In early May 2020, a photograph began to circulate on social media along with the claim that restaurants in the Netherlands had solved the problem of dining out during the COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic by installing personal dining booths.

Snopes was quick to point out, these photographs do not show a restaurant adhering to any new guidelines implemented by the Netherlands government. The images were taken at Mediamatic, an art gallery and restaurant in Amsterdam, as they tested out a proposed dining solution for when the restaurant was allowed to reopen again. 

 

Mediamatic explains on its website that these “quarantine greenhouses” would allow for two people to dine together. The restaurant notes that these dining pods would only be recommended for people who were already living together.

 

The website invites you to enjoy a plant-based 4-course menu in their quarantine greenhouses. Book your own greenhouse by choosing a date and a time slot, from 18:00 - 20:30 or from 20:30 - 23:00. For now, they only offer a two-person ticket. But if you want to take an extra person, then they will charge €40 at the door. In case you want a unique experience by yourself, they will give you a €40 discount at the door.

 

While Mediamatic is taking reservations for when social distancing guidelines are expected to be relaxed, they note that these reservations may end up being cancelled (with full refund) if the plans are not approved.