Amsterdam council has agreed to give all 450 street wardens in the city a €300 bonus this year, following the cabinet’s refusal to do so.

Earlier this week it emerged that police officers are to be given a €300 bonus because of their extra efforts made during the coronavirus pandemic. That news led street warden unions to demand a similar payout, arguing that their members are often in the front line.

Although the government has not yet said no, following requests from Labour local councillors, Amsterdam’s finance chief has decided to give the city’s wardens a bonus as well. However, as yet it is unclear where the cash-strapped council will find the money, the Parool said.

Meanwhile, police and street warden unions have said that the new limit on groups outdoors which will operate for the next two weeks will not be strongly enforced.

The cabinet has cut the maximum number of people who can form a group from four to two until later this month.

However, officials will not clamp down hard on people who break the rule unless they are demonstrating antisocial behaviour, according to police union spokesman Jan Struijs.