The mitigation policy was motivated by the aim to achieve herd immunity in the population.

As the capacity for testing and tracing was quickly pressured in the southern provinces, the policy switched from containment to mitigation aiming to prevent overwhelming Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

To prevent further spread of the virus, initial containment policies were strengthened by lockdown measures. Soon, more cases started to arise throughout the rest of the country. Regional variation was initially due to the first cases popping up in the south of the country and community transmission was quickly observed in the two most southern provinces. The government therefore quickly adopted several economic measures. Irrespective of the mild measures, the economy took a severe hit. A comparatively mild lockdown was implemented with much individual freedom and responsibility, in contrast with other neighbouring countries where complete restriction on movement was quickly implemented by the government. The country has taken a liberal policy course, with an early shift from containment to mitigation on March 16 th. The COVID-19 pandemic reached the Netherlands on February 27 th, 2020, when the first patient tested positive for the virus.

Netherlands lockdown extension