The Netherlands has made it compulsory to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The country is one of the last in Europe to introduce such a measure.
The rule will apply to those over the age of 13 in public buildings such as shops, railway stations and hairdressers from Tuesday.
The Netherlands has been one of the countries worst affected by Europe’s second wave of Covid-19.
It broke daily case records throughout October, and the number of new confirmed infections in the country of 17 million has remained fairly stable at about 5,000 a day for several weeks.
The new face mask rule will remain in place for at least three months, with those who ignore it facing a fine of up to €95 (£85; $113).
But there are questions over how the measure will be enforced. Major retail chains have said they will inform customers about the rule but not refuse entry to those without a face covering.
“This is not something which we consider part of our job as shop workers,” a spokesman for the Mirage retail group said.