Note: Last update of this article occurred on December 15th.
Lockdown in the Netherlands
It was announced on Monday that the Netherlands will go into its strictest lockdown yet from 15 December until at least Tuesday 19 January, in order to curb infections which are rapidly increasing.
Therefore the Dutch Government will shortly update their travel advice, check here to be sure of the latest updates.
Can I travel to the Netherlands?
Travelers from EU countries, Schengen area countries and the United Kingdom can travel to the Netherlands.
1. Quarantine
Travellers arriving in the Netherlands from certain countries and regions should self-quarantine for 10 days. Even if you do not have any symptoms or if you have tested negative for COVID-19. Once in the Netherlands, you can self-quarantine at home or in temporary or holiday accommodation.
You should self-quarantine if travelling from:
- 🇦🇩 Andorra
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
- 🇭🇷 Croatia
- Curacao
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark: city of Copenhagen, Faaborg-Midtfyn, Slagelse, Aarhus, Køge, Solrød and Greve
- Estonia
- Finland: Helsinki-Uusimaa region, including the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇪 Ireland: counties of Dublin, Donegal, Limerick and Louth
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇱🇻 Latvia
- 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇹 Malta
- 🇲🇨 Monaco
- 🇳🇴 Norway: City of Oslo and the regions Vestland and Viken
- 🇵🇱 Poland
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- 🇷🇴 Romania
- San Mariono
- 🇸🇰 Slovakia
- 🇸🇮 Slovenia
- 🇪🇸 Spain: except the Canary Islands
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
The most recent list can be found here.
You should also self-quarantine if you’re travelling from a country outside the EU, the Schengen area and the United Kingdom, EXCEPT for:
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇷🇼 Rwanda
- 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- 🇨🇳 China
You should self-quarantine even if you were tested before you came to the Netherlands and the test showed that you did not have COVID-19. This also applies if you got tested immediately after arriving in the Netherlands and the test result was negative.
2. Self-quarantine if you travelled through a country or region to which the self-quarantine advice applies
If your planned journey to the Netherlands takes you through an area to which the self-quarantine advice applies, you should self-quarantine for 10 days upon your arrival in the Netherlands.
If you spend time in a country or area to which the Dutch self-quarantine advice applies, always follow the basic Dutch rules (such as staying 1.5 metres apart) as well as any stricter local measures.
3. Quarantine exceptions
Certain travellers are exempted from self-quarantine, unless they have symptoms.
There is one exception. If you drive in a private vehicle and without stopping through an area to which the Dutch self-quarantine advice applies, you do not have to self-quarantine when you arrive in the Netherlands. However, if you stop for any amount of time, even just for fuel, you must self-quarantine.
4. Self-quarantine rules
Don’t leave your accommodation, whether that is your home, holiday accommodation or other temporary accommodation, like a hotel room. Do not travel or go to another location in the Netherlands. People arriving from abroad may not return to their country of origin. The following rules apply during self-quarantine:
- Nobody may visit you, except for medical purposes (for example, a doctor or a GGD official).
- Only members of your household or your travel companions may be in your accommodation with you. You must stay 1.5 metres away from them as much as possible. This means no hugging, kissing or sex.
- If you need medical assistance, do not go to the doctor or the hospital, but phone the doctor instead.
- Children under 13 may go to school, out-of-school care and sports clubs.
- Ask other people to do grocery shopping for you. If this isn’t possible, you may briefly go out to do grocery shopping. But only if you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19.
- You can sit outside if you have a garden or balcony.
- Do not go to your place of work, but work from home. If you are a healthcare professional you may, only in exceptional cases and under certain conditions, go to work. Discuss this with the municipal health service (GGD) or your company doctor.
- Do not use public transport.
If you do not develop any symptoms that could be caused by coronavirus, you can end the self-quarantine after 10 days.
5. Health-screening form
All passengers aged 13 and above travelling to and from Dutch airports must fill in a Health Screening Form. The airline you are flying with will provide you with a Health Screening Form. Alternatively, you can download and print one yourself. Fill in and sign the form before your flight. If you report symptoms on the form that suggest you may have Covid-19, you will not be allowed to board the aircraft.
Keep the form with you during your journey. Your Health Screening Form may be checked at the entrance to the airport and in the airport building itself, such as during check-in and boarding. At the destination airport, passengers will be selected at random and asked to show their form. You will also need a completed Health Screening Form for the return journey. You are advised to take a blank form with you in case you are unable to download and print a form at your holiday address.
6. Testing while in the Netherlands
Anyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms while in the Netherlands – whether they live here or are just visiting – should stay at home or in their holiday accommodation and get tested. Foreign tourists can call the national appointment line on 0800 1202 or +31 850 659 063.
