Northern Netherlands carefully anticipating second wave

Even though they miss their freedom, gezelligheid and spontaneous fun, the inhabitants of the Northern Netherlands are careful when making their holiday plans for this summer. Only 14% of the Northern Dutch are going on holiday abroad this summer, compared to 60% in other years, and a mere 1% choose air travel as their mode of holiday transport. If the expected second wave hits the Northern Netherlands, 84% will support new lockdown measures. This has been revealed by research conducted by the UMCG and the University of Groningen in the second and third weeks of July.

Holiday plans

70% of all Northerners have changed their holiday plans in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Hardly any of the over 30,000 respondents will be travelling outside the EU or to countries that have been assigned ‘code orange’. Prof. Lude Franke, researcher at the UMCG, says: ‘I have noticed that people in the Northern Netherlands are careful and prefer to keep their distance, even aside from the coronavirus pandemic. This would suggest that the Northern mentality contributes toward adherence to the government recommendations.’

Regional lockdown

According to this week’s figures from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 78% of the Northern Netherlands residents expect the pandemic to last beyond the end of this year. 67% expect a second wave of coronavirus outbreaks. If this happens, 89% would prefer a lockdown, and many of these people would be in favour of a regional lockdown and different policies for elderly and vulnerable people. In the event of a second wave, 93% would agree to avoid bars, restaurants, festivals and football matches. The least popular measure appears to be home schooling, particularly among families with young children. The motivation to make a joint effort to keep the virus under control is also reflected in the vaccination willingness: only 7% of people indicate they do would not want to be vaccinated.

Long-term study in the Netherlands

The Lifelines coronavirus study is a joint initiative of the UMCG, the University of Groningen, the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health and Lifelines. It was partly made possible by the University of the North and is supported by the Ubbo Emmius Fund and NDC Media. Anyone who wants to make a financial contribution to this and other important coronavirus research can donate to the Crowdfunding tegen Corona initiative.