NETHERLANDS

BEN HARTMAN M c CLURE 1982-1987 AMSTERDAM – AUGUST

2020

Amsterdam quickly implemented working from home and two meter social distancing everywhere, and the infection rates fell quickly. In fact it went so well that the public have recently become a bit lazy and almost forgot about Covid-19. The Dutch being the practical people they are used the time with everyone at home to carry out lots of road works etc, which was smart. Although a lack of masks has consequently meant the rates have gone back up, and new restrictions implemented again.

Lockdown was pretty relaxed here. I went to the supermarket with a mask (lots didn’t wear masks), I still saw friends at a distance, I ran and exercised in the parks, cycled wherever I needed to. I even went into the office occasionally.

I feel very lucky to have been lockeddown in Amsterdam rather than say, London.

But that’s just thanks to the same things that make it such a wonderful, relaxing place to live in the first place. It’s small, flat, and beautiful and you have the freedom to cycle anywhere without fear of contamination. So you actually never really feel locked down. Whereas in London and other major cities, you can go for a walk around the block, but anything else becomes a mission, either by car or the worries of public transport.

Soho House Amsterdam was closed for two to three months, which was a bit of a pain as it’s a place I frequent. I had no gym, no steam room, no screening room. But then again, I’m single and don’t have kids to worry about. Oh, it seemed a bit harder to date on Tinder for a while too ;)

I’m not sure if things will return to normal. Most people think it’s fastforwarded everything to online, including working from home. But then you may find there’s a backlash and people suddenly remember the importance of human interaction. In terms of the next few years, I estimate people in Amsterdam will go back to work at the office more often than not because they can cycle there and don’t have to worry about standing on top of each other on public transport.

As a freelancer I was used to working from home or work-spaces anyway, so from a work perspective, the pandemic didn’t have a huge impact. I’m very keen however that every other aspect of life returns to pre-covid. For instance I’m missing the OMs golf meeting in Deal this September because of the quarantine rules on flying to the UK from the Netherlands. I haven’t seen my parents since February.

No one knows exactly what the future holds until we know more about this disease and if it can be controlled with a vaccine.

SIMONE GAROFALO SCHOOL HOUSE 1989-1994 CASCAIS – AUGUST 2020

Portugal is a relatively small country with a delicate economy as a result it was fearful of realising the effects of the pandemic due to the inherent consequences however once it became clear that it was inevitable they went to inordinate lengths.

There was a great spirit of political and social unity, with the young checking on the old and many contributing towards food banks. However, it is my belief that the opening of the borders should have been delayed further.

Lockdown here last roughly eight weeks, with assessment checks at most junctions. If you were out in a car it was necessary to have a valid reason otherwise you were asked to return home, the only legal reasons for being out of the house was; shopping, dog walking and exercise.

I mostly work remotely with offices in San Francisco and Seoul therefore I am used to travelling every couple of weeks, this is the longest period in my life that I’ve gone without travelling. I would say that on the whole my life has been better for lockdown.

Although there’s been a downturn in business, it has allowed me to spend time with my family (both near and far) and also to focus on time at home rather than always thinking of some point in the future.