Netherlands Accelerates Lockdown Easing With Early Gym Openings

(Bloomberg) --

The Netherlands will further accelerate the easing of lockdown measures by bringing forward measures including the reopening of gyms and saunas to July 1, two months earlier than initially proposed.

The new time line is tentative and conditional on the situation developing favorably, Prime Minister Mark Rutte told reporters at a short press briefing in The Hague, following a weekly meeting of core ministers assessing the impact of the coronavirus in the country of 17 million.

Shares of fitness-chain Basic-Fit NV slumped on Tuesday on the expectations that Rutte’s government would stick to the initial Sept. 1 time line to reopen gyms. The Hoofddorp, Netherlands-based gym operator has lost 40% so far this year and closed at 20.20 euros on Wednesday, before Rutte’s announcement.

Rutte also addressed emerging questions in the country about the possibility of international holidays, following moves from popular Southern European destinations including Greece and Spain to start welcoming international tourists for the summer. Rutte stressed that the risks in holiday destinations can’t be higher than in the Netherlands.

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