Covid-19 Update - 15 February 2022
During the most recent press conference of the national government, it was indicated that many corona measures will expire in the coming week(s).
The following measures will continue to apply, even after 25 February:
- Wash your hands regularly
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow
- Don't shake hands
- Ventilate rooms regularly
- Keep your distance or wear a face mask in crowded places (personal advice)
- Do a self-test and test regularly in case of complaints
- Stick to the advice regarding quarantine and isolation (do the Quarantine check)
- We recommend that those who have not been vaccinated, or who have not yet received a booster shot, do so.
Between friday 18 February and thursday 24 February wearing a face mask and keeping 1.5 meters distance is still mandatory when moving around the building.
Visiting concerts and performances between friday February 18 and thursday February 24 is again possible. Go to www.koncon.nl/agenda to see whether you need to register or buy tickets. We do ask external visitors up to and including 24 February to show the Corona Check App. However, it is then no longer mandatory to wear a face mask or to keep 1.5 meters distance during the concert or performance.
The above advice will continue to apply from Friday 25 February, but the obligation to show the Corona Check App at concerts and performances will also expire. Also wearing a face mask and keeping 1.5 distance is no longer mandatory.
Unfortunately, we still have to assume that classes, projects and presentations/exams will be canceled due to illness, isolation and/or quarantine. We ask all pupils, students and teachers to stay in close contact with their department head or coordinator.
(Self) testing
Students, teachers, and other staff should self-test at least twice a week, and even every day when working or studying with larger groups, such as projects and certain group classes. Tests can be ordered via www.zelftestonderwijs.nl using your @koncon.nl account. At the start of a multi-day project, we expect from all involved a negative result of a self-test on the first day. Self-tests for the next days will then be made available by the school. Self-tests are also available at the reception.
Complaints
In case of complaints, even mild complaints, you stay at home and have yourself tested at the GGD. You need to remain in quarantine while waiting for the test and until a negative result is obtained. If you test positive, you will need to go into isolation for 5 days and only return to school after you have been free of symptoms for at least 24 hours.
Check the Quarantine Check on Rijksoverheid.nl and see whether you need to go into quarantine (have been in contact with...) or isolation (tested positive yourself) in your specific case.
Extra layer of protection available
Self-tests are available at the KC reception and employees or students who feel unsafe can pick up an FFP2 mask free of charge. Inform yourself how to safely handle such masks and when to replace them.
In the KC's proposed course of action, the KC does not ask who has or has not been vaccinated and therefore cannot determine who should or should not be quarantined. The KC leaves this responsibility and choice with the student or employees themselves.
Contact
Please check your koncon e-mail address regularly for personal updates by principal Henk van der Meulen. Headlines will be shared through this webpage as well.
With questions in regard to the curriculum and lessons please contact your department.
Please the FAQ list below for your reference.
E-Learning
The website www.koncon.nl/e-learning has been launched to assist teachers, students and pupils creating and following online lessons.
ICT
For any ICT support you can mail ICT@hdkdenhaag.nl. Visit start.hdk.nl for a shortlink to digital platforms in use by The Royal Conservatoire, or check the KC Portal.
Education Service Center
The Education Service Center (ESC) front-office will be open from Monday to Friday between 10 am to 4 pm.
General - FAQ
The Royal Conservatoire and School for Young Talent Taskforce convenes on a regular basis to monitor and discuss newest developments and make new decisions if appropriate. This information will be made available through the koncon.nl/corona website, where a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) section is added, as well as a contact form. Parents of children of the School for Young Talent will be emailed by the headmaster of the school in case of new developments.
Self-testing
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) offers students and employees of universities the opportunity to have self-tests delivered at home via www.zelftestonderwijs.nl.
Why self-testing?
By providing every student and employee with free self-tests, possible infections can be quickly detected. Some people do not suffer from symptoms themselves but can pass the virus on to others unnoticed. The use of these preventive self-tests can lead to an infection being detected (earlier), thus preventing the virus from spreading unnoticed. The self-test can be used at home if you have no corona-related complaints, but still want to rule out for yourself and others that you may be contagious.
Requesting tests
Tests can be requested by visiting www.zelftestonderwijs.nl, selecting the educational institution (Royal Conservatoire) and logging in with your @koncon.nl account details. On this website you will also find an extensive FAQ with questions and answers about self-testing. All info is available in Dutch and English.
Experiencing problems logging in?
If your @koncon.nl account is not working or if you want to reset your password, consult start.hdk.nl or contact ict@hdkdenhaag.nl for technical support.
Self-tests pick up point (limited)
Students and employees who do not have an @koncon.nl account or who are temporarily unable to log in, can pick up two tests per week at the reception desk at Juliana van Stolberglaan, while supplies last or get in contact via receptie@koncon.nl.
Traveling from abroad?
- Please adhere to this checklist. You will find all relevant info on self-quarantine upon arrival in the Netherlands on this government website.
- We ask students who are about to travel or returning from abroad to contact their department head or coordinator.
- We ask teachers who cannot be physically present in the buildings of the Royal Conservatoire due to travel restrictions, quarantine rules or (for example) fragile health, to contact their department head or coordinator.
In case of mild symptoms, the advice is as following:
- Stay home and do not travel when ill
- Staff, please report to your direct supervisor as well as HR: hr@hdkdenhaag.nl.
- Students, please report to your department head or coordinator.
Should your symptoms deteriorate, in particular should you have respiratory complaints:
- First, contact your general practioner by phone and tell them about any recent trips and your symptoms. Avoid contact with others.
- If you do not have a general practitioner yet and you live in The Hague, you can register free of charge with StudentDoc's student doctors. There is no zipcode policy and switching is also arranged in no time. We strongly advise everyone to register at the start of their study if you do not yet have a doctor.
- For general questions about corona, call the free national number of the GGD: 0800 - 1351.
- If you want to be tested, call 0800 - 1202.
- In case of emergency in the evening, nights or weekends: The Hague - Hadoks GP post: 070 346 9669
You can find information on the Dutch vaccination programme on the website of the Dutch government: https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/dutch-vaccination-programme
Students - FAQ General
On the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), you can find a special web page with Frequently Asked Questions.
Continue your studies online as far as possible and do not deregister from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen/BRP) via your municipality!
Do you have a Dutch ressidence permit for study and have you already deregistered from the BRP: inform the International Students Adviser about it as soon as possible! He can report your temporary departure abroad because of the Corona crisis to the IND, to avoid that your residence permit will be cancelled.
You can find contact details of embasssies and consulates in the Netherlands on the website of the Dutch Ministry of Foreig Affairs.
For formal communication and most direct contact with departments and teachers, the Royal Conservatoire uses your @koncon.nl account.
Some forward their @koncon.nl to their personal e-mail address, but the personal mailbox is outdated, full, or marks the message as Spam. You might be missing critical information, especially in this current time of corona (COVID-19) crisis.
For now, you can reach your @koncon.nl e-mailaccount through outlook.office.com/mail. Your e-mail address is comprised of your [studentnumber]@koncon.nl. Please make sure to remove old messages, so your e-mail account doesn’t run into storage issues.
If you have lost your password, please visit start.hdk.nl and choose ‘reset password’. If this does not work, please contact ICT@hdkdenhaag.nl.
Please check the below platforms for reliable information regarding the corona (COVID-19) virus:
- RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) - English and Chinese
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch Government) - English
- City of The Hague - English
- NOS (Dutch Broadcasting Foundation) - use Chrome browser to translate
- Study in Holland (measures corona virus)
Student counsellor Elke de Roos offers informatie through the intranet about finding a GP in The Netherlands.
If you do not have a general practitioner yet and you live in The Hague, you can register free of charge with StudentDoc's student doctors. There is no zipcode policy and switching is also arranged in no time. We strongly advise everyone to register at the start of their study if you do not yet have a doctor.
Evening and weekends, you have access to The Hague general practice center Hadoks: 070 - 346 9669
When visiting a GP you will need to be insured. Most Dutch insurance agencies offer a 24/7 online registration process. Check www.koncon.nl, the following links for more info or contact International Students Adviser, Eugène Eijken:
- www.koncon.nl
- Zorgverzekeringslijn (Health Care Information leaflet for International students)
- Study in the Hague
- International Health Centre
- I Am Expat (search for a GP by postal code)
Due to the situation with regard to the Coronavirus and the cancellation of numerous concerts and other musical/cultural activities, submissions for CDO credits for incomplete projects may be accepted on a case by case basis (e.g. if rehearsals or preparations for a particular activity have already taken place). If you have any questions please contact Dominy Clements via CDO@koncon.nl.
You can find locations abroad where you can get these tests done via this Dutch government website.
For Preparatory Year Bachelor, Preparatory Year Master, Bachelor, Master, Artist Certificate
On the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), you can find a special web page with Frequently Asked Questions. Or contact our International Students Adviser.
Teachers and staff - FAQ
It is important to also create a good working environment when working from home. A workplace where you can work healthy and effectively, this also ensures better productivity. Adjust the workplace properly with these recommendations. These tips will also come in handy when we will be able to work again at The Royal Conservatoire building:
Variety
It is important for both your productivity and your body not to work continuously for too long. Alternation can be done in different ways: alternating work posture, work tasks, regularly looking away from the screen, taking micro breaks and using pause software can help with this.
Music and climate
Music can help but also disrupt your concentration. Also ensure a good climate in your home, for example keep the room temperature around twenty degrees.
Keyboard shortcuts
Make more use of Windows keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse.
Limit the use of tablet and smartphone
Both in terms of total duration per day and the continuous duration. Perform tasks that can be done at a fixed workplace there as well. If you work with a laptop, it is best to use a separate keyboard and a separate mouse. Another tip is to put your chair close to the table. If you are far from your table or desk, you work with your arms extended. That puts a lot of strain on your neck and shoulders.
A proper workplace everywhere
Sitting and using screens often also occurs in private time. The same risks apply. It is therefore important to alternate after working hours and to be alert to signals.
Employees who work from home do not have to report sick when in a normal situation there would be no reason to report sick. Real' sick reports are made by sending an email to the head of department and to HR@hdkdenhaag.nl.
The scheduled consultation hours with the company doctor continue as usual. If you have a cold, cough or fever, the consultation hours can be converted into a telephone consultation.
If a holiday scheduled in the coming weeks is cancelled, the holiday hours allocated may be reversed. Please inform your department head and P&O via HR@hdkdenhaag.nl.