A historical speech by Mark Rutte. The Prime Minister addressed the Netherlands on Monday evening about the corona crisis. In a previously announced speech on the NOS and RTL4, the prime minister stated that a large part of the Netherlands will get the virus. Rutte spoke about unprecedented measures in peacetime. The Prime Minister promised entrepreneurs that the cabinet will do whatever it takes to support them. He called on all 17 million Dutch people to watch each other.

historical speech

Good evening,

The corona virus is gripping our country.

Us and the rest of the world.

Together we are faced with a task of enormous size.

Many people will recognize the feeling that we have been on a rollercoaster in recent weeks that seems to be getting faster and faster.

You wonder: is this really happening?

Because the measures taken here and elsewhere are unprecedented for peacetime countries.

At the beginning of this speech, I would like to express my condolences to the families of those who have since died of the virus.

I wish everyone who is in the hospital or who is recovering at home, I wish a lot of improvement and strength.

And I want to address the elderly and those with poor health.

I realize that you are very concerned.

And that is why I want to tell you that it is our absolute priority to minimize the risks for you.

With all the news from home and abroad, with all events that follow each other at breakneck speed, it makes perfect sense that there are very broad concerns in society.

We all have questions.

What can I do to protect myself and those around me?

What about school and work?

Can a children's party continue? A family weekend? A wedding?

How long will this all take?

And why does one country take different measures than another?

In today's world, news and information are faster than light and an opinion is also given quickly.

I understand that.

But the answer to all the questions that come to life starts with the knowledge and experience of experts.

Let us hold on to that.

To experts such as Jaap van Dissel and his colleagues inside and outside RIVM.

Virologists, intensive care physicians and other specialists.

From the beginning, their advice has guided all measures that have been taken in the Netherlands so far.

And it is important that we continue to rely on that compass of scientific knowledge and reliable facts.

That is the only sensible way to continue taking the necessary steps.

Steps that inevitably come our way.

Because I don't have an easy message for you tonight.

The reality is that the coronavirus is among us and will remain with us for the time being.

There is no easy or quick way out of this very difficult situation.

The reality is that in the near future a large part of the Dutch population will be infected with the virus.

That's what the experts are telling us now.

And whatever they tell us is that, pending a vaccine or drug, we can slow down the spread of the virus while building controlled group immunity.

I have to explain that.

Those who have had the virus are usually immune afterwards.

Just like in the old days with measles.

The larger the group that is immune, the less chance that the virus will jump to vulnerable elderly people and people with poor health.

With group immunity you build, as it were, a protective wall around them.

That is the principle.

But we have to realize that it can take months or even longer to build up group immunity and during that time we need to shield people at greater risk as much as possible.

All things considered, there are three possible scenarios.

The first scenario is: maximally checking the virus.

This leads to controlled distribution among groups that are least at risk.

That is the scenario of our choice.

Maximum control means that we try to use measures to smooth out the peak in the number of infections and spread it over a longer period.

With this approach in which most people will only get minor complaints, we build immunity and ensure that healthcare can handle it.

With the aim that the nursing homes, home care, hospitals and especially intensive care units are not overloaded.

So that there is always sufficient capacity to help the people who are most vulnerable.

The second scenario is that we let the virus run unchecked.

This would completely overload our health care system at the peak of infection, leaving insufficient capacity to help frail elderly and other high-risk patients.

We must of course prevent that at all costs.

The third scenario is that we endlessly try to stop the virus.

That means that the country is completely locked.

Such a rigorous approach may seem attractive at first sight, but experts point out that it would certainly not be a matter of days or weeks.

In that scenario, we would actually have to shut down our country for a year or even longer, with all its consequences.

And if it were practically possible - to let people leave their homes with permission only for so long - then the virus could immediately re-emerge if the measures were withdrawn.

The Netherlands is an open country and as long as there is no vaccine, the coronavirus will continue to spread through the world like a wave and not skip our country.

All advice so far, all measures previously announced are aimed at the first 'maximum control' scenario.

From the relatively simple guidelines not to shake hands, wash hands more often and keep a meter and a half away from far-reaching measures such as prohibiting larger meetings and closing the catering industry.

And of course we keep our finger on the pulse every day.

How long the measures are needed and whether more is needed therefore depends on how the virus will behave in the coming weeks and months.

And of any new scientific insights, because the research is ongoing.

It may be that some measures can be relaxed, but that we sometimes have to take an extra step to prevent the virus from spreading unrestrainedly.

It will continue to fit and measure in the coming months.

It continues to search for the balance between taking the necessary measures and allowing ordinary life to continue as much as possible.

If we can control the spread of the virus in this way, the public health consequences are ultimately the most manageable.

At the same time, we cannot and will not close our eyes to the economic consequences of this crisis.

Many people are concerned about their jobs.

Because for many companies, large and small, this is an extremely difficult period.

A lot of entrepreneurs suddenly have their backs against the wall.

The lady of the coffee shop on the corner, the flower grower, the transport entrepreneur, the freelancer, but it also applies to national icons such as KLM.

My message to the entrepreneurs of the Netherlands and their employees is this: the cabinet will do what it takes to support you.

We are committed to ensuring that businesses do not fall over by what is happening now and that people are not losing their jobs.

Either way, it will be a difficult time, but we will not let you down.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone in the Netherlands for the way in which the directions and measures have been followed so far and for all the heartwarming examples of mutual aid and solidarity.

It is good to see that we are ready for each other when the need is man.

Keep doing that.

Stay alert and follow the directions, even if you are strong and healthy, for the benefit of people who are more vulnerable.

That is really important.

Continue to use your common sense and listen to the experts.

Continue to help each other where possible.

This is a time when we need to find each other, over disagreements and contradictions.

A time to put the common interest above self-interest.

And a time to give space and confidence to all those people who work in hectic conditions day and night to help others and keep the virus under control.

Cleaners, nurses and doctors in hospitals and elderly care, general practitioners and GGD employees, police officers, ambulance personnel and all other care providers.

To them, and to all those people who stay in their jobs in schools, childcare, public transport, supermarkets and anywhere else, I want to say: you are doing a fantastic job - thank you very much for that.

I would like to end with this appeal: with all the uncertainties out there, one thing is absolutely clear: the task we are facing is very big and we really have to do this with 17 million people.

Together we will overcome this difficult period.

Pay a little attention to each other.

I count on you.

Thank you.

Also read: Schools and restaurants in the Netherlands are closing due to coronavirus