The national Safety Council informed the National Student Union (LSVb) in writing that the ban on groups of more than two people only applies to public spaces. “Just like anyone else, students who gather in public spaces in groups of three or more people are obliged to keep a distance of 1.5 meters.”

In the emergency decrees for public spaces, the exception for people who live ‘in the same household’ was kept limited on purpose, writes chairman of the Safety Council Hubert Bruls.

For those who want to know the ins and outs: only “married couples who are not separated, registered partners or other life companions and parents, grandparents and children, assuming that they reside at the same address” are still allowed to go out into the street arm in arm. The government wants to prevent people living together in living groups, care- or shelter homes and student houses from not having to obey the 1.5 meters rule.

Eindhoven

Architecture, Building and Planning student and chairman of the Brabant branch of the Christian Democratic Youth Appeal (CDJA), Viktor van ‘t Klooster, asked the municipality of Eindhoven to provide clarity on this issue last week already. “Unfortunately, mayor Jorritsma hasn’t officially replied yet. The municipalities of other Dutch student towns have already replied, so we expect that Eindhoven will follow. Of course, it’s regrettable that the municipality waited so long to do so when there was uncertainty about the rules. Following our action, the Eindhovens Dagblad posed our questions to the Safety region, and fortunately they have indicated that the rules won’t be upheld when residents convene in common areas or gardens.”

Understanding

In any case, the chairman is very content that the national Safety Council’s letter provides clarity. “The exception for households clearly doesn’t apply to students. The letter indicates that they deliberately chose not to make an exception for student houses, which means that students have to keep a distance in public spaces.” Van ‘t Klooster wonders how much sense that makes when it’s impossible for students to keep distance inside a house, but he understands the reasoning behind the decision.

“This ‘deliberate’ choice was made so that students don’t create the image that people don’t obey the rules outdoors. That helps the enforcement of the rules. I understand that. That’s is why I would like to call on every student house to obey the rules. These are difficult times in which there are many deaths to mourn, and young people will also suffer much from this virus. Pay attention to each other, keep a safe distance!”

Although fines were handed out in Amstelveen, Van ‘t Klooster hasn’t heard of any students in Brabant who were fined. “Young people in Eindhoven have been fined already, but so far no students from the same household.” Chairwoman Alex Tess Rutten of Dutch National Student Union LSVb expects that earlier imposed fines will be remitted, and advices students not to pay in any case. “We as LSVb will support anyone who needs to appeal anyway.”