Indeed, it’s more like going back to roughly what the immediate neighbors are doing (except Denmark) than a frank “Let it Go”. They could not hold the hard line any longer, especially as before the recent election, Netherlands was in the Laissez-faire camp in Europe. Going from laissez-faire to one of the hardest line in Europe, jut when the first credible signs of the pandemy resolving emerged, was a strange move. A loosing bet by Mark Rutte (the prime minister) imho.
That being said, I do not think there will be an unforced “Let it Go” in most European countries. It will likely happen under street pressure, fueled by the few countries really relaxing (because they are conviced they should, or for political reasons) first (UK, Denmark, Scandinavian countries, Ireland), all with a lot of attempt at saving face.
And I guess that for the countries not correctly evaluating the street pressure and doing it too slow, it may turn sour with governments falling.
Correction: I hope rather than guess. Guessing what will happen politically has become really hard here.
Regarding NL Nightclubs opening regardless of the law, it may turn interesting (I live 100 km south so I will see from close)....
...but it’s for 10 days after the announce (Feb 2nd), Saturday 12th. It looks more like a bluff to get better compensations than a real intention to open. Else I think they would have targeted this Friday or Saturday 5th.
Still, who knows, they will have only a minority of citizen supporting them....but this minority is also the harder to manage, they have shown that they do not necessarily peacefully comply with anything...