The dance was part of a series of experiments conducted by Fieldlab, an initiative of the government and the entertainment industry.
All 1,300 people present at the event were divided into five groups with different rules. Some had to wear masks, while others were encouraged to shout and cheer as much as possible. All were equipped with sensors to monitor how much contact they had with others.
“I’m in a state of great excitement,” said DJ Lady Bee, who performed at the ball, “It looks almost normal.”
The Netherlands is known internationally for its electronic music festivals, with the industry group Event Maker claiming that it is a $ 8 billion industry. Only one annual event in Amsterdam features more than 2,000 DJs in 80 clubs. The Amsterdam Dance Event is still scheduled for October this year.
The hope is that Saturday’s test will help determine how events like the dance festival can safely reopen to crowds. The main focus was on people’s behavior and whether they followed the rules.
“In fact, we are testing here whether people adhere to the measures we request,” said Pieter Lubberts, of Fieldlab Events.
People won tickets to attend the ball. 100,000 people entered to win. Everyone had to have a negative COVID-19 test before the dance, and everyone will be tested five days later.
Fieldlab previously conducted other experiments involving a business conference, a football game and a theater show. A small number of participants have tested positive for coronavirus since then, but there is no evidence that they contracted the virus in the events.
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