The catering association in Eindhoven is taking extra measures in the Stratumseind nightlife street. For example, the cafes and restaurants want to prevent that, just like in Amsterdam, they are not allowed to admit guests after midnight.
“It’s not going well here,” says Ruud Bakker of Koninklijke Horeca Eindhoven Broadcasting Brabant. “The problem is that a lot of young people come here and they are done with all the rules. In addition, it is a narrow street. We really have to avoid chasing the Randstad and that is why we have to enforce the one and a half meters and sit down.”
According to café owner Bram Merkelbach, it would be “a small disaster” if the closing time is brought forward four hours. “We have everything under control inside and on the terrace, but during peak hours everyone is packed together in a row. It just looks too busy so something has to be done.”
Walk on and leave
Starting this weekend, stewards will point out the rules to everyone. “Those stewards can enforce much stricter,” Merkelbach says. “They really have to say: keep going and leave.”
There will also be extra camera surveillance. The café owners have been asked not to hang screens outside during football. “Normally there are screens here,” Merkelbach said. “But that is not possible now. Then everyone is on the street looking at the screens. Now only football is up inside.”
Entrance gates at the start
The catering association is also considering installing gates at the beginning of Stratumseind, which according to Eindhoven residents is the longest nightlife street in the Netherlands. Merkelbach: “You have to think of entrance gates like on King’s Day. If there is a certain number of people per square meter, the gates will close and we close the street.”
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