Dutch Government Relaxes Covid Rules
In a 25 January 2022 press conference, the Dutch government said it will ease its Covid-19 restrictions beginning Wednesday, 26 January 2022.
To make things easier for you, we have waded through their various web pages and have consolidated what we think are relevant to our clients. Please check the Government of The Netherlands website yourselves at https://www.government.nl for the most current information. We hope all their pages will be updated soon.
The Travelling to the Netherlands from abroad topic on the official Government of the Netherlands website provides a link to Tourism and recreation in the Netherlands which is titled "Coronavirus and holidaying in the Netherlands." This page doesn't show much except that visitors are no longer required to quarantine (it is not mentioned).
Checklists for entering or returning to the Netherlands from abroad brings us to Coronavirus and rules for people travelling from outside the EU/Schengen area.
Coronavirus and rules for people travelling from outside the EU/Schengen area
Travelling during the coronavirus pandemic is always a risk. There are rules for people wishing to enter the Netherlands. On this page you will find the checklist for people travelling from a country or area which is not participating in the EU travel rules scheme. Find out below whether you need to show a proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative test result. And whether you need to self-quarantine. The rules vary by country. The rules also depend on whether you live in the country you are travelling from or live in the Netherlands and have been visiting the country.
Note: The United Kingdom (UK) is not part of the EU/Schengen area.
Overview of countries and areas for which this checklist applies:
This checklist is for all countries except: all European Union member states and Schengen countries, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Monaco, San Marino. Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Vatican City, the Caribbean part of the Kingdom: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten.
You are travelling from a high-risk country or area
If the country or area you are travelling from is not on any of the lists above, this means it is a high-risk country or area. (They currently do not list any "very high risk" countries or areas).
You live in this country or area:The EU entry ban applies. There are some exemptions to the entry ban.
- You must always show a negative test result, even if you have proof of vaccination or a Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) based on proof of recovery.
- If you are travelling by air, complete a health declaration form (only when aged 12 or above).
- You do not need to self-quarantine.
The Travelling to the Netherlands from abroad page also has a link for Travelling to the Netherlands with proof of vaccination.
Travelling to the Netherlands with proof of vaccination
People travelling from within the EU/Schengen area who can show proof of vaccination can travel to the Netherlands. Travellers from from outside the EU/Schengen area must always show a negative test result as well.
Validity of proof of vaccination
After you have been fully vaccinated you will receive proof of vaccination or a vaccination certificate. But it is not valid until:
- 14 days after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca)
- 28 days after receiving the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.
Travelling to the Netherlands with a vaccination certificate from a country outside the EU
If you do not live in the EU, you are subject to the EU entry ban and cannot travel to the Netherlands, unless:
- you can show a valid, paper vaccination certificate, or
- you can show a digital vaccination certificate issued by a country taking part in the EU Digital COVID Certificate system (ec.europa.eu).
Your proof of vaccination and the vaccine with which you were vaccinated must meet these requirements:
Your vaccination certificate must:
- have been issued following vaccination with a vaccine that has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or is on the Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization (WHO);
- have been issued based on full vaccination. That means that:
- you received one dose of a single-dose vaccine (Janssen); or
- you received two doses of a two-dose vaccine; or
- you received one dose of a two-dose vaccine and it has been confirmed that you had SARS-CoV-2 in the 6 months before vaccination;
- have been issued in one of the following languages: Dutch, English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish;
- include the following:
- information identifying the person who has been vaccinated;
- information demonstrating that the person in question has been fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2;
- the name of the vaccine and the name of the manufacturer or marketing authorisation holder of each dose of vaccine administered;
- the date on which each dose of vaccine was administered;
- the name of the country in which the vaccine was administered;
- information identifying the issuer of the vaccination certificate.
The vaccine you received must have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or be on the Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization (WHO).
This is currently the case for the following vaccines: AstraZeneca
EU (Vaxzevria) , AstraZeneca - Japan (Vaxzevria), AstraZeneca -
Australia (Vaxzevria), AstraZeneca-SK Bio (Vaxzevria), AstraZeneca -
Thailand (Siam Bioscience Co., Ltd), COVAXIN (Bharat Biotech
International Ltd), Covovax, Nuvaxovid (Novavax), Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Vaccine - United States of America, Pfizer/BioNTech
(Comirnaty), Johnson & Johnson ((COVID-19 Vaccine) Janssen),
Moderna (Spikevax), Serum Institute of India (Covishield), Sinopharm
BIBP, Sinovac (Coronavac).
Your proof of vaccination is valid 14 days after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine listed above, or 28 days after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine ((COVID-19 Vaccine) Janssen).
Negative test result always required when arriving from outside the EU/Schengen
Travellers coming from a country outside the EU/Schengen area must show a negative test result, even if they have proof of vaccination. The test must meet certain requirements. Some travellers are also required to quarantine directly on arrival.
Everyone aged 12 and over must show a negative COVID-19 test result if they are travelling to the Netherlands from a country outside the EU/Schengen area. This requirement also applies to people travelling to the Netherlands from a high-risk country in the EU/Schengen area who do not have proof of vaccination or an EU Digital COVID certificate (DCC) based on proof of recovery.
Please note: the United Kingdom (UK) is not part of the EU/Schengen area.
You need a negative test result after a stay in:
- a high-risk country or area within the EU/Schengen area, unless you have a COVID certificate (proof of vaccination or proof of recovery);
- any country outside the EU/Schengen area.
Type of negative test result you need:
- a negative NAAT (PCR) test result based on a sample collected no more than 48 hours before departure in the foreign country, or
- a negative antigen test result based on a sample collected no more than 24 hours before departure.
This applies if you are travelling: by plane, by ferry or other ship (including sea and river cruises), with your own vehicle (such as a car or motorbike), by international train or coach.
Show your test result on your phone or on paper
If you test negative for COVID-19 before you travel to the Netherlands, you are less likely to bring the virus with you. You must therefore show a negative COVID-19 test result. This can be on your phone or on paper.
You need a negative test result to enter the Netherlands. The test result must meet certain conditions.
Five pieces of information will be checked
The document (either on paper or digital) will be checked to ensure it includes the following 5 pieces of information:
Type of test:
- The test used for a NAAT (PCR) test result must be a molecular NAAT (PCR) test (either PCR, RT PCR, LAMP, TMA or mPOCT) based on a sample collected no more than 48 hours before departure in the foreign country.
- For a rapid test result the test must be a rapid test conducted up to 24 hours before departure. Usually this is an antigen test but it can also be a NAAT (PCR) test.
No other type of test, including self-tests and serological tests used to detect antibodies in blood, is valid.
- Test result: the test result must be negative (or ‘not detected’) for SARS-CoV-2.
- Your given name and surname as stated in your passport or on your identity card.
- Date and time you were tested.
- Name and contact information of the institute, doctor or laboratory that conducted the test (logo or stamp).
Languages accepted
The negative test result must be in one of the following languages: Dutch, English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish.
If you are delayed: 24 hours extra
Are you delayed through no fault of your own? This gives you an extra 24 hours for your negative test result to be accepted in the Netherlands. You must be able to prove that the delay was not your fault
So, as we understand it, if you are travelling from the USA to The Netherlands for a barge charter, you need:
- to be fully vaccinated,
- show proof of vaccination,
- show your negative covid test result on paper or your phone (negative PCR test collected 48 hours or less before departure or negative antigen test collected no more than 24 hours before departure),
- if you arrive by air, complete a health declaration form,
- no need to self quarantine.
We have a few weeks open in Holland this spring.
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