As of today, Dutch law requires you to wear a face mask indoors in public spaces. And this in a country that, just a few months ago, refused to jump on the face mask bandwagon that hurtled around the rest of Europe. However, the Netherlands is now fully on board. At least in law, if not in public spirit.
The Face Mask Law
The new law requiring you to wear a face mask came into force today, 1 December 2020. Here’s the low down, everything you need to know about face masks in the Netherlands from today.
Where?
In indoor or covered public spaces.
This means you must wear a mask in places like the library, museums, theaters, restaurants and shops.
It also includes schools (but not primary schools), higher education buildings and universities. In the airport and on airplaces. On a coach. And during your appointments with contactberoepen: physiotherapist, hairdresser, dentist.
What? I hear you cry. A face mask for my appointment with the dentist? Whilst you are in the waiting room, your mask should be at one with your face. I guess you should remove it once you get inside the dentist’s surgery. It makes the dentistry process makkelijker.
Public Transport
Face masks have been obligatory on public transport for some months now, but there is now the additional requirement to wear your mask at the bus or tram stop, or whilst waiting on the station platform. If it’s up to the NS some of you will be wearing that face mask for quite a significant part of your day.
Where Don’t I Need a Face Mask?
Once you are seated in an assigned seat, you may take off your face mask in the case of school classrooms, the theater and cinema. But not on public transport. Should you need to get up (to fill up on popcorn or relieve your bladder, let’s say) then you need to pop your mask back on.
If Jan Smit cannot just wander into the indoor space you are in (and let’s face it, nobody needs that), then chances are you don’t need to wear a mask. Like your home, for example.
Why a Face Mask Law?
The obvious answer is that we are in the middle of a global pandemic. The answer on everyone’s lips is of course to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The less obvious answer is that the Dutch don’t like to be told what to do. So if the government says to a Dutchman;
“We advise you to wear a face mask”,
that Dutchman is likely to say;
“You can’t tell me what to do, ik doe het lekker niet”.
And they simply refuse to wear a face mask because the Dutch do not like an authoritarian approach.
Bringing in this face mask law means that the government is now telling every Dutch person exactly what they must do. It is no longer an advice. In short, the face mask policy of the Netherlands is now duidelijk.
Nobody can now say, Ik doe het lekker niet, because they no longer have a choice. It is now verplicht. Still with me?
What if I Don’t Wear a Face Mask?
Now there’s a question. Obviously it’s a rhetorical one because wearing a face mask is now law and so there’s no not wearing a face mask.
Unless…. there are of course valid exceptions from the face mask wearing obligation:
- those with a chronic illness or disability that prevents the putting on or wearing of a face mask,
- if putting on a face mask causes severe distress,
- those under the age of 13, because as we all know* children don’t really spread COVID-19 and they certainly don’t get particularly ill.
*yes, that’s sarcasm
Okay, but if you have no real reason not to wear a face mask and choose not to wear one in your local supermarket? There is a chance that a BOA (that’s buitengewoon opsporingsambtenaren and not snake related) or the police can fine you €95.
That’s if somebody who works at the theater/cinema/supermarket calls them, and they actually come running.
The problem is that the government, or more accurately Mr RIVM, Jaap van Dissel, has been telling the nation for months that face masks don’t help. And now they’re telling the Dutch you must wear one.
See the problem?
Post Comment