Voorschoten Sends Urgent Letter to the Cabinet: 'Reopen Non-Essential Sectors as Soon as Possible'

The municipality of Voorschoten is urgently requesting that the government allow shopping in the non-essential sector to resume “as soon as possible.” If this does not happen, the municipality fears “significant negative emotional and social consequences for everyone.”

The Municipal Executive fears that businesses will be forced to close or that business owners will face both business and personal bankruptcy. “With all the consequences that entails,” they write in the letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

According to the municipality, many business owners are not eligible for support measures and are suffering from the unfair perception that they are being generously compensated.

"Negative emotional and social effects for everyone"

Voorschoten has stated that it is “seriously concerned about the consequences of this yet another lockdown”; about the impact on business owners and the future of the village shopping districts. The municipality fears “a less attractive selection of stores, a decline in the quality of shopping districts due to vacancies, and significant negative emotional and social effects for everyone.”

In the short term, the municipality of Voorschoten advocates for “safe shopping in all stores, as was previously permitted and went well.” In the long term, according to the municipality, a “sustainable approach” is needed. “That requires a new concept, one that allows residents and business owners to move forward in the safest and most socially responsible way possible,” according to the Municipal Executive.