Effective 11 May - Most people in contact-based roles will be allowed to perform their jobs again. This includes driving instructors, medical and paramedical professionals (dieticians, massage therapists, occupational therapists, prosthodontists, etc.), hair and beauty professionals (hairdressers, beauticians, pedicurists, etc.) and alternative medicine practitioners (acupuncturists, homeopaths, etc.).

Effective 1 June - trains, trams, etc. You are advised to wear a non-medical face mask on public transport. From 1 June this will be compulsory.
Also cafés and restaurants may reopen outdoor seating areas as long as people can stay 1.5 metres apart;

Effective 1 July - The maximum number of visitors to cinemas, restaurants, cafés and cultural institutions can hopefully be increased to 100.

Effective 1 September, the sex workers can start providing services again. More details - If the virus remains under control, gyms, saunas, health spas, club canteens, cannabis cafés, casinos and sex establishments will reopen. People of all ages will be allowed to take part in contact sports and indoor sports. Sports events, including professional football matches, can take place without spectators.

More details here: https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/05/d ... transport/

I think it's way too early to tell whether this plan will actually work out as described. There's no telling what the situation will be like by September. That said, I have more confidence in the Dutch than I have in most countries, so this plan does give me some hope. I feel so lucky right now to be living here; so many countries - including the one I'm originally from - seem to be handling this so poorly.

thanks alot for this info. hmm what about "smart shops"? is that the same as "cannabis cafés".

I could be wrong, but I don't think smart shops were ever required to close, although some may have done so voluntarily. This is because smart shops would be classed as retail, so they would be in the same classification as stores like C&A or HEMA, which have also been allowed to stay open in the Netherlands (we have not been restricted to only "essential retail" like in some countries, e.g. the UK).

The reason that "cannabis cafes" are different is because they tend to have tables and seating, so they are classed as cafes. When the lockdown began, the Dutch government tried to close them down completely, but this backfired in the form of huge queues to buy weed on the day prior to the lockdown, so they allowed them to remain open for "takeaway" only.

I think the "reopening" of cannabis cafes means that you'll be able to sit down in them again, because it has always remained possible to purchase weed from them as far as I'm aware.

thats at least some good news. thanks for the info! I have a planned trip this summer. hotel is pre paid and everything. regarding the recent info that the girls wont be back until september wasnt exactly what I had hoped for, but I guess you cant win every time. it is what it is and nothing we can do about it.

at least some great news that Im able to get some magic truffles from the smart shops.

As I said, I could be wrong. I've only glanced at a couple of smartshop websites and didn't see anything indicating closures, and no shops have been required to close as far as I'm aware. You might want to check more thoroughly to be sure though.

Personally, I'd probably cancel my trip if I were in your position if there's any possibility of getting a refund. I still feel like there won't be much to do during the summer; even if places are open, they'll have limited capacity and it will be very difficult to get in anywhere.

I'm curious to see if any of the "happy ending" massage places will try to spin themselves as being "massage therapists" as an excuse to reopen next Monday. I'm highly doubting it, but it will be interesting to see if any places try it.

true. to cancel would be the best, but I cant get a refund. Might call some independent girls if I ger bored. There are alot of them on kinky etc. Maybe not the most proper way to act in this Corona situation thought... (breaking the rules is not a good move, I know)

but you are right . there is nothing to do there . Im gonna get bored. Normally I travel with company, but this hobby is nothing I would tell anyone I know back home. So I booked this trip alone

Whether you can get a refund will depend on what the situation is closer to the date of your stay. I had a hotel booked for the end of this month, which had a "no refunds" policy. It was only earlier this week that I got notification that a refund was possible due to the current situation; it only took one click on my end to confirm the refund (KLM also refunded my flight via a voucher).

Not sure how many girls on Kinky.nl would be willing to meet up in-person right now. It's certainly something you could try, but it's not something I've tried myself, nor am I willing to risk it. I've looked at Kinky.nl and a lot of girls explicitly say that that they're only doing video calls right now.

Good luck trying to get a refund for anything due to COVID-19. I have been waiting for a refund for some of my plane tickets (they are saying it will take 6 months at least). That was already the best scenario, some outcomes were that I would get nothing back!

Most of the hotels that I have booked for the summer are saying as I choose the "No cancellation, non-refundable" version, even with COVID-19, I cannot get a refund and I cannot change the dates either.

As for booked and paid sessions with working girls. I doubt you would get anything back at all for that!

I am just hoping for all this to subside and for things to return to normal soon, like in 1 months' time! Wishful thinking I know but that is all I have, a hope and a prayer!

What about the buy’n’fly coffeeshops, that have no seating?

I had a trip booked at the end of April that was cancelled and fully refunded.
My next trip is mid-July.
If this plan is true, I doubt the airline or hotel will cancel this one.
Might be a really boring week in the Netherlands.

In my case Im pretty sure I wont get a refund. the fly company is also on the very limit. 5-10 000 of their employees had to go. Same with hotels. no refund at all.


worst case scenario would be that I travel anyway and bring with my computer and work from the hotel.. "same same but different." lol...

plan A is to meet up with some independent girls. It seems like there are a few working anyway. Im going late june.

The one in my neighborhood is still open and I expect many around the city as well, though I haven't checked. One customer allowed inside the shop at a time and tape on the sidewalk marking little squares to stand in for maintaining distance. All coffeeshops were ordered to close back in March but that only lasted about a day before I guess it was decided this was too extreme. I heard street dealers were already approaching people waiting in the long lines to buy weed. I think we had something like 6 hours notice (at best, if one checks the news constantly) regarding the forced closures, which of course created a run on the shops.

Thanks Bluto, I may be able to salvage this trip, assuming it doesn’t get cancelled.

I had flights booked with Flybe back in March, but they went into administration a couple weeks before I was due to fly. Of course the airline won't give refunds in this situation.

However, I called my credit card company (Amex) that I paid for the flights with, and they refunded me no problem.

Same I had flights booked for July with Flybe from my local airport, got my money back from my credit card, booked new flight with BA more awkward airport to get to, have just got travel voucher from them as if window not open no point in going, also don't want to self isolate for 2 weeks return to uk. Not sure if I'll get refund on Hotel for July yet. Still awaiting hotel refund from cancelled March trip though flight rebooked for beginning of November, and fully refundable hotel booked. Am hoping all re starts in September, If does will try and fit in trip in Sept. Been far to long since December last year !!!

I was there in February and ive had withdrawn symptoms for a month at least! I’ve been used to going for a couple of nights every couple of months. Fingers crossed for September but it’s so far away - there have been 2 months since the lockdown so a much longer period of 4 months is still left. A lot can happen in 4 months..

I was there last in November and I suspect I won’t get to go this year. Very possible I won’t be able to over until next fall. Already missing it. I’ve been getting major Febo cravings. I’d kill for some of those fries about now! Only bright side is the agencies here are looking to start reopening at some point in the next month or so, so at least I should get to have some fun.

Fingers crossed that things may be looking brighter after September and you can get a trip in around November again. However, I guess it will be difficult to schedule a trip because you need to wait until September to know that Amsterdam has reopened and that leaves a short window to the end of the year to make all of the arrangements. We are so fortunate here in England that getting to Amsterdam is so easy and cost effective that there isn't much advance planning needed - as I mentioned I go for a long weekend (Saturday morning to Monday night) every couple of months. I'm at Amsterdam Central station 3.5 hours after leaving my front door which is incredible! We are also presently able to book hotels and flights for later in the year but freely cancel just before the travel date if necessary.

Just like you I'm also missing other things about Amsterdam although I've never formed a Febo habit! I really miss the hotel I usually stay in - its got a great club lounge area which serves drinks and snacks every evening and is ideal for chilling out. I feel refreshed and raring to go after a 3 day break in Amsterdam. Just thinking about it now and that September is still so far away makes me sad.

The agencies may be allowed to reopen in early July in England - that's still a good 6-7 weeks away but will be nice when it reopens. Wont substitute for the overall Amsterdam experience in any way but will at least scratch an itch.

Yeah, that’s the problem. Coming from Canada, you can’t really book last minute. I usually like to book at least 3-4 months in advance, if not more. Way less expensive that way, and it’s much easier to make sure I can get the flight times, hotel, etc. that I want. If Amsterdam’s not looking to reopen until September then realistically, next spring is probably the absolute earliest I’d be able to get over, and I have a big family wedding in the spring, so that may not be viable.

As far as agencies here, the plan seems to be for them to reopen during “phase 2” of our reopening strategy. Phase 1 starts next week, that should last 2-4 weeks and then the government will assess the situation, if everything’s trending in the right direction, we’ll go into phase 2. So should be realistically 4-6 weeks or so before the agencies can reopen. I have several bookings prepaid, so I should be amongst the first clients once they’re back in business.

Totally understand, advance bookings can make a big difference to the cost. Two years without having been, you won’t recognise the place lol.

Let’s just hope all of these phased plans across the world go according to plan and there aren’t any 2nd spikes of Covid - that would be a catastrophe! In England today they are suggesting a vaccine may never materialise...