DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
Dutch coronavirus lockdown likely to be extended by two weeks
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Dutch coronavirus lockdown likely to be extended by two weeks

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Dutch government allocates millions to increase healthcare salariesDutch government allocates millions to increase healthcare salaries
140.000 operations postponed and hundreds more dead due to coronavirus140.000 operations postponed and hundreds more dead due to coronavirus
The Netherlands drank and smoked less throughout coronavirusThe Netherlands drank and smoked less throughout coronavirus
Thousands of healthcare workers didn’t receive coronavirus bonusThousands of healthcare workers didn’t receive coronavirus bonus
Reactions to the three-week lockdown extensionReactions to the three-week lockdown extension
Coronavirus press conference: Lockdown extended by three weeksCoronavirus press conference: Lockdown extended by three weeks
Weekly coronavirus update: 49.398 new cases, 743 deathsWeekly coronavirus update: 49.398 new cases, 743 deaths
Dutch government set to extend coronavirus lockdown by three weeksDutch government set to extend coronavirus lockdown by three weeks
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Jan 7, 2021
Victoria Séveno
Victoria grew up in Amsterdam, before moving to the UK to study English and Related Literature at the University of York and completing her NCTJ course at the Press Association in London. She has a love for all things movies, animals, and food. Read more

According to new reports from The Hague, the coronavirus lockdown currently in place in the Netherlands is likely to be extended by at least two weeks. 

The coronavirus situation in the Netherlands

In the weekly report published on January 5, the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) stated that, while the number of coronavirus infections had decreased, the percentage of positive tests remained high and the hard lockdown that came into effect before Christmas was yet to provide convincing results. 

On Thursday, the RIVM also published an update on the spread of the new coronavirus strain in the Netherlands, initially discovered in the UK and now thought to have originated in South Africa. According to their report, the number of people diagnosed with this new, supposedly highly contagious strain has risen from 11 on December 29 to approximately 50. 

The new strain seems to mainly be spreading in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, with at least 30 positive tests being linked to an outbreak at a primary school in Rotterdam. 

Rutte likely to extend the lockdown

Following the RIVM’s report this week, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was not optimistic about being able to lift any of the coronavirus restrictions currently in place in the Netherlands, saying: “If you look at the infection figures now, it is not very hopeful about what can be done after January 19.” However, on Tuesday he did say it was still too early to judge, and that he was awaiting advice from the Outbreak Management Team (OMT). 

Only a few days later though, sources in The Hague have revealed to the NOS that the coronavirus lockdown is likely to be extended by at least two weeks. According to the NOS, cabinet ministers feel that the number of infections is still too high and that a relaxation of the measures would not be sensible. 

On Thursday, Rutte stated that the reopening of schools in the Netherlands was a top priority, but he could not promise that this would be possible. If the rumours of an extended lockdown are true, it will mean schools, shops, restaurants, museums, cinemas, theatres, zoos, and theme parks will have to remain closed until at least early February. 

Experts support the extension

Director of the RIVM, Jaap van Dissel has already stated that it wouldn’t be possible to relax measures until mid-February. However, many people note the high number of infections reported every day, and wonder whether the current lockdown is even working - and if it isn’t, what is the point in extending it?

Paediatrician epidemiologist at UMC Utrecht, Patricia Bruijning, told Het Parool: “The lockdown is working, but not well enough - when the strict lockdown started, the curve with the number of daily infections rose steeply. It is now running down, although not as quickly as hoped. If you cancel the measures, the curve will go up steeply again.”

The OMT is expected to issue their advice for the cabinet on Friday, with Rutte and Health Minister Hugo De Jonge scheduled to host the first coronavirus press conference of 2021 on January 12. This is when they will announce whether the lockdown is being extended, and for how long.

By Victoria Séveno