Dutch Tourists Flock To Belgium To Escape New Year Lockdown

Frustrated Dutch tourists have been flocking to neighboring Belgium to escape a tough New Year lockdown at home, Euronews reported.

Photo Insert: The old city of Ghent. Dutch tourists saw gold at the end of the rainbow in Belgium.

The Netherlands has imposed the tightest winter restrictions in Europe closing down non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, museums, and theatres until mid-January in a bid to slow the surge in COVID infections, fueled by the Omicron variant.

But just next door, Belgium has so far opted for lighter measures despite fears the new strain could spark another wave of infections in the country.

Dutch visitors were out and about in Antwerp on Thursday shopping and stopping in at bars and cafés that are shuttered back home. More than 7,000 Dutch visitors traveled by train to the Belgian city the previous day alone.

"We just wanted to escape the lockdown. Everything is closed, actually, we have nothing to do, and it's our holiday," Dutch tourist Charleigh said, declining to give her surname. "So we thought it was more fun to come to Belgium."

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