After almost two years of lockdowns and restrictive corona measures, it was packed again last night in the Groningen entertainment area. The bars were all open, the atmosphere boisterous.
“It feels wonderful. Beautiful, isn’t it?” says Anita Makken of Bar Players at RTV Noord. “I feel like this was five years ago,” says one of her guests, just before singing along loudly with It is a night by singer Guus Meeuwis.
The night is back. That was the case everywhere in the Netherlands last night, but in Groningen they went a step further. The city prides itself on never having closing times. At midnight it is just as busy as it is at 3am. “We will continue until 7 am!”, is the voice in the Poelestraat and Peperstraat, around the corner from the Grote Markt.
The world’s problems are equally distant. There are rows of people in front of the night catering doors, because they are being checked for a negative self-test. In the cafes the music is loud as usual.
Still getting used to
A police officer, until recently charged with checking compliance with the one and a half meter rule and mouth caps, is visibly enjoying. “We were ready for it again,” he says. “Finally some life on the streets again. And it has been quiet so far, I think everyone is happy that they can go out again.”
While some people still have to get used to the large number of people, a nitrous oxide balloon is consumed here and there and the snack bars are preparing for the busiest night in ages, the song by Zaandam folk singer Wolter Kroes sounds – very appropriately – inside: We’re back and that’s pri-hi-ma.
