“People probably came to the center to shop in the context of Black Friday. For example, there is a line of sixty meters in front of a shop on Binnenwegplein. That cannot be the intention at this time. or, if you do not live in Rotterdam, shop locally “, the spokesperson said.
The RET is already calling via the sound systems near the tram and metro to stay away from the heart of Rotterdam as much as possible, also on Friday evening during late night shopping.
If the crowds do not decrease, the municipality has the powers to take measures. Closing stores is an extreme step, said the spokesman. City marine Arwin Siermans, for example, says that there is a lot of enforcement going on. “By means of the deployment of stewards, hosts, enforcement and police, we hope to encourage people to show good behavior. We try to prevent enforcement, but the moment bottlenecks arise somewhere, people are immediately sent to do so.”
‘Not at the same time’
Entrepreneurs in the center previously called for not all to come to the city on Black Friday.
“But”, says spokesman Dominique van Elsacker, “people have heard ‘Black Friday, Black Friday’ on radio and television in recent days. Everyone has also been inundated with e-mails with a similar meaning. Then I understand why it is busy. is going to be.”
According to Van Elsacker, the retailers are taking their measures, including through an admission policy. “It is not too busy in the shops and everything is monitored. And measures are also taken outside. If queues arise, people are asked to come back later.” City marine Siermans wants to emphasize that many shopkeepers do their best to make sure this day runs smoothly. “A lot of retailers are doing well. I think they have been taken by surprise by the crowds. There is a limit to what you can expect from a retailer.”
Spontaneous
Despite the appeal, shoppers have not yet realized what is going on. “I came here spontaneously and am not coming because of Black Friday,” says a woman who is in town for a week. “It is busier than usual, but I still manage to keep your distance.” Hearing the call does not mean that she is going home. “I’m going to one more store, the rest will come next week.”
Having to queue doesn’t stop shoppers. “I got in line neatly,” says a woman. “I’m not coming because of Black Friday, but I have to like the Zara.” She had expected it to be busy, but that didn’t stop her. “It’s annoying that I have to wait so long, but I don’t really have the fear of corona.”
Stewards in the busy areas also advise people to take a different route. Shopping evening lasts until 8:00 PM.
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