Read the video transcript here
The scenery is well known, but in the Netherlands these images are back to life: the lockdown is back.
And once again the closings hit people from very different walks of life hard.
Audrey Lesoro, Au-Pair:
»It makes it harder to entertain the kids because we can't go to the playground or the cinema or anything
.
So we have to be even more creative, from morning to night.
Sometimes that's a little difficult. "
Valerie Brouwer, law student:
»All of my courses are online again.
And I've found that having everything online affects my grades.
I'd rather have my courses face to face. "
Sjon Brinks, placement agent:
»My job consists of booking artists to perform at venues.
But it only takes one step across the border into Germany - and everything is open.
Many Dutch people use the days before Christmas for a trip to the neighboring country, as the many yellow license plates at the border crossing show.
Here, too, the situation is serious, there is a threat of a bad omicron wave.
But the federal and state governments are hesitating to take tough measures.
New restrictions will only apply from December 28th and even then only clubs and discos will initially be closed across the board.
Here in Aachen, right on the border, there are of course rules at the Christmas market: mask requirement, 2G.
But still, the pictures from Germany and the Netherlands could hardly be more different at the moment.
This clearly attracts visitors.
Mischa Schilder and her husband, visitors from the Netherlands:
"We come every year."
"The Germans also come to Holland when it is not allowed."
"And at home we go ..."
"We only see each other.
" Yes, we work at home, just see the two of us.
We don't see any other people. "
And what should you think of the fact that the Christmas market
gets
even more
crowded?
Some Germans don't really know that themselves.
Annika Schleiffer, German visitor to the Christmas market:
»I think they should rather stay at home.
But I mean, I can understand that they also want that Christmas feeling and want to go to the Christmas market.
Understandable, but of course not so nice for us. "
Florian Schrodt, German Christmas market visitor:
»Yes, certainly difficult to assess.
But I think in the end we somehow have a united Europe, open borders.
That is why one should find solutions that go beyond the national state. "
The lockdown in the Netherlands is valid until at least January 14th.
And who knows, maybe the way across the border will no longer be worthwhile.
The federal and state governments will meet on January 7th for the next Corona conference.