The Dutch government, led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte has resigned over the childcare subsidies scandal.
A report last month revealed that around 10,000 families in the Netherlands had been forced to repay tens of thousands of euros worth of subsidies, after being falsely accused of fraud.
This would make the lockdown stricter than the one imposed during the first COVID-19 wave between March and May, when schools were closed but shops could open.
As the unofficial head of the "Frugals" -- the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Finland -- Rutte is taking on the role of villain for a tough stance that has pushed an EU summit into a fourth day.