The new and more stringent measures announced by the government on Tuesday are not an ill wind for all sectors, because Christmas tree sellers expect this season to be an especially profitable one.

‘Now that people are not going away on holiday or going to restaurants, they want to make their homes extra gezellig,’ Gerard Krol, chairman of the Dutch Christmas tree growers association, told broadcaster NOS. ‘And you can’t get more cozy and comfortable than with a Christmas tree.’

Last year already revealed a trend towards a multi tree Christmas, and this is likely to continue this year, he said. ‘People put one in the living room and one in the kitchen or one on either side of the door. The second tree concept is doing well,’ Krol said.

The trees are a bit smaller this year because of the drought of the last three years but are fuller, prettier and last longer, Krol said.