The Netherlands' two biggest cities, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, have made their own call to enforce the wearing of face masks in busy public areas but public opinion is mixed on whether it is the right move.

People are being asked to wear the face coverings around shops and markets where there are large gatherings with the view that it is difficult to keep the advised 1.5 meters apart for social distancing.

Amsterdam and Rotterdam have decided to go out on a limb as the Netherlands is one of the few European countries where masks in public spaces are still not mandatory. It has only imposed face masks on public transportation. 

The government and the National Health Authority, RIVM, say there is not enough scientific proof that masks are effective in the fight against the spread of the pandemic. For the Dutch, individual liberties are very important and some legal experts claim that obliging people to wear masks would be unconstitutional.

Rather than wait and see if there is a shift in government policy on face masks, the Netherlands' two biggest cities have made their own decision but not everyone is happy.

At the Albert Cuypmarkt in Amsterdam, after the new rules came in on Wednesday, only a handful of shoppers were not wearing masks. 

There are free face masks being given out and there is little complaining even if people are not sure of the benefits

"If everybody says it's necessary, I'll do it without complaining," says a passerby, "but I don't know if it helps." 

The owner of a vegetable stall said the new rules could have come earlier. 

"I'm fine with it. There are many tourists now, I have a small table, so I feel safer," she said. 

But some shopkeepers are afraid the masks will have a negative impact on their business. 

A fishmonger is disappointed with the city's decision. "And by the way," he adds, "It's not practical at all. We have to call, we talk to people, many foreigners, who already have trouble understanding us." 

Then he put on his mask to demonstrate and mumbled: "So if you talk like this, it's even worse!" He added that he didn't have the time to fight the new rule in court.

Currently, the authorities are seeing how the public respond to the new guidelines, showing some leniency as the policy comes into effect. It means that in the first few weeks, the police will tell people who are not respecting the rules to wear a face mask, or to leave the area. 

There will be no immediate fines, but when the police start handing out tickets, the penalty will be 95 euros ($113).

Check out our new six-part podcast series Notes on a Pandemic as CGTN Europe finds out how business, science and people have risen to the challenge of COVID-19.