FAQ and updates coronavirus

Normally, in healthcare an obligation of identification applies for everyone, including minors younger than 14 years. At this moment it is not possible for everyone to organise a valid Identification Document (ID). Therefore healthcare providers will treat this obligation more flexible.

• In case you have no valid ID, please bring your expired document with you. On that basis your application will be taken into account.
• You will have  to apply for a valid ID as soon as possible and show your ID to the healthcare provider afterwards, in order to meet the obligation of identification

Please try again at a later moment, as it is busier than usual on the website. Where possible most of the municipal services are digitally organised, so when people – during lunchtime for instance – want to operate online, the system cannot handle this and so requests cannot be submitted.

The (underground) waste containers for residual waste, glass, paper and textile are emptied more often than usual. In case you have a filled waste container in your neighbourhood; please report this via www.leiden.nl/melding. We will solve this problem within 24 hours when possible. The municipality works hard to empty all mini containers for residual waste and organic waste on the usual day.

As a result of the government measures we can only handle civil matters that cannot wait, such a registering a birth or death. We will contact you if your appointment is cancelled: there is no need for you to phone us.
If you are suffering from a cold or fever or are coughing and you have an appointment at the Municipality, please reschedule for a later date. For the time being, the other services provided by the Municipality will continue as usual, but please bear in mind that some matters may take longer than usual.

Appointments Stadskantoor

We request you to follow the national guidelines and ask you:

• To leave the Stadskantoor immediately when you cough, have a cold, fever or a sore throat. In that case we unfortunately cannot help you and ask you kindly to make a new appointment.
• To stay at home in case a member of your household has one of above mentioned complaints, and make a new appointment at a later date.
• To keep one and a half meters distance of our employees.
• To come alone.
• To not to shake hands.

We are postponing the collection of these documents as far as possible until the measures have been lifted. This is possible if your current document has not yet expired or if you are not going travelling yet. You can collect your document up to 3 months after the date of requesting it, which is printed on the collection receipt. If the 3-month deadline expires before April 29, you may collect the document.  If, for the above reason, you need to collect the document before April 29, you can collect it in the afternoons between 13:00 - 16:00. You do not need to make an appointment for this. Please do not come if you are coughing, have a cold, sore throat or fever.

We request you to follow the national guidelines, and ask you:

• To leave the Stadskantoor immediately when you cough, have a cold, fever or a sore       throat. In that case we unfortunately cannot help you and ask you kindly to make a      new appointment.
• To stay at home in case a member of your household has one of above mentioned           complaints, and make a new appointment at a later date.
• To keep one and a half meters distance of our employees.
• To come alone.
• To not to shake hands.

No, you are not allowed to visit the Stadskantoor. 

Please ask your questions via our website. 
If that is not possible call 14 071.

Please make appointments through our website wherever possible or put off making an appointment for the moment. Only if this is impossible, call us on 14 071.

No, the parking desk is only open for matters that cannot wait.
Please try to arrange your parking matters digitally, or postpone them until after the 28th of April. Maybe you could ask your family or friends to help you - also from a distance - via www.leiden.nl/parkeren or the digital desk. In case matters cannot wait the parking desk is open. You can make an appointment via 14 071.

Are you coming to an appointment?

Because of the corona measures we request you:

• to keep one and a half meters distance of our employees.
• to come alone
• not to shake hands
• to pay your parking product by touch-free payments or PIN
• to leave the Stadskantoor immediately when you cough, have a cold, fever or a sore throat. In that case we unfortunately cannot help you and ask you kindly to make a new appointment

Yes, if your wedding date falls within the period during which the national measures are in effect, you will not be charged for scheduling a new date. To do so, complete our contact form or phone us on 14 071.

Sports halls, sports parks and swimming pools are closed.

Yes, the municipal waste collection facility is open. Please take into account that it could be more busy than usual at the moment. That is why we advise you to save your waste and other items for a while and to bring them to the waste collection facility in a couple of weeks’ time. In the context of security and to improve the flow of visitors, the following measures are taken:

• A maximum of five cars only will be allowed on the premises of the municipal waste collection facility.  This means that there is a possibility that you will have to wait a while in front of the barrier before it is your turn.
• The waste collection facility does not hand out greenbags at the moment. Consequently you can not make an appointment via internet to collect your greenbag.

If you visit the municipal waste collection facility

The employees of the waste collection facility do their utmost to assist you in every way they can and ask your understanding for these measures. When visiting the waste collection facility, please follow the general directives. This means:

• To leave the municipal waste collection facility immediately when you cough, have a cold, fever or a sore throat. In that case we unfortunately cannot help you and ask you kindly to come back later.
• To stay at home in case a member of your household has one of above mentioned complaints, unfortunately cannot help you.
• To keep one and a half meters distance of our employees.
• To come alone.
• To not to shake hands.

At this moment the current national measures apply up to and including the 28^th of April. During this time residents meetings organised by the municipality are cancelled. The invitees will be informed.

When it is clear which rules apply for the period after the 28^th of April, we will take a closer look how to deal with residents meetings.

The municipality also considers other possibilities to allow residents and other stakeholders to participate in existing and new projects. For instance think of the deployment of online means like https://doemee.leiden.nl

Public events – also with less than 100 persons -  are cancelled up to the 1^st of June.

ypu can dind information about the commission meetings and council meetings the website of the municipal council (in Dutch). 

Please report found objects via our website verlorenofgevonden.nl and keep them at home. There is one exception: in case you find Dutch travel documents you do have to file these at the desk at the Stadskantoor. Opening hours are Monday up to and including Friday from 9.30 – 17.00 hours.

Collecting lost objects after the 28^th of April.

If possible, please collect your lost objects after the 28^th of April. There is one exception: when you are in urgent need of the lost object and there is no alternative, please call 14 071 between 10.30 and 12.00 hours.

Where can you ask for assistance or offer help as an inhabitant or an organisation? We have made an overview of initiatives and organisations which could mean something for you. The measures of the RIVM also apply here, so please stay at home as much as possible and keep a distance of 1,5 metres. 

Individual questions:

• Do you need help, for instance with your shopping, transport to a hospital or with walking your dog? Or would you like to offer help to someone else? Please subscribe to BUUV Leiden

Do you need help or are you not sure where to go for information?

You can call the Social district Team (Sociaal Wijkteam SWT) in your neighbourhood. The members of the District Team will be pleased to help you.  The telephone numbers of the Social district Teams in Leiden can be found via www.swtleiden.nl . You can also call number 14071/choice 2 (Monday up to and including Friday from 9.00 – 17.00 hours).

Voluntary associations:

• Is your organisation in need of volunteers at the moment? Or do your volunteers in fact have no work? Please look for possibilities at the website of i.doe.nl or send a mail to contact@i-doe.nl. In case you want to contribute to an organisation or initiative on a voluntary basis you can also visit the website of i-Doe. i-Doe keeps a record of all initiatives which are developed at the moment. Please take a look and see where you can be of help.

• MB071 brings offer and demand together on a platform called Beursplein. As a (socially committed) organisation or entrepreneur, you can put your demand on this platform or make an offer. Please offer your initiative, means, helping hands and facilities in order to find each other.

Caregivers:

• In this period of time, caregivers could become overburdened. In case you are a caregiver and you have any questions or you need some advice and support? Please contact Eva via (071) 207 41 91 or mail to info@wijzijneva.nl.

Worries:

• Are you in need of a sympathetic ear, advice or extra assistance because you are in quarantine or home-isolation? In that case you can contact the Red Cross helpline, tel. (070) – 445 58 88. This number is available from Monday up to and including Thursday between 8.30 – 21.00 hours, on Friday between 8.30 – 18.00 hours and on Saturday between 10.00 – 16.00 hours.

Local companies/students:

• Together with the municipality, Centre Management Leiden (CML) has opened an online information point on which the arrangements for entrepreneurs can be found.

• CML also looks at creative ways which will help to cope with the present situation. For instance by creating a local online platform for entrepreneurs. Another initiative is to consider incentive measures which could be taken after the corona crisis. Do you have any suggestions, please let us know via info@centrumvanleiden.nl.

• Entrepreneurs can register when they offer collection- or delivery services via lokaalroyaal.nl. In this way consumers can easily find the local entrepreneurs which are in their neighbourhood. Then they can support them by  doing their shopping or collecting other things  buying their groceries or other things locally at these companies.

• PLNT also works on an offer for students by online courses, so they can use their time in a useful way. Please closely monitor the website.

Other initiatives:

• Via Twitter #coronahulp 071 or #corona Leiden you can make an appeal for your offer or demand
• You can also use Facebook page Corona Hulp Leiden e.o.
• Ready2Help of the Red Cross
• Send mail to care centres or nursing homes. For instance Huis op de Waard has published a nice appeal. Please visit the site.
• The national platform www.nietalleen.nl links local assistance initiatives and requests for assistance.

On the site of Veilig Thuis Hollands Midden is explained what you can do in case you worry about how things are going in the families surrounding you. All of a sudden we all are at home more often. So are your neighbours. And you hear that they argue a lot. Crying children, shouting parents.

Do you hear disturbing signals of violence or abuse? Please share your concerns, even if you doubt to do so. Be aware that violence often stops with the help from others. On the website of Veilig Thuis Holland Midden you can find a description of what you can do when you worry about the situation of other families. The website also describes what you can do if you think things do not go well in your family. In any case: please talk about it with someone or call Veilig Thuis. You can do this anonymously. They will always think along with you about the situation and consider with you what is needed to improve.

Yes. Young children (younger than 12 years old) are allowed to play outside. The RIVM emphasises that this does not endanger the health. Though, we urgently advice you to limit the number of young children that  play together.

Parents or caregivers who keep an eye on the children and are not a member of one and the same family, must keep the 1,5 metres distance from each other.

The childcare services (day-care, after-school care and childminders and playgroups) in Leiden follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment concerning the coronavirus.

This means that they will only offer care to children in case both parents work in vital sectors, or to children from a single-parent family if the parent works in a vital sector.  In case one of the parents doesn’t work in the vital sector but is not able to look after the children, it will be considered if an exception can be made. This works well at the moment.

Childcare during regular childcare times

In case you need childcare for your children during regular childcare times (during the working week between 8.00 – 18.00 hours) and both parents are working in vital sectors, you can contact a childcare organisation. Are you already familiar with a childcare organisation? Please contact this organisation first. When you are not a client of a childcare organisation, you can directly contact a childcare organisation in your neighbourhood.
Please only make use of the Emergency counter when you do not succeed to obtain childcare.

Childcare allowance

Parents who receive a childcare allowance, ought to pay the invoice as usual. They should not make any changes on their tax return form. At this stage the same directive for childcare services applies, even if you do not receive childcare allowance.

In the course of this week, The Ministry will announce what will happen with the payment and compensation of childcare in the coming period.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment advises parents/caregivers to (continue to) do the following:

• Pay the invoice for childcare as usual
• Do not make any changes in your data with the tax authority in relation with your childcare allowance. In this way you will retain your entitlement to childcare and the allowance, so it will  continue to be paid
• You do not have to pass on any changes or stop your childcare.

For more information, please go to the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.

Childcare at schools

All schools work according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Social Affairs. They also offer day care to children (of which both parents work in vital sectors, or to children from a single-parent family if the parent works in a vital sector). Schools are asked to be considerate with situations in which the second parent, who does not work in the vital sector, is not able to take care of his child.

In the coming days, the current procedure will be examined to see if it should be maintained or should be arranged differently, for example in collaboration with other schools or childcare.

For some children it could be necessary to offer childcare in the evening, night or in weekends (so outside the regular school-/childcare hours). In case you work in a vital profession or in a crucial sector and you have problems finding childcare for your children, you can apply for 24 hours emergency shelter.

Do you need emergency shelter soon (after 24 hours)?

Please fill in the application form via: aanmeldformulier 24 uurs noodopvang.  Also parents who did not make use of childcare before can fill in an application form.

Do you need emergency shelter urgently (within 24 hours)?

You can directly contact the special emergency desk 24 hours emergency shelter by telephone number 071-516 5585

IMPORTANT: only use this number in case of an urgent request!

For more information

If you have any questions about the 24 hours emergency shelter, please send an email to:

noodopvangkinderen@leiden.nl.

You can find more information about vital professions and crucial sectors via the following link:

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/cruciale-beroepsgroepen

The swimming lessons given at swimming pools De Zijl and Vijf Meibad have been cancelled. For more information see www.leidswater.nl.

All 15 playgrounds in Leiden are closed. You are advised to stay at home as much as possible. 

Young children under the age of 12 years are still allowed to play together outdoors.  The RIVM emphasizes that this is not a danger to the health, though it is urgently recommended to limit the number of young children which play together.

No, the petting zoo is closed.

Via an Emergency Regulation, mayors are able to execute the announced measures of the government.  On the 26^th of March the chairman of the Hollands Midden Safety region has published the new Emergency Regulation COVID-19 Safety region Hollands Midden.

On the 1^st of April additional measures are included in the Emergency Regulation. The current measures in the Emergency Regulation of the 26h of March are extended up to and including the 28^th of April. In short it means that:

• it is forbidden to hold meetings or to organise them. In public spaces it also is forbidden to keep a distance less than 1,5 metres between people. Penalties can be imposed in case one does not keep to these rules.
• Events are still forbidden up to the 1^st of June.
• A new measure is implemented stating that in our region it is forbidden to stay overnight at recreational parks, camping sites, marina’s, via temporary room rental or in private B&B’s up to and including the 10^th of May.  An exception is made for permanent locations and temporary occupancy.

Please click on the links for the entire text of the Emergency Regulation and the additions made on the 1^st of April.

The government has introduced a prohibition on all events and a prohibition on not keeping a distance of 1,5 metres between people. This is meant to prevent further contamination. A peak of contamination is dangerous, because the capacity of the hospitals is limited and couldn’t cope with that. This drastic measure is made to avoid this peak.

On the 26^th of March the chairman of the Hollands Midden Safety region has announced a so-called new Emergency Regulation. This means that activities which are contrary to these new regulations and take place as of the 26^th of March are punishable.  The Emergency Regulation COVID-19 Safety region Hollands Midden dated 26^th March 2020 in short means that it is forbidden to hold meetings or to organise them. Furthermore it is forbidden to keep a distance less than 1,5 metres between people.

A regulation is meant for a longer period of time and applies to everyone in the area. If you neglect this regulation you commit a crime and are immediately punishable. We chose for this solution,  to inform every one in Hollands Midden at the same time and to ensure a deterrent effect (criminal record by violation).

The regulation applies to every single person who stays in the Netherlands. Places where people come together for entertainment, in associations, churches or mosques. So theatres, sporting activities, playgrounds, associations, churches, clubs, restaurants and bars, cinemas, museums, festivals, marriages, funerals. It does not make a difference, whether you have to pay for an entrance fee or not, or that the usual group of people always visit the premises. The regulation also applies to the service personnel.

This means that:

• The current measures of the Emergency Regulation of the 26^th of March are extended up to and including the 28^th of April.
• Events are forbidden up to the 1^st of June
• In our region it is forbidden to stay overnight at recreational parks, camping sites, marina’s, via temporary room rental or in private B&B’s up to and including the 10^th of May.  An exception is made for permanent locations and temporary occupancy.

Please click on the links for the entire text of the Emergency Regulation and the additions made on the 1^st of April.

The chairman of the Safety region can decide to close certain location in order to avoid group formation. For more information see 'Groepsvorming en samenscholingsverbod'.

1. Emergency regulation articles 39 Wet Veiligheidsregio’s, and
2. 176 Municipal law on 3e Noodverordening COVID-19 Veiligheidsregio Hollands Midden and the additions made.

The Municipal law and the law of Safety regions (de Gemeentewet and de Wet Veiligheidsregio’s) both are clearly explained on www.burgemeesters.nl.
 

By limiting social contacts, chances will be slightly reduces to contaminate each other. It is described in the Emergency regulation that in the entire area of Hollands Midden it is forbidden to be in a group of three or more people if you do not keep a distance of 1,5 metres between each other. We speak of forbidden group formation when three persons or more, who do not share a household, do not keep a distance of 1,5 metres. The rule of keeping a distance of 1,5 metres always applies in groups of three or more people, unless:

1. this concerns people from one family or household
2. this concerns playing children (under twelve years of age) under supervision of their parents or guides. Moreover, by parents the distance of 1,5 metres has to be guaranteed, and if possible also  by the children.

This prohibition applies to the public space in the entire area of Hollands Midden.

Will the law on group formation be enforced?

Yes, the law on group formation will be enforced.  Action by municipal enforcers and police whenever possible aims to enter into a dialogue so that the regulations are being observed.

When offenders do not want to listen, it is possible to impose penalties when the rule of keeping a distance of 1,5 metres is violated in groups of three or more persons.

What  is the height of the penalty?

The exact height of the penalty still has to be determined. The penalty can increase up to 400 euro.  For companies the penalty can increase to the amount of 4000 euro.

The municipal enforcers (special investigating officers)  and the police ensure that all aspects of the emergency regulation are observed. Depending on the situation a solid penalty can be handed out, for instance for group formation or when people do not keep a proper distance between each other.

It is also possible to infringe a high incremental penalty (that is a kind of penalty), for instance in case a bar is open. When possible, action of enforcers and police aims to enter into a dialogue so that the regulations are being observed, in order to limit the spreading of the virus.

The Wednesday market in the city centre will be open, but in a modified way. The market stalls will be placed with wider spacing between them, the range of products will be reduced to foods, places to sit and standing tables are forbidden, Eating at a stall or tastings are forbidden.and visitors are asked to keep a distance of 1,5 metres from each other. 

This also applies for the neighborhood weekly markets. 

The Saturday market in the city centre will not take place.

Please keep checking this page for the latest updates.
 

Shops and supermarkets can stay open provided they take measures so that everyone in the shop can keep a safe distance of 1,5 metres. 
Also customers are expected to keep the 1,5 metres distance in order to continue to shop safely. 

Hairdressers, beauticians, nail carers and others unfortunately are not allowed to practice their profession. Selling their products – from the shop or online – can continue. The measure to keep a safe distance of 1,5 metres also applies here.

No, students in a student residence do not form a joint household as meant in the emergency regulation.

Yes, it is allowed, but please avoid social contacts as much as possible. Here too, you are to keep a distance of 1,5 metres where possible.

The government advises to avoid social contacts. You are allowed to receive a maximum of three visitors at the same time. Here too, you are to keep a distance of 1,5 metres at all times.

The sidewalk is part of the public space. Here too, also groups of three persons or more are to keep the required distance of 1,5 metres between each other. As students are not regarded as a joint household as meant in the emergency regulation, they also are to keep a distance of 1,5 metres between each other in public space. Furthermore, gatherings are forbidden even if one keeps a distance of 1,5 metres. This mainly concerns gatherings which are organised or in case an appointment is made to come together. This also applies to spontaneous gatherings. Please use your common sense and limit the number of people you are with outside.

As of Saturday 21^st March, the following measures will be effective, because there are much less train passengers and moreover the NS and DZB want to keep their personnel in good health and  employable.

Leiden Central - center side:

• NS-bicycle parking at the center side is closed
• Lorentz parking is closed
• Bicycle parking underneath the taxi stand is open during regular opening hours

Leiden Central - seaside:

• NS-bicycle parking is open and temporary for free
• the free underground bicycle parking seaside is open

City centre:

*Waag parking has different opening hours:

08.00 – 19.00 hours   Monday up to and including Saturday

11.00 – 19.00 hours   Sunday

* The pop-up parking facilities Nieuwe Rijn, Steenschuur and Lange Mare are not in use as long as the Saturday market is closed.

Is your bicycle parked in a facility which is closed?

• When your bicycle is parked in the Lorentz bicycle parking, the employees of the bicycle parking underneath the taxi stand can open the door for you. They are available every day between 6.00 o’clock  in the morning and 1.00 o’clock at night.
• Did you park your bike in the now closed NS-parking at city side? From Monday to Friday between 07.00 and 12.00 hrs employees of the NS-parking at seaside can help you fetch your bike. Outside of these time slots they offer you a OV-bike.  

The regulation that bicycles may not be left in the bicycle shed for longer than two consecutive weeks will be lifted temporarily. The bicycles will no longer be labelled and we will take a lenient approach toward bicycles left in the bicycle shed for longer than two weeks.

Yes, bikes which are removed due to Fiets-Fout-Fiets-Weg will be kept longer until further notice. These bikes will stay at the Willem Barentszstraat 20.

In case your bike was removed, you can fetch your bike at afore mentioned address. Please do not come when you cough, have a cold, a sore throat or fever.

You can apply for social assistance via www.werk.nl

Are you an entrepreneur and  you want to apply for assistance due to the corona measures? You can apply for an accelerated procedure of financial support for self- employed professionals (Bbz) or a temporary bridging measure for the self-employed professionals (Tozo).

Information for entrepreneurs on assistance due to corona measures  can be found  on the website of the Municipality of Leiden.

Yes your benefit will be paid, unless you received a message that you have to give some more information first.  You can find the payment dates of the benefits here under tab: Betaaldata uitkeringen.

In case you have questions which can not wait you can call your client manager. For other questions, please use the contact form: (link naar contactformulier).

You can call your client manager in case you have a very urgent question. 

No the information meetings and workshops when applying for a benefit are cancelled until further notice.

The municipality will take a decision within 8 weeks. 
 

The municipality will take a decision within 8 weeks.

You can put your documents in the letter box which is situated outside the Stadskantoor. Or send them by post.

You can put your modification form in the letter box which is situated outside the Stadskantoor. Or send it by post. 
 

Please find information in Arabic (png, 306 kb), English (jpg, 151 kb), Papiamento (png, 263 kb), Papiamentu (png, 264 kb), Polish (png, 344 kb), Spanish (png, 305 kb) and Turkish (png, 294 kb).

Because of the measures which are taken to avoid spreading the coronavirus, we advise you to stay at home as much as possible and to avoid group formation. In case you do sail, then you must stick to the rule to keep a distance of 1,5 metres from each other. This rule is valid on the boat as well as off the boat. An exception is made for family members of one household. You can look for more information about sailing in Leiden on www.leiden.nl/varen

Please note that the start of the sailing season (usually the 1^st of April) has been postponed because of the corona measures. This means that the bridges still work according to the winter schedule and so will not be operated on Sundays.

Building C at the Langegracht is equipped as a quarantine-location to accommodate  sick homeless people. It is not in use at this moment as there is no corona detected among the people who live in the shelter Binnenvest. If necessary, appropriate measures will be taken in consultation with the municipal health service (GGD).

All events in April and May are cancelled. 
 

The central government will take further measures. The latest information can be found on the website of the Government of the Netherlands.

As for entrepreneurs in Leiden inside and outside the cultural sector, a joint information point is set up.

Are you a self-employed person and do you work in the cultural sector and are you affected by this crisis? Please inform the contact point of the Art association (Kunstenbond). Please continue to monitor the websites Kunsten '92 and the Leiden Cultural fund.

Now, more than ever it is important to stay in contact with each other. The platform LeidsCement gathers the creative industry digitally.
 

No. Stay at home as much as possible. Getting fresh air is fine, but do not sport in a group context. Please use your common sense: do not go outdoors in groups, and definitely keep a distance of 1,5 metres.