No mass Kings Day or Liberation Day events again this year, safety chiefs say

There will be no mass Kings Day and Liberation Day celebrations this year, even if the coronavirus regulations are relaxed in time, according to regional safety board chiefs.

The 25 mayors who make up the safety board met justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus and health minister Hugo de Jonge on Monday to discuss the festivities and give clarity to event organisers.

Given the current lockdown, organising large events on April 27, to celebrate the king’s birthday, or May 5 to mark the end of the Nazi occupation, is not on the cards, says safety board chairman and Nijmegen mayor Hubert Bruls.

‘A big event takes a lot of organising and we don’t yet know if a large public gathering will be possible at the end of April or beginning of May,’ he said. ‘So, we felt it was right to give clarity now, even if we are a lot freer by then.’

The mayors now say that local authorities should not give any permits for large events until either June or July 1. ‘That is a long way off,’ Bruls said. ‘If vaccinations are well under way by then, then society can start opening up again. You cannot continue to ban everything, People need perspective.’

The mayors’ position will be included in cabinet discussions ahead of next week’s review of the coronavirus situation.