Dutch Voters Go to Polls in Virus-Dominated Election

Dutch voters go to the polls on Wednesday (17 March) for the last day of a three-day parliamentary election, in which Prime Minister Mark Rutte is aiming for a fourth term in office.

Here are five things to know about Covid-19 in the Netherlands, which has dominated the election campaign:

Current situation

The Netherlands, which by Tuesday had recorded more than 1.1 million coronavirus infections and more than 16,000 deaths, is currently under its most stringent health measures since the first restrictions started almost exactly a year ago.

There is a 9:00 pm to 4:30 am curfew in place and although schools partially reopened in recent weeks, restaurants and bars remain closed.

Non-essential stores remain shuttered but it is possible to shop by appointment or collection. The infamous Dutch coffee shops are allowed to sell takeaway cannabis, but consumption on the premises is prohibited.

Initial response: 'intelligent lockdown'

Dutch authorities initially opted for what Rutte called an "intelligent lockdown" that was significantly more relaxed than neighbouring countries, hoping for collective immunity.

For a long time, the Netherlands also remained one of the few European countries not to impose the compulsory wearing of a face mask, but which is now the law for enclosed public spaces.

But the government gradually tightened the screws since September to fight a second wave at the onset of the winter months.

Opposition

The introduction of the controversial curfew in late January, the first since Nazi occupation in World War II, set off several nights of riots across the country, described as the worst in 40 years.

Regular protests...

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