Dutch Museums Reopen As Salons, Gyms In Protest Of Covid Restrictions

On Wednesday, museums and theaters in the Netherlands temporarily turned themselves into salons and gyms in protest over continued coronavirus restrictions on the arts sector. All non-essential businesses in the country have been closed since late December.

Last week, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte reduced restrictions on some non-essential businesses, such as hairdressers, and gyms, but said that museums, cinemas, and other entertainment venues would remain closed. In response, dozens of arts organizations launched a protest dubbed “Theater Hairdresser,” in which some would reopen their doors as gyms and salons. The van Gogh Museum offered haircuts, beard trims, and Van Gogh–inspired nail art, while some chose aerobics at the Frans Hals Museum.

“With this we draw attention to the dire situation in the cultural sector and the need to reopen the museums as soon as possible. We know it’s safe and we like to show it to everyone,” the organizers’ website said.

Limited admission to the event was free, but the barbers and nail artists were paid for their services. At some venues, Dutch professional performers provided entertainment. People receiving haircuts at Amsterdam’s royal concert hall, for example, were serenaded by classical music.

In the Netherlands, data published by the government, says daily infections was nearly 243,000 new virus cases documented over the past week, however, intensive care admissions and fatalities are falling. Thousands of demonstrators packed into Amsterdam’s streets earlier this month in protest of the lockdown measures.