City Offers Support to Businesses Due to COVID-19 Measures

The easing of restrictions as of January 14 has opened up new possibilities for many business owners. The City Council is pleased that stores are once again allowed to stay open until 5:00 p.m. and that contact professions are permitted again, even though this package of measures as a whole is not yet the final step we’re all waiting for. For the hospitality, cultural, and events sectors, the easing of restrictions does not yet offer the relief that was hoped for. The City Council calls this a bitter pill to swallow. “The blows to these sectors have been particularly severe, and business owners are often struggling to stay afloat.” The municipality has therefore explored ways in which it can still provide some support to these business owners.

Restaurant and bar owners are struggling with the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 measures. To compensate, they were given the opportunity over the past year to create a patio or expand an existing one. These business owners may continue to use this COVID-19 terrace or terrace expansion until November 1, 2022. In this way, the municipality is giving the hospitality industry more time to welcome guests at a safe distance once it is permitted again. No rent was charged for the outdoor seating areas in 2021; this policy will also apply in 2022, and business owners do not need to apply for a permit for this.

COVID-19 Budget

Another initiative is that the municipal executive is making a total of €25,000 available from the COVID-19 budget for innovative and startup entrepreneurs, as well as for entrepreneurs organizing a joint initiative. This budget is available to all entrepreneurs in Voorschoten.

Be loyal, buy local!

The Municipal Executive realizes that these measures can only alleviate a small part of the hardship faced by business owners. It therefore makes an urgent appeal to all residents of Voorschoten: “We hope that our business owners will soon be able to reopen their doors without restrictions. In Voorschoten, we have a wide and varied selection of restaurants, bars, and shops that we can be proud of and want to preserve for as long as possible. So please support Voorschoten’s business community in the broadest sense. Let’s look out for one another during these difficult times and, above all, shop at local businesses, including restaurants and bars.”