Easing of rules for gyms if the number of hospital admissions continues to fall

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From 19 May, gyms may receive athletes indoors and adults may train outdoors in groups. The government had made a continued fall in the number of hospital admissions a condition for easing the rules. A decision has now been taken and the new regime takes effect on Thursday 19 May.

Indoor sports locations, including martial arts gyms, will reopen under conditions. There is a maximum of 30 people per room and everyone keeps 1.5 metres apart. Training takes place individually or with a maximum of 2 people and a trainer, at a distance of 1.5 metres. Larger group classes are not permitted, unless they involve children and young people up to and including 17 years of age.

Changing rooms remain closed. Booking in advance and a health check are mandatory. Indoors, a face mask must be worn, but it may be removed while exercising.

Adults may also exercise outdoors in groups again, but conditions apply. This is allowed with a maximum of 30 people and everyone keeps 1.5 metres apart. Young people up to and including 26 years of age were already allowed to do more when it comes to outdoor sport. They may exercise together outdoors without keeping 1.5 metres apart.

A decrease in hospital admissions was a condition for these relaxations. Because the decrease has indeed continued, the government can now actually take this step.

The VA continues to work towards the further reopening of gyms, because sport is not part of the problem, but part of the solution. In doing so, the VA works closely with other sports federations and with, among others, NOC*NSF (the Dutch Olympic Committee and Dutch Sports Federation), the fitness sector and the Platform Ondernemende Sportaanbieders (platform for entrepreneurial sports providers). The next step in easing the rules is planned for mid-June, Prime Minister Rutte and Minister De Jonge said on Tuesday during their press conference.

The sport-specific training protocol for martial arts gyms will be amended as soon as sports umbrella organisation NOC*NSF has translated the easing of the rules into a new sports protocol, in consultation with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (ministerie van VWS).