The municipality of Rotterdam has announced that it is ‘limiting’ traffic in the Karel Doormanstraat from Westblaak, and traffic controllers have also been deployed. Parking garages are full. “Don’t come to the city anymore and avoid crowds,” emphasizes the municipality. According to a reporter, people have started shopping ‘en masse’.
“It’s very busy,” a passer-by agrees. “Shopping for Christmas shopping,” he says with a shrug. “That hard lockdown will probably come, so you have to bring in what is still possible.” He has scored one underpants himself. “We couldn’t find any more,” he says with a laugh.
‘Last shopping moment of the year’
It is actually no longer fun to shop with this crowds. “Everyone is in the way, it’s pushing in the store. You can’t look properly, it’s actually not fun anymore. But yes,” he says, shrugging his shoulders again, “I think it’s the last shopping moment of the year. When everything closes, we will definitely have to order online again. Then we have a problem.” He is not worried about corona, not even in the busy city center. “I think we’re going a little overboard.”
Retailers in Rotterdam had also expected crowds, said representative Dominique van Elsacker earlier in the day. Measures had also already been taken, such as pedestrian flows and door policy at shops. Several businesses also opened earlier, such as fashion and accessory store De Nimes. There have been long lines at some shops since 10:45 a.m. on Saturday morning: people were let in in doses at the Bijenkorf.
Busy in Dordt
It is also busy in Dordrecht. Cars are waiting to enter the city center and several parking garages are almost full. Buses that have to pass through the city center are delayed due to the high traffic, transporter Qbuzz reports. The photos show that there is a lot of people on their feet.
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