De Motor van onze economie brult niet meer
door Rolf Bron
One day before King’s Day and two days before the end of the curfew the city re-emerges.
The sun comes out and cycling along the bank of the river Amstel I can see one long picnic spot stretching from the Hermitage to the Berlagebrug. People have waited so long for these get-togethers.
On King’s Day it is even pleasantly busy at first. People have organised their own parties, but the streets, parks, canals and squares become crowded and, subsequently, overcrowded. We like it. It isn’t permitted yet, but still, we do it. The city and the people can no longer be held back.
The next day the curfew is lifted. At 22.30 you discover there is a full-on rave going on in Sarphatipark with around 150 young people (while you are still not allowed to walk down the street with more than two people). The music is loud, people are screaming, hanging and running around. You can hear the hissing of balloons being filled and there is a strong smell of marijuana in the air. A rowdy atmosphere.
The following weeks I see more people on terraces. Even when it’s raining cats and dogs. There are long queues outside the large, cheap retail chains such as Action and Primark. People are still exercising outside, cultural life has yet to restart. We are thirsty for more.