Circus Renz has nowhere to go amid virus

A Netherlands-based circus has found itself with nowhere to go as coronavirus measures across Europe shut down the continent's entertainment industry.

"It's catastrophic for everybody," said Sarina Renz, of the Circus Renz Berlin family business that has been in existence since 1842.

For the foreseeable future, the circus is parked up behind an equestrian centre in the northern Dutch town of Drachten, waiting for an end to the crisis.

The circus' animals, including eight Siberian steppe camels, 15 horses and a llama, are spending their time in sandy fields eating their way through the circus' supply of food and supplies donated by locals.

There are 18 members of the extended Renz family on hand to look after the animals, but other performers have already been sent home, says Sarina.

Children from the family pass the time by playing around the trucks and animals and get home schooling - new for most Dutch children but not the Renz family, who are usually on the move anyway.

For now, the family has to get used to a more stationary way of life, without the lifeblood of the circus: the audience.

"We're just used to performing our shows. That's our life," said Sarina. "We live to make other people happy with our shows."

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