Minor changes to the current coronavirus regulations come into effect on Tuesday, following the government announcement of last week.

Children up to the age of 12 can now take swimming lessons at indoor pools again, with one eye on safety during the summer holidays.

In addition, adults over the age of 26 are allowed to take part in sport with up to three other people outdoors, as long as they keep 1.5 metres apart. Indoor sports centres and gyms remain closed.

Non food shops, which have been allowed to serve customers by appointment for the past three weeks, will be able to accept more clients, if they are big enough.

The change means that shops with floor space of less than 50 square metres will be able to have two customers, while those with more will be able to book an appointment for one customer per 25 square meters, up to a maximum of 50.

The appointment must have been made at least four hours ahead of the visit and each appointment must be for at least 10 minutes.

Travel

The government has extended its recommendation not to travel abroad unless it is an essential journey until mid April but from Tuesday the rules for travelling to the Netherlands have been relaxed slightly.

Although travel to the Netherlands from outside the EU is current frowned upon, the government has agreed that more people should be exempt from the travel ban.

This means business travellers, students, highly-skilled migrants, professionals from the cultural and creative sectors and people in long-distance romantic relationships may now travel to the Netherlands from outside the EU.

All travellers to the Netherlands must still be able to show two negative tests if they travel by plane or boat, a PCT test that is no older than 72 hours, and fast antibody test.

Future plans

If infection rates come down, the government hopes to reopen cafe terraces for a maximum of 50 people and allow colleges and universities to restart physical lessons next month.

The current one visitor per 24 hour regulation will also be expanded to two, and shops will have fewer restrictions.

The next press conference will be held on March 23.