Dutch prepare to dodge curfew

AMSTERDAM: Fears of being cooped up during a curfew have led the Dutch to resort to creative ways to dodge the rules, as people sign up for borrowadog services and order the uniforms of home delivery companies.

From Saturday, a nightly curfew to try to curb the pandemic will start at 9pm local time and run until 4.30am, the first nationwide curfew since World War 2.

Exceptions will be made for essential services, including meal delivery, package couriers and those who need to take pets outdoors for walks. A website matching those needing help with their pets with volunteers for dog walking has been overwhelmed with offers.

Online market place Marktplaats.nl froze sales of jackets and clothing of well known delivery companies in response to soaring demand, newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported.

Some sellers offered empty scooter delivery boxes starting at ¤50.

Curfew violators can be fined ¤95 ($NZ160). — Reuters