Recruit Sales in the Netherlands Covid 19 Update Bulletin June 2020

COVID 19 Bulletin in the Netherlands, update

A report from our Senior Search Director - Sanne Höweler based and living in Amsterdam 

The Dutch approach to the Coronavirus is to control the virus to a maximum, not to overload the health system and to protect vulnerable people in society.

If the Netherlands succeed in this, step by step more space will be created in the one and a half meter society. In the Netherlands, it is called an ‘intelligent lockdown’ as people are advised to stay home, but they are still allowed to go shopping and to go outside if they like to.

The essence of the measures is to stay at home as much as possible. Work out of home, if possible and keep at least one and a half meters apart from others. Restaurants and hairdressers have been opened again. Restaurants are only allowed to have a maximum of 30 customers at the same time and the tables have to be 1,5 meters apart. A lot of office people are working out of their homes, but other people who cannot work at home, are still allowed to go to work. What you see is that most civil servants are working out of home, if possible with their job. Employees from commercial companies are more and more heading to the office.

As per the 11th of May, all primary schools have been open again. All children will follow half of their lessons at school and half of their lessons online. Up to the 11th of May, children follow their lessons online. As per the 8th of June, the children will go to school full time again. Secondary schools have started their lessons at school as per the 1st of June. It is only for a couple of hours per week, the rest is still online. Up to then, the children had online classes.

As per the 28th of April, IKEA, H&M and other brands have opened their stores again. On the 21st of April, when the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte informed the Dutch people that the schools will be opened again, it is getting more crowded in the streets, especially in shopping streets, beaches and parks.

Public transport should only be taken for essential use. As per the 1st of June, all travellers have to wear non-medical mouth masks in public transport.

People are allowed to travel in Europe as per the 15th of June. Only travelling to Great Britain and Sweden is highly advised not to. In some European countries, the Dutch are not welcome yet, for example, Denmark.

Business impact

The Dutch government has put many initiatives in place to support the companies and other businesses in the Netherlands.

For the first months, all companies can get support when they lose at least 20% of their turnover. Self-employed people can get temporary social benefits created for the corona crisis. For now, all initiatives and support are available up to the 1st of June.

After this date, there are still a lot of support initiatives for companies and businesses in the Netherlands. Especially larger companies get more help to protect their jobs. Smaller companies and self-employed people can have some support, but the new support initiatives have become more strict for them.

At the moment the total cases per day of COVID 19 seem to decline in the Netherlands. Fingers crossed that this will continue.

Compiled by SA in June 2020.

*Please note the information contained herein is an aggregate of news stories, by commentators widely available - readers should seek independent verification, and this in no way represents the views or opinions of Standley Associates.

We will continue to check the news reports and will provide monthly summaries of the trends.

Do you have plans to start recruiting in the Netherlands, Nordics or wider Europe? 

Get in touch with Sanne Höweler our Executive Search Director in the Netherlands and Nordics using the form below or simply click this link