DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

23 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Testing for access ‘kiss of death’ for museums, theatres, cinemas

May 11, 2021
Credit: Alex Nicholls-Lee
Credit: Alex Nicholls-Lee

Museum and theatre directors have made a public appeal to MPs to reconsider their support for new legislation which will introduce testing to allow people to visit museums, theatres and cinemas, and to accept the protocols already in place instead.

The legislation will be subject to a vote on Tuesday and will then have to be approved by the senate. Many MPs have already said they would back testing, but also questioned cost and privacy issues.

The cultural sector views the new legislation, which may be extended if coronavirus cases increase, as ‘yet another impediment to cultural visits’.  Ann de Meester of the Frans Halsmuseum and National Dutch ballet & opera chief Stijn Schoonderwoerd are among those signing the open letter to Dutch papers NRC and Parool.

‘The new legislation may be a solution for festivals and mass events such as sports games where many people are crammed together but it is the kiss of death for museums, theatres, concert halls and cinemas,’ the letter reads.

Testing for access is a step too far for many and will only worsen the financial position of many venues, they say. This will necessitate more financial support once the legislation is passed, the signatories warned, which will come on top of the €1bn the state-funded testing system will cost.

It is ‘astounding’ that the protocols in place, which has proven to be safe have not been taken into account by health minister Hugo de Jonge, they said. ‘The months during which museums, theatres and cinemas were open did not lead to extra outbreaks of coronavirus infections, showing it could be done safely, without extra legislation or investment,’ the letter read.

Pilot events in April also showed that there is widespread reluctance to have a test before an outing. Just 16,000 people bought a museum ticket, but there were 37,000 available.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Uncategorized
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Troubled Vitesse Arnhem faces losing its pro licence again
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
Weekend brings showers and cooler weather, sun still possible
Many "new" homes on Funda were already on the market for months
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now