In southern Dutch town, cafes open in lockdown protest

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Shops, bars and restaurants in a southern Dutch town opened Friday in a protest action that underscored growing anger at weeks of coronavirus lockdown measures, a day before some of the restrictions are expected to be eased.

A local broadcaster showed people eating and drinking at outdoor tables of restaurants in the main street of Valkenburg in open defiance of a lockdown in the Netherlands. Authorities in the tourist town, which was devastated by flooding last year, didn't take action to enforce coronavirus restrictions.

More towns in the region were planning similar protest openings on Saturday.

The country has been in an tough lockdown since the week before Christmas in a move the government says is aimed at “buying time” to ease pressure on overburdened hospitals and ramp up the country's vaccine booster program.

While infections have shot to record numbers recently as the omicron variant became the dominant coronavirus strain, hospital and intensive care unit admissions have been falling for weeks.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte is holding a COVID-19 news conference Friday evening and Dutch media citing unnamed government sources report that he is likely to allow nonessential stores along with businesses like hairdressers to reopen. Universities also are expected to reopen for in-person classes from Monday.

“There will be a real difference between today and tomorrow,” Social Affairs Minister Karien van Gennip told reporters before a Cabinet meeting.

Bars, restaurants, museums and theaters are, however, expected to remain closed, sparking anger from those sectors.

Dirk Beljaarts, general director of the national hospitality industry group, said said he met with new Economic Affairs Minister Micky Adriaansens to press for bars and...