The Dutch Government has announced plans to allow festivals to return as early as July. The announcement has put festival teams in motion to hype up their plans for 2021.
An insurance package of more than €300 million was created by the Dutch government to insure festivals planned after July 1. If those festivals are later forced to cancel due to Covid, the cancellation fund will ensure the companies do not suffer losses. Festivals going ahead with plans for events before July 1 are not protected.
Dutch minister for culture, Ingrid Van Engelshoven, hopes the fund will give security to festival companies. “They can fall back on the guarantee fund in which at least €300m has been reserved. The event industry has long come to a standstill due to Corona. Guarantee is needed to get it back on track.”
Dutch festivals Awakenings and DGTL have rescheduled to be covered by the insurance. Tickets have already sold out for Awakenings, which will take place September 11th and 12th. DGTL is scheduled for the same time and tickets are nearly sold out as well.
Germany and Austria have also implemented similar insurance packages. Festivals in the UK, France and Denmark are also hoping for similar safety nets.
