Bars, restaurants and cafes in Amsterdam will be allowed to make use of larger outdoor terraces again this summer so that customers and workers can use the space safely and easily maintain their distance from one another.
Municipalities across the Netherlands granted businesses the permission to extend their terrace permits as a result of the coronavirus crisis and to allow for enough space to maintain 1,5-metres between tables and customers.
Last autumn, the municipalities of Amsterdam and The Hague already announced that extended outdoor terraces would be able to stay in place until spring 2021, but as catering establishments have been closed since October, they haven’t been able to make use of the extension.
Now, the municipality of Amsterdam has announced that larger terraces will be able to remain in place past the current end date of March 1 all through the summer until October 1. All permits already submitted will be automatically renewed. Last summer, over 1.200 businesses took advantage of the freedom to extended their terraces.
The municipality has, however, announced some changes to the terrace regulations after noticing that larger terraces had a negative impact on the amount of public space available. The municipality can now withdraw permits for a larger terrace “after careful consideration” if it feels it is necessary to do so in the name of public safety and health.