About one hundred and fifty catering entrepreneurs and their staff had a demonstrative drink on the Stadhuisplein in Eindhoven last night. The action started at midnight and was a protest against the corona rules.
Because the infection figures have risen sharply, the catering industry has been closed at midnight since 10 July. After that moment, employees of the municipality of Eindhoven are no longer allowed to have a nightcap. The municipality threatened to close two catering establishments for two weeks, because the staff there had a drink on a (closed) terrace last week.
The judge reversed that measure in summary proceedings. But the Eindhoven catering entrepreneurs are angry and demonstratively dragged their patio chairs and tables to the square in front of the town hall last night. “We want to show with this action that we can have a drink if we have worked hard in the catering industry,” said Roland van de Gevel of the Belgian Beer Café at Broadcasting Brabant. “If we are not allowed to have a drink on our own land, we will do this at Mayor Jorritsma’s door,” adds his colleague Youri de Bok.
The action ended after 45 minutes. Officers decided to clear the square after youths loitering confronted the police. Three people were arrested. The catering entrepreneurs had already gone home in peace.
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