Fewer people likely to follow coronavirus measures, Dutch survey reveals

A survey by the Dutch TV programme, EenVandaag, has revealed that one in six people in the Netherlands do not follow coronavirus measures, or only follow them to a limited extent. This is almost double the figure from April 2020.

Diminishing support in the Netherlands for coronavirus measures

The show surveyed more than 26.000 people in the Netherlands, asking whether or not they supported the new coronavirus measures that have been introduced by the Dutch government. 79 percent of respondents indicated that they would follow the new measures - in April, 92 percent said they stuck to the rules.

However, the survey found that 17 percent admitted to not following the rules at all (eight percent), or only barely following them (nine percent). This is more than double the number of people who admitted to not following the rules during the first wave in the spring (eight percent). 

Gijs Rademaker, an opinion poller for EenVandaag, said the results of the survey showed a sharp drop in the public’s support for national coronavirus measures. “I am not a virologist,” Rademaker says, “but if one in six people does not follow the rules, then something is really wrong. You now clearly see a different picture than with the first wave in March and April.”

Young people, business owners and FvD voters least supportive of rules

EenVandaag's survey also found that those who were most likely to ignore existing coronavirus measures were those who vote Forum for Democracy (FvD). 62 percent of FvD voters stated that they do not (completely) adhere to the rules. 

Furthermore, the results of the survey show that entrepreneurs or business owners and young people are most likely to ignore the coronavirus measures, or not stick to them fully. Rademaker says that in the spring, many felt the coronavirus measures were only temporary, and so were more willing to stick to the rules. 

Now, however, the public has realised that this pandemic could go on for a while, and so people are more likely to prioritise their own interests over the common interest. “Entrepreneurs, for example, want to prevent their company from going bankrupt, and parents do not like schools closing again. Young people want their social life to get going again” Rademaker observes.