Amsterdam hosts 1300-person dance party as Covid-19 experiment

An electronic music dance party in Amsterdam aims to determine whether festivals can reopen safely.

The experiment by Fieldlab, a collaboration between the Netherlands' government and entertainment industry, tested measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and monitored audience behaviour.

1,300 people were split into five groups with different rules. Some had to wear face masks, while others were encouraged to shout and cheer. Everyone was equipped with sensors to monitor how much contact they had with others.

"We are actually testing here if the people adhere to the measures that we requested from them," said Pieter Lubberts of Fieldlab Events.

Attendees had tested negative for Covid-19 ahead of the party and will all be tested five days after.