Netherlands imposes nationwide lockdown through Christmas

By Callie Patteson

Published December 16, 2020 2:05am ET

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Netherlands imposes nationwide lockdown through Christmas — Two men and a child cross a street as a sign prohibiting the use of marijuana in a designated area, top, is seen in Amsterdam, Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012. Amsterdamâs mayor Eeberhard van der Laan said Wednesday he would formally ban students from smoking marijuana at school as of Jan. 1, 2013, making the the Dutch capital the first city in the Netherlands to do so. Under the âtoleranceâ principle, marijuana is technically illegal here, but police canât prosecute people for possession of small amounts. Thatâs the loophole that made possible Amsterdamâs famed âcoffee shopsâ, cafes where marijuana is sold openly. But it has also had the unwanted side effect that Dutch children are frequently exposed to the drug in public areas. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) | PETER DEJONG

The Netherlands imposed a five-week national lockdown this week, closing schools, nonessential businesses, museums, and gyms until mid-January as cases of the coronavirus continue to rise.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the strict measures on Monday during a televised address, saying, “We have to bite through this very sour apple before things get better,” according to the Associated Press.

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Christmas COVID-19 Europe Holidays Netherlands