The tougher coronavirus measures imposed two weeks ago – such as the closure of museums and swimming pools – will be lifted again on Wednesday at midnight and are likely to be in operation until mid December.

However, ministers hope to be able to say more about the festive season by December 8. Here’s an update of the coronavirus regulations as they will apply from Thursday.

Daily life:

• You may have no more than three visitors to your home in a 24 hour period, excluding children under the age of 13
• Group sizes in public places and spaces should be no more than four, from mixed households
• Working from home is to become the norm again

Hospitality sector

• Cafes, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands will remain shut but they may open for takeaways
• Hotels may continue to serve food to their guests and cafes may remain open past airport security gates
• Cannabis cafes will also be closed, but open for takeaway up to 8pm.
• It will be an offence to use or carry alcohol and cannabis products in public places between 8pm and 7am.

Face masks

• People are ‘strongly advised’ to wear face masks in shops, museums, government offices, theatres and cinemas
• Face masks are likely to become compulsory from December 1, when new legislation anchoring the coronavirus rules in law comes into effect.

Education

• Schools will remain open but will be allowed to close if there are too many infections
• Face masks should be worn outside lessons on school, college and university premises

Sports

• Swimming pools will reopen
• Team sports for adults in groups of more than four remain halted and junior sports competitions also remain paused to stop people having to travel to away matches
• Training will continue for youth players, but canteens and changing rooms remain closed
• The professional football competitions will continue, but without supporters.
• Athletes who compete internationally will be able to continue training at specific sites

Shops

• Shops apart from food stores must close at 8pm and hygiene rules are likely to be stepped up even further
• No alcohol, or soft drugs, are to be sold after 8pm

Museums and events

• All events for over 30 people have been cancelled
• Cinemas and theatres, and all indoor seating areas will reopen and be restricted to 30 ticket holders, regardless of their capacity
• Museums and amusement parks will reopen. Tickets must be bought in advance to ensure a spread of visitor numbers

Travel

• You should travel as little as possible and if you go away, stay at your holiday address as much as possible
• For travel abroad, see advice issued by the Dutch foreign affairs ministry. Most European countries are now at least orange, which means all but essential travel should be avoided
• If you arrive in the Netherlands back from an orange country, you should go into quarantine for 10 days