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14.10.2020

Entry Restrictions

Travellers arriving in the Netherlands from certain countries and regions in the EU+ should self-quarantine for 10 days, even if they do not have any symptoms or if they have tested negative for COVID-19. Once in the Netherlands, you can self-quarantine at home or in temporary or holiday accommodation. The government provides a list of countries concerned.

EU+ comprises EU Member States plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City State and the Republic of San Marino.

For some areas of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom certain restrictions apply, please see www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl (in Dutch).

Everyone must follow the Dutch advice and rules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Travelling from the Netherlands or returning to the Netherlands

The Netherlands divides areas and countries, depending on their epidemiological situation, in different categories. The Dutch official travel advice provides an indication of the security situation in a country in relation to the coronavirus pandemic.

Countries are classified as:
- Green: no special security risks;
- Yellow: these countries have taken measures that have a limited impact on daily life;
- Orange: daily life is seriously disrupted in these countries. There may also be an entry ban for travellers from the Netherlands. Non-essential travel is advised against;
- Red: Due to very serious safety risks all types of travel is strongly advised against. There is no prospect of entry and exit.

Travelling to countries or zones with an 'orange' or 'red' travel advisory is strongly discouraged. If this code is issued based on increased spread of COVID-19 in that particular territory, you are strongly advised to self-quarantine at home for 10 days immediately after returning to the Netherlands. This rule applies also if the travel advisory changes to 'orange' after arrival to the Netherlands. As an exception, no quarantine is required when returning from countries that have been set 'orange' only to flag the enforcement of restrictive measures for Dutch travellers in those countries.

Travel advice for individual countries (in Dutch)

For some areas of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom certain restrictions apply, please see www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl (only in Dutch)

Mandatory Travel Documentation

All passengers aged 13 and above travelling to and from Dutch airports must fill in a Health Screening Form before starting their flight. Travellers reporting COVID-like symptoms will not be allowed to board the aircraft.

Your Health Screening Form may be checked at the entrance of the airport and in the airport building itself, during check-in and boarding. At the destination airport, passengers will be randomly selected 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.

Transit

Travellers from EU and Schengen countries can transit in the Netherlands. Permanent (long-term) residents of the following countries are also allowed to transit the Netherlands: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, and China*

*The condition of reciprocity explicitly applies to China: the EU will only open to China when China opens to EU citizens).

If you transfer from a third country via Schiphol - Amsterdam airport to an onward non-Schengen destination, you have to stay in the non-Schengen transit zone and leave within 48 hours to a non-Schengen destination, being able to show proof of onward travel with a valid flight ticket and travel documents. If you transfer via Schiphol - Amsterdam airport in order to travel onward to another Schengen country, the Dutch entry conditions apply.

Third-country national coming from outside the EU and Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein

Permanent (long-term) residents of the following countries are allowed to enter the Netherlands: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, and China(*)

(*)The condition of reciprocity explicitly applies to China: the EU will only open to China when China opens to EU citizens.

Entry explicitly concerns residents of countries, not nationals. E.g. an American resident in Australia is allowed to travel to Schengen. For more information, and a list of exceptional categories, please see https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl and https://www.government.nl

Find out more:

Dutch government on COVID-19

FAQs about Tourism

Netherlandsworldwide.nl

Contact point for the Netherlands

Contact form

Documents you need to travel in Europe

11.09.2020

Travelling to the Netherlands

The Netherlands divides areas and countries, depending on their epidemiological situation, in different categories. An updated map providing travel advice is available from the joint website of all Dutch representations worldwide.

For some areas of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom certain restrictions apply, please see www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl

Third-country nationals

Permanent (long-term) residents of the following countries are allowed to enter the Netherlands: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, and China(*)
(*)The condition of reciprocity explicitly applies to China: the EU will only open to China when China opens to EU citizens.
Entry explicitly concerns residents of countries, not nationals. E.g. an American resident in Australia is allowed to travel to Schengen. For more information, and a list of exceptional categories, please see https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl and https://www.government.nl

Travelling from the Netherlands or returning to the Netherlands
Travelling to countries or zones with an 'orange' or 'red' travel advisory is discouraged. If you do go, you are strongly advised to self-quarantine at home for 10 days immediately after returning to the Netherlands.
This rule applies also if the travel advisory changes to 'orange' after arrival to the Netherlands.
As an exception, no quarantine is required when returning from countries that have been set 'orange' only to flag the enforcement of restrictive measures for Dutch travellers in those countries.
For some areas of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom certain restrictions apply, please see www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl (only in Dutch)

Travel advice for individual countries

Rules and Exceptions
Foreign travellers from countries where the health risks are similar to or lower than in the Netherlands can enter the Netherlands for tourism.
Everyone must follow the Dutch advice and rules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The travel advice provides an indication of the security situation in a country in relation to the coronavirus pandemics.

Countries are classified as:
- Green: no special security risks;
- Yellow: these countries have taken measures that have a limited impact on daily life;
- Orange: daily life is disrupted in these countries. There may also be an entry ban;
- Red: this country or area is completely closed. There is no prospect of entry and exit.

Mandatory Travel Documentation
All passengers aged 13 and above travelling to and from Dutch airports must fill in a Health Screening Form before starting their flight. Travellers reporting COVID-like symptoms will not be allowed to board the aircraft.

Your Health Screening Form may be checked at the entrance of the airport and in the airport building itself, during check-in and boarding. At the destination airport, passengers will be randomly selected 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.

Find out more:
www.governernment.nl
netherlandsworldwide.nl

Driving abroad

Source: https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/NLD

21.04.2020

Customs issues related to the COVID-19 emergency
Customs issues out of EU – NL perspective

The Corona virus outbreak has led to many far-reaching measures. This also applies to the
work of Customs. In this note a summary of the measures taken by the Customs
Administration of the Netherlands.

General information

Where it is possible and responsible to do so customs has 'downscaled' some of their
activities. The vital work processes remain in place. The continuity of customs processes in
relation to the movement of goods is safeguarded as much as possible.

 All telephone and digital counters are still open.
 The handling of declarations and the release of goods is continued as usual.
 Customs also continues their enforcement tasks concerning the health of citizens
and the safety of society.
 It is also necessary to maintain the core fiscal responsibility at a responsible level.

Activities for the other enforcement areas are downscaled. Customs trusts that by scaling
down their operational work they have struck the right balance between limiting the health
risks for customs staff and their duty to contribute to the safety and health of society.

Import and export

Import
There is a possibility of exempting the import of personal protective equipment from customs
duties under certain conditions.

The following conditions apply:

 There must be a disaster affecting one or more EU Member States. With the corona
crisis in which we now find ourselves, this condition has been met.
 The personal protective equipment must be introduced by an organization that falls
within one of the following categories: government organizations, disaster-relief
agencies or philanthropic organizations.
 The goods will be donated to or used for victims of the disaster.

The WCO keeps a list of national legislation of countries that adopted temporary import
support (lowering or waiving of direct and indirect duties and taxes) on certain categories of
critical medical supplies in response to COVID-19. Click here for this list.

Export
The export of personal protective equipment is subjected to the production of an export
authorization. EU Regulation 2020/402 was published on 15 March and was effective
immediately. Personal protective equipment is listed in Annex I of the regulation. The
regulation is amended by Regulation 2020/426.

The application for an export authorization must be submitted to customs ‘Central Import and
Export Office’ (the CDIU). Customs has taken the necessary measures to enforce the export
on personal protective equipment.

The WCO keeps a list of national legislation of countries that adopted temporary export
restrictions on certain categories of critical medical supplies in response to COVID-19. Click
here for this list.

Certificates of origin
As proposed by the EU, the Netherlands accepts certificates issued for preferential purposes
in the form of a copy, issued on paper or electronically. More specifically this applies to:

 A copy, either in paper or in electronic form (scanned or available on-line), of the
original certificate signed and stamped by the competent authorities as normally
required
 The certificate, not signed and stamped by the competent authorities as normally
required but with a digital signature of the competent authorities, or a copy of it, either
in paper or in electronic form (scanned or available on-line).

Customs assures the authenticity and validation of the proof of origin carried out by the
customs authority of the exporting country. Customs must be able to check the original
certificates in the administration afterwards.

The measure applies to: EUR.1, EUR-MED, FORM A and A.TR certificates.

Export certificates
Countries might have problems sending their original export certificates by courier services
to the EU, because of the suspension of activities or to flight restrictions. As a consequence,
the original documents cannot be presented in time at customs.

Customs will, until further notice, accept the following procedure:

-To perform documentary checks customs accepts health certificates that are issued in the
TRACES system, although no electronic signature has been implemented so far.

-In case certificates are not issued in the TRACES system, the Competent Authority in a third
country can send the export/health certificate and catch certificate (fish) as a scanned
document by email to customs.

-The procedure is in line with letter SANTE.DDG2.G/BVG from the European Commission
and is announced and communicated by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product
Safety Authority (the NVWA).

Customs supports entrepreneurs
Due to the corona crisis, many entrepreneurs may temporarily not be able to comply with
their payment obligations pursuant to the customs regulations and it may not be possible to
observe all the deadlines and customs formalities. In addition to the measures taken by the
EU, the Customs Administration of the Netherlands will support entrepreneurs who get into
problems for this reason by providing a set of measures.

Statutory deadlines
 Tailor-made arrangements are provided for entrepreneurs who are not able to keep
to the strict statutory deadlines such as deadlines for the filing of supplementary
customs declarations (the monthly declaration).
 Entrepreneurs are advised to make proforma objections and applications for refunds.
If the statutory deadline is exceeded, we will make allowances for the circumstances.
 Failure to meet legal deadlines for customs transit as a result of corona measures
are an excusable delay.

Authorizations
 Tailor-made solutions are provided for organizations that are unable to meet the
solvability requirements of an AEO authorization, the provision of access to a
customs representative or the reduction or waiver of the guarantee under a UCCauthorization comprehensive guarantee.
 The time limit is suspended for current applications for authorizations which cannot
be completed properly due to the corona crisis.

Deferment of payment
 On application, a deferment of payment will be granted to entrepreneurs.
 For the excise/consumer tax, a tax return have to be filed in the normal way. A
postponement of payment can be asked when the additional assessment is received.

Penalties
 Certain allowances for entrepreneurs are made who, as a result of the corona crisis,
fail to meet their customs obligations in a timely fashion. If it is not a matter of a
violation or a crime or willful misconduct/gross negligence, a penalty is not imposed.

17.09.2020

Code red: no impact on the transport sector

Good transport is exempt from travel restrictions to or from Belgium and Germany.

Belgium will issue code red for both South Holland and North Holland (provinces in the Netherlands) from 16:00 on 19 September.

In Germany, the measure take effect immediately for both provinces.

Code red means that there is a formal travel ban on all tourist or non-essential trips.

Goods transport is considered to be essential, so is not affected by these restrictions.

Source: TLN

02.09.2020

In order to prepare effectively for Brexit, Dutch stakeholders involved in Brexit, including TLN, have launched a mini-campaign to inform the public of the procedures for transport to the United Kingdom from 1 Janaury 2021.

Digital pre-notification of customs documents will be mandatory at all ferry terminals and most short-sea terminals. Without this pre-notification, trucks will not be allowed to enter the ferry terminal and will be diverted to parking areas. 

Attached you will find information in English and German and a YouTube video on how transport to the United Kingdom will work from 1 January 2021.

Dutch website with information on Brexit:

• English: https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/en/
• German: https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/de/
• The YouTube movie in both languages:
• English: https://youtu.be/4Ip0mpP11q4
• German: https://youtu.be/o5BYDKSK8X0

• A short outline of the five steps to be taken:

• English: https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/en/brexit-in-5-steps/
• German: https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/de/der-brexit-in-5-schritten/

Source: TLN

03.06.2020

On 3 June, the Dutch Infrastructure Authority announced the creation of a new free parking space to ease congestion on the border with Germany during the Corpus Christi day. The parking will be open from 22:00 as of 10 June until 22:00 of 11 June. The parking has 200 parking spaces and the authorities are asking drivers to use them as much as possible to prevent bottlenecks during that festive day.

The parking’s address is: Marketing 19 a, 6921 RE Duiven, The Netherlands. GPS 51.962767 - 06.028641.

Source: TLN

02.04.2020

In order to guarantee the flow of supplies, especially those destined for the supermarkets and pharmacies, the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management has extended the relaxation on driving and rest times until 1 June 2020.

The same conditions continue to apply for the following:

·       Maximum daily driving time of 11 hours

·       Maximum weekly driving time of 60 hours

·       Maximum fortnightly driving limit of 96 hours

·       Postponement of a weekly rest period from six to seven 24-hour periods.

Source: EVOFENEDEX

19.03.2020

Currently, the Netherlands is under a relatively relaxed Coronavirus (COVID-19) regime. Most people work from home. The government aims to have the number of infected people at the same time under control. Shops remain open although certain department stores have individually decided to close.

To enable an efficient loading and unloading procedure at shippers’ premises, it is recommended that drivers take personal protection materials with them such as masks and gloves.

The associations are in communication with the government in order to safeguard restaurants and other facilities for drivers. The Ministry recommends that drivers take their meals at fuel stations. All other restaurants remain closed until at least 6 April.

There is an ongoing debate in the Dutch Parliament and it is possible that measures will become stricter in the coming days.

Sources: Evofenedex and TLN