Corona update: more room outdoors, but gyms will have to be patient

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Following the restart of training sessions for children and young people last week, the government will also give adults more room to exercise from 11 May. Prime Minister Rutte announced this during the press conference of 6 May. Unfortunately, the message for gyms is mainly that they will have to be even more patient. For them, 1 September is the date for now, but the Prime Minister wants the sector to examine together with the government whether this moment can be brought forward.

The core recommendations remain in place. Keep 1.5 metres apart and wash your hands frequently. However, "stay at home" becomes "stay at home if you have symptoms." This marks the start of a new phase, giving everyone room to look ahead and make plans again. But caution now is better than regret later, Prime Minister Rutte stressed. "We can only unlock the Netherlands if everyone continues to comply with the rules."

The government presented a timetable in which the step-by-step easing of measures was linked to dates. These are conditional dates, however: each week it will be assessed whether the steps can actually be taken. If the number of infections clearly rises, the measures can be tightened again.

The most important measures for our sports:

From 11 May adults may exercise outdoors again, under the familiar conditions: one and a half metres apart, no contact (so no sparring, pad work or bouts) and shower at home.

For the reopening of gyms, the date of 1 September is being mentioned for the time being. Rutte added the footnote that the government is examining with the sector whether it is possible to bring this forward. The Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (Dutch Martial Arts Authority, VA) will of course actively pursue this, in consultation with gym owners and NOC*NSF (the Dutch Olympic Committee and Dutch Sports Federation). The VA is also actively lobbying in The Hague for a new round of support for sports entrepreneurs, because the need is extremely high and we are doing everything we can to make the urgency clear to the government.

For more information about the new developments: Rijksoverheid.nl (website of the Dutch central government)