Dutch government underestimated COVID-19, top official tells inquiry

The Dutch government consistently underestimated the coronavirus during the first year of the pandemic, a top civil servant told a parliamentary inquiry. Mark Roscam Abbing, who was appointed to advise on the societal impact of COVID-19 policies in October 2020, stated that crisis management structures were dismantled too rapidly in the summer of 2020.

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It fell short time and again.

"It fell short time and again," Roscam Abbing said, recalling the government's hope that a severe lockdown would not be necessary well into autumn. He explained that his initial attempts to plan for safe Christmas celebrations were thwarted by the strictest lockdown occurring during that period. "The hope was that we would slowly emerge from it, but then we had to implement sharper measures again."

Roscam Abbing also revealed that Health Minister Hugo de Jonge was not initially supportive of his central advisory role. "He was not my biggest sponsor in the beginning," Roscam Abbing stated, adding that De Jonge feared it would obscure accountability for decisions. Initially relegated to a side room during key meetings, Roscam Abbing eventually gained more direct involvement after voicing his concerns.

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The hope was that we would slowly emerge from it, but then we had to implement sharper measures again.

He presented analyses on the social and societal impact of the measures during Sunday meetings at the Catshuis, the prime minister's official residence. However, Roscam Abbing hinted that his relationship with De Jonge remained strained, with the minister reportedly unreceptive to his suggestions on improving public adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.

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He was not my biggest sponsor in the beginning.