This page was last updated on 16 December, 2021.
At a Glance
Travel Restrictions
Entry For Vaccinated Travelers: Partially Allowed
Vaccination Requirements: A coronavirus variant of concern has been discovered in southern Africa. From 12.00 noon on 26 November a ban is in place on passenger flights to the Netherlands, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba. Information on this page will be updated as soon as possible.
People who are fully vaccinated can travel to the Netherlands, but they must be able to show proof of vaccination. Travellers from very high-risk areas always need to show a negative test result, even if they have proof of vaccination.
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 another EU country
You can travel to the Netherlands with a vaccination certificate from another EU country. This can be a digital or paper certificate. The vaccination certificate and the vaccine must meet the EU requirements.
Please note: the United Kingdom is not a member of the EU.
Digital vaccination certificate
The EU has set up the EU Digital COVID Certificates system (DCC). Under this system the COVID certificates issued by each member state are accepted by all the other EU member states. In the Netherlands COVID certificates are issued via the CoronaCheck app and website. Other EU countries have their own certificates.
Your vaccination certificate will only be accepted if it meets the requirements and if you were vaccinated with an approved vaccine.
Tourist Entry: Partially Allowed
Testing: Negative PCR test is required for some countries.
Quarantine Required: Depends
Quarantine Details: Quarantine for 10 days required for some countries.
Local Restrictions
Lockdown in Effect: Partial
Events: Partially Allowed
Transport: Operational
Shopping: Open
Restaurants and Bars: Open with restrictions
Detailed Travel Advisory
Published 06.12.2021
1. Until 15 December 2021, flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe are suspended.
2. Passengers are not allowed to enter.
– This does not apply to:
– nationals and residents of the Netherlands;
– nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City (Holy See);
– passengers arriving from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland;
– passengers arriving from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong (SAR China), Jordan, Korea (Rep.), Kuwait, Macao (SAR China), Monaco, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saba, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, St. Eustatius, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay or Vatican City (Holy See);
– passengers with a long-term residence permit issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain or Sweden;
– family members of a national of an EEA Member State or Switzerland; more details can be found at https://tinyurl.com/j5ycrntc
– passengers with a consular, diplomatic, official, service or special passports traveling on duty;
– passengers with a Schengen visa issued after 19 March 2020 traveling through the Netherlands to another Schengen Member State;
– merchant seamen;
– military personnel;
– students with a proof of admission to a course of study;
– partners with a completed ’Declaration of relationship for COVID-19 entry ban exemption’ form, a return onward ticket and proof that they have been in a relationship for at least 3 months with a resident of the Netherlands who is a national of an EEA Member State or Switzerland. As well as accompanying children of the partner who are younger than 18 years. More details can be found at https://tinyurl.com/25s9p98h
– passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that:
– they were vaccinated with Janssen at least 28 days before arrival and the certificate was issued on or after 14 August 2021; or
– they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival with AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covaxin, Covishield, Moderna (Spikevax), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm or Sinovac.
3. Passengers are not allowed to transit through the Netherlands to Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or Vatican City (Holy See) as final destination.
This does not apply to:
– nationals and residents of the Netherlands;
– nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City (Holy See);
– British nationals;
– passengers arriving from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland;
– passengers arriving from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong (SAR China), Jordan, Korea (Rep.), Kuwait, Macao (SAR China), Monaco, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saba, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, St. Eustatius, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay or Vatican City (Holy See);
– passengers with a long-term residence permit issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or the United Kingdom;
– nationals of Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Kiribati, Korea (Rep.), Malaysia, Marshall Isl., Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States), Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia (Rep.), Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Isl., St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, USA, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Venezuela with a note verbale that the country of destination is allowing them to enter;
– family members of a national of an EEA Member State or Switzerland; more details can be found at https://tinyurl.com/j5ycrntc
– passengers with a long-term “D” visa issued by Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland;
– passengers with a consular, diplomatic, official, service or special passports traveling on duty;
– passengers with a visa issued on or after 19 March 2020 by the country of final destination;
– merchant seamen;
– military personnel;
– passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that:
– they were vaccinated with Janssen at least 28 days before arrival and the certificate was issued on or after 14 August 2021; or
– they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival with AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covaxin, Covishield, Moderna (Spikevax), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm or Sinovac.
4. Passengers must have:
– a negative COVID-19 test taken at most 48 hours before departure. Tests accepted are: LAMP, MPOCT, NAAT, PCR, RT-PCR and TMA; or
– a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken at most 24 hours before boarding the flight of the first embarkation point.
Details can be found at https://tinyurl.com/59zy6bna
– This does not apply to:
– passengers younger than 12 years;
– passengers with a diplomatic passport;
– merchant seamen;
– passengers with a NATO Travel Order or a NATO-2 visa;
– passengers with a COVID-19 recovery certificate issued at least 11 days and at most 180 days before departure if arriving from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland;
– passengers arriving from Bulgaria, Czechia, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania or Slovakia;
– passengers arriving from a country other than Afghanistan, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Costa Rica, Cuba, French Guiana, Georgia, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Israel, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro, New Caledonia, Philippines, Serbia, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand, United Kingdom or Venezuela with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that:
– they were vaccinated with Janssen at least 28 days before arrival and the certificate was issued on or after 14 August 2021; or
– they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival with AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covaxin, Covishield, Moderna (Spikevax), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm or Sinovac. Details can be found at https://tinyurl.com/t2nxv3jt
5. A completed “Health Declaration Form” must be presented prior to boarding. The form can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ybtmdgja
– This does not apply to passengers younger than 13 years.
6. Passengers could be subject to self-quarantine for 10 days. A list of quarantine exemptions can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3zvzaz3b
– This does not apply to:
– passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival. Vaccines accepted are: AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covaxin, Covishield, Moderna (Spikevax), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm or Sinovac.
– passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated with Janssen at least 28 days before arrival.
Detailed Tourist Information
European Union residents are allowed to enter the Netherlands for any reason, but there are different rules for those traveling from “safe” areas within the EU/Schengen area and those traveling from areas deemed high risk.
Visitors from other countries not deemed very high risk (with a variant of concern) can enter the Netherlands.
Currently, the following destinations outside the EU considered “safe”: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Svalbard, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay. A full list of safe countries, regularly updated, can be found on the Dutch government website (https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/checklist-entry)
Destinations outside the EU considered as “very high risk” are Afghanistan, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Eswatini, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Georgia, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, India, Israel, Lesotho, Malaysia, Martinique, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Philippines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.
List of very high risk area where there is a virus variant of concern
South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe
Vaccinated travelers from “safe” countries within the EU do not need to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter the Netherlands.
Travelers arriving from safe areas outside of the EU must provide proof of vaccination,or a negative PCR test result or antigen test taken within 48 hours (or collected within 24 hours for antigen tests).
Travelers from high-risk areas that are fully vaccinated can enter to Netherland. You still need to quarantine and provide negative PCR test results.
Proof of vaccination is accepted only if it:
– has 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);
– has been issued based on full vaccination. That means that:
-the vaccination schedule consists of a single dose and this single dose has been administered (Janssen); or
-the vaccination schedule consists of two doses and:
-both doses have been administered, or
-one dose has been administered and it has been confirmed that
the person vaccinated had previously been infected with the virus
SARS-CoV-2.
– has been issued in one of the following languages:
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
includes the following:
-information identifying the person who has been vaccinated.
-information demonstrating that the person in question has been fully vaccinated against the virus SARS-CoV-2.
-the name of the vaccine and the name of the manufacturer or marketing authorisation holder of each dose of the vaccine administered.
-the date on which each dose of the vaccine was administered.
-the name of the country in which the vaccine was administered.
-the name of the issuer of the proof of vaccination.
-a signature or stamp of authenticity placed by the issuer.
Approved vaccines
The following vaccines have been approved by the EMA/WHO:
Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty)
AstraZeneca EU (Vaxzevria)
Johnson & Johnson (COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen)
Moderna (Spikevax)
AstraZeneca-SK Bio (Vaxzevria)
Serum Institute of India (Covishield)
Sinopharm BIBP
Sinovac
Those coming from “very high risk” countries must show the results of a negative PCR or antigen test (taken within 48 and 24 hours respectively if arriving by plane).
Unvaccinated travelers from “very high-risk” areas outside of the EU are require to quarantine for 10 days. Returning a further negative test on day five of quarantine means visitors from these countries can move around the country freely. You can make an appointment to get tested once you are in the Netherlands by calling 0800 1202.
All travelers must complete a health screening form, which can be downloaded here https://bit.ly/3C3tzY8.
Lockdown Details
Keep the basic rules:
– Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms: stay at home and get tested by the municipal health service (GGD), even if you’ve been vaccinated.
– If you test positive for coronavirus: stay at home and avoid contact with other people, even if they’ve been vaccinated.
– 1.5 metres is a safe distance. Protect yourself and other people.
– Don’t shake hands.
– Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
– Cough and sneeze into your elbow.
– Ensure a good flow of fresh air indoors.
-Work from home unless this is impossible. Only go to work if you cannot work from home.
Special events
– Weddings: there is no maximum group size. Full capacity is permitted, with 1.5-metre distancing. (https://bit.ly/3gULx6U)
– Funerals: there is no maximum group size. Full capacity is permitted, with 1.5-metre distancing. (https://bit.ly/3t9o9r3)
Locations that are open subject to certain conditions
Almost all locations are open, subject to certain conditions, including:
– Shops and general markets.
– People with a contact-based profession can perform their work. You can go to a hairdresser or masseur or have a driving lesson.
– Sports venues, like gyms.
– Restaurants, cafés and bars. Conditions include 1.5-metre distancing and assigned seats for all guests.
– Cultural venues, like museums, theatres, cinemas, libraries and concert halls.
– Art and cultural institutions, such as music schools and arts centres.
– Recreational locations like theme parks, nature parks and zoos and laser gaming venues. Spas, saunas and tanning salons are also open.
Closed locations
Dance venues, such as nightclubs and discos are closed.
Events
– At indoor events with assigned seats:
-Without coronavirus entry passes: full capacity with 1.5-metre distancing.
-With coronavirus entry passes: no more than two-thirds capacity.
– At outdoor events with assigned seats:
-Without coronavirus entry passes: full capacity with 1.5-metre distancing.
-With coronavirus entry passes: no more than 750 visitors or, for larger locations: no more than two-thirds capacity.
– At outdoor events without assigned seats:
-With coronavirus entry passes: no more than 750 visitors.
– Indoor events without assigned seats are not permitted.
– Outdoor events without assigned seats and without coronavirus entry passes are not permitted.
– At locations where there is a continuous flow of people, the maximum number of people is 1 per 5 square metres.
Childcare and education
– Daycare centres for children aged under 4 are open.
– Primary schools are open.
– Out-of-school care is open.
– Secondary schools are open. Certain conditions apply.
– Secondary vocational schools (MBO) are open. Certain conditions apply.
– Higher professional education institutions (HBO) and universities are open. Certain conditions apply.
Sports
– Everyone can participate in sports activities indoors and outdoors, including in groups. Conditions apply.
Sources
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/NLD
Data Source: covidcontrols.co
