Jack Mikkers, mayor of Den Bosch, is delighted with the relaxation announced on Tuesday evening. “The day you knew would come,” he said in the Brabant Nieuws broadcast. Still, he is cautious about carnival. “I understand that there is a need among Oeteldonkers and other carnival-goers in Brabant to celebrate a lot, but we have to keep thinking about what is happening.”
Health Minister Ernst Kuipers updated the Dutch people on Tuesday evening about the corona relaxation. The country will open again in three steps, with the advice to receive only four visitors at home from immediately. The home working advice will also be changed to: work at home half the time.
“The Netherlands is loose, we are open again, but that does not mean that we should no longer take the virus into account,” Mikkers said. “You still have to pay attention to what happens for your own health. But all those preconditions, all that have to be done, that’s gone. And we can live together again, and that’s what everyone really needs.”
A few weeks ago, all mayors wrote a letter to the cabinet, emphasizing not only to look at health care, but also at people’s social well-being. “Something had to be done,” said Mikkers.
Now that carnival is just around the corner, does that mean unlimited enjoyment? “Let’s do that in moderation,” says the mayor. “I understand that the need is present at Oeteldonkers and other carnival celebrators in Brabant, but we have to keep thinking about what is happening.”
“The large-scale carnival events have been canceled and we want to keep it that way,” he continues. We look at what is possible within the preconditions. But let’s be careful and don’t go all out right away.”
“We still have a week and a half and it is certain that carnival is different from other years,” said the mayor. “I’m sure it will be a big party, because we can meet again and enjoy ourselves as people from Brabant among each other. But let’s keep doing it with common sense.”