Anyone traveling to the Netherlands by train, bus, boat or plane from abroad must be able to show a negative corona test statement (non-Covid-19 statement). The cabinet had already announced the measure last week to limit the risk of contamination and spread of the corona virus as much as possible. Despite this measure, the entry ban for the EU remains in place.
The negative test result must have been taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in the Netherlands. This test is in addition to the guideline for all travelers to self-quarantine for 10 days after arrival; not instead of. The cabinet continues to emphasize that only necessary trips can be made and that hygiene and quarantine guidelines must be adhered to.
Train and bus
The obligation applies to travelers and providers of international public transport by intercity train and to supra-regional cross-border bus transport. Regional cross-border bus transport is excluded from the scheme.
Carriers must ensure that they are checked, either when boarding or during the journey, but always before the first stop or stopping point in the Netherlands. Travelers who cannot provide a recent negative test statement may be requested by the carrier to leave the bus or train.
International passenger transport by ship
The cabinet has also decided, after consultation with ports and security regions, that from now on shipping companies sailing to the Netherlands from all areas where there is a high risk of COVID (both within and outside the EU) will be obliged to inform all passengers aged 13 and older. before boarding for the presence of a negative PCR test result. If passengers do not have a negative PCR test result that meets the requirements, they will not be allowed on board the vessel. This applies to international ferry services as well as other passenger transport by water, such as sea and river cruises. This is currently mandatory for ferry services to the United Kingdom. Before other ferry services or cruises start sailing, the cabinet will ensure that the negative test statement is mandatory by means of an instruction.
Due to this tightening of the rules, from 29 December there will no longer be any difference between the conditions for international travel to the Netherlands by plane, train, bus or ship. Introducing the requirement that passengers must submit a recent negative PCR test statement for any form of travel to the Netherlands is necessary to limit the risk of contamination and spread of the COVID-19 virus as much as possible.
Safe countries with a low COVID-19 risk
If you live in a country with a low COVID-19 risk, a safe country, you can travel to the Netherlands. There is no EU entry ban for this. It does not matter what nationality you have or what the purpose of your trip is. If you come from a safe country, you do not need to have a negative test result with you when you travel to the Netherlands.
Safe countries within the EU:
- Iceland
Safe countries within the Kingdom:
If you live on one of the islands within the Kingdom, you are exempt from the EU entry ban. You do not need the negative test statement if you are traveling from one of the islands below:
- Aruba
- Bonaire
- Sint Maarten
- Saba
- Sint Eustatius
Safe countries outside the EU:
- Australië
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Rwanda
- Singapore (from October 27, 2020)
- South Korea
- Thailand
- China
The EU entry ban applies to China until China also allows European travelers again. Travelers from China do not need to be able to show a negative test statement.
These safe countries can change. Therefore, keep an eye on the information from the central government for the latest information.
On December 16, 2020, the EU member states decided to remove Uruguay from the list of safe countries. This is because the health situation in Uruguay has deteriorated to such an extent.
Source: Rijksoverheid.nl
