rivm corona sneltest festival evenementen nederland hardstyle

Dutch Ministry is finally looking at a plan for the events industry

By Wouter de Vink 08 October 2020

After months of silence, it now finally seems that the cabinet wants to do something for the events sector in The Netherlands. The intention is to be able to organize bigger events again in a safe and responsible manner, and that was about time.

READ: EDC Europe brings huge harder styles line-up to Portugal

Yesterday, the Dutch national government reported that the events sector presented a plan to the cabinet. Since the world we all love has been hit hard by the corona virus, it is only natural that many employees and enthusiasts are eager to (finally) do something on a large scale again.

“How are we going to eventually break through that five feet together?”

That is why the sector started Fieldlab Events, to gather knowledge in the field of risk management at events and apply it at parties. The plan was discussed yesterday with State Secretary Mona Keijzer, Minister van Engelshoven (Education, Culture and Science), Minister van Ark (Medical Care and Sports) and Minister Grapperhaus (Justice and Security). RIVM – which is the Dutch National Institute for Public Health – is now going to see whether the plan is feasible. “The most important thing is that the current measures are necessary to fight the coronavirus”, says a spokesman for State Secretary Mona Keijzer to Dutch newspaper AD. “The current figures show that this remains really necessary.”

In other countries such as China, events are currently being held again, using a rapid test or a corona app. For example, visitors are checked upon arrival and are told within 15 minutes whether they are infected. If this is not the case, then you can finally party again. The rapid test is also being experimented with at the Dutch Eredivisie matches from football club Feyenoord. “Make us part of the solution and not of the problem”, Jan de Jong (director of the Eredivisie CV) told to newspaper De Volkskrant. “How are we going to eventually break through that five feet together?”

Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment is looking for a plan for the festival industry, after months of silence

Johan Dortmans of the event collective Front of House (which includes Harmony of Hardcore and Intents Festival) also envisions the use of the rapid test. He explains to Omroep Brabant that a festival site has enough space for a test street: with a buffer zone for tests on the left, and a waiting room for your results on the right. “If it is good to go, you will receive a piece of paper and you can enter the festival grounds.”

Nevertheless, Dortmans still keeps a close eye on things. “The news gave a glimpse of hope, but basically we are still far from there. I am afraid that the government will introduce all kinds of additional measures, so that it is still not profitable to organize a festival. There are already countries where festivals are going on, for example in China. It can offer perspective, but the problem is not solved yet.”

In any case, it is something again, after the events world has been left out for months. No large-scale events have been held since March.