the way for safely reopening cultural and entertainment venues, Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome welcomed 1,300 people for a controlled test event. This gathering is one of five experiments designed to identify effective measures for resuming these long-missed activities after more than a year of restrictions.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, health measures swiftly halted cultural and entertainment activities deemed non-essential. Venues like theaters, concert halls, sports arenas, and nightclubs have been hit hardest. In December 2020, a test concert in Barcelona, Spain, safely brought together more than 450 people to evaluate sanitary protocols.
As reported by The Guardian on March 7, 2021, Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome—the city's largest venue—hosted a four-hour clubbing night with 1,300 attendees enjoying sets from local DJs. Participants needed a negative COVID-19 test from within 48 hours; about a dozen positive cases were excluded.
Attendees were divided into six "bubbles" or groups, each following distinct rules. Five groups had 50 people, one had 250. Rules varied: one required constant masks and 3-meter distancing; another mandated masks with 1.5-meter separation. One group wore masks only when moving, while the freest had no distancing or mask requirements.
A unique group was encouraged to sing and shout to study saliva dispersion. All movements and contacts were tracked via beacons. Though results are pending, some rules were bent—many in masked groups removed them amid the excitement.
Upcoming events in the experiment include a 500-person business conference, a 1,200-person football match, and two outdoor festivals.
