Netherlands - Bio-Security
With the continual change in protocols due to the pandemic, we outline the last-known situation below for yacht arrivals. Skippers should follow the recommended links in “resources” to confirm the latest protocols. Always check with your intended port of arrival before getting underway to be 100% certain of what is required. Please e-mail editor@noonsite.com if you find protocols have changed.
COVID-19: OPEN
Yachting Protocols:
October 2022
- Effective 17 September, 2022, the Netherlands lifted the EU entry ban and all Covid-19 related travel restrictions.
- See the Government Website for further details..
Resources:
- https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad
- https://www.zeelandveilig.nl/coronavirus-informationen-deutsch-english#open-accordion-97
- National Institute for Public Health: https://www.rivm.nl/en
History:
- From 27 March, 2020, only EU citizens were permitted entry to the Netherlands on yachts. In Zeeland (south of the Netherlands) it was no longer permitted to sleep on board your yacht. All public facilities closed including marinas and associated services.
- Some ports remained open to visiting yachts, for example Den Helder.
- Easing of lockdown restrictions began on 11 May, 2020.
- The Netherlands re-opened on 15 June, with tourists from the EU and the Schengen countries, except Sweden and the United Kingdom, able to visit with no quarantine. Non-EU travelers were still not allowed entry.
- By December 2020, even though borders were open, the recommendation was not to travel to the Netherlands unless it was strictly necessary. The country locked down for 5 weeks over the Christmas period.
- At the start of 2021 arriving with a negative COVID test was introduced as well as 10 day self-quarantine for EU and Schengen travelers.
- At the end of January 2021 a ban on flights and vessels from the UK, as well as a ban on flights from many other countries was introduced. Pre-arrival testing and testing on arrival, plus self-quarantine was mandatory for those arriving from high-risk countries.
- A travel ban was still in force for travelers coming from countries outside the EU.
- At the start of the summer 2021, rules eased, and if coming from a safe country citizens of any country could enter the Netherlands with no restrictions. However, in August 2021, rules changed again, and even those arriving from safe countries had to submit a negative PCR test for entry, proof of vaccination or proof of having had COVID.
- March 2022 all domestic restrictions were lifted as were entry restrictions for travelers coming from other EU/Schengen countries.
- 17 September, 2022, all Covid-19 related entry restrictions were lifted.
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Formalities: Documents
Related to following destinations: Netherlands
Country Navigation
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A port not to be missed when sailing the Friesian Islands is Harlingen. Both Vlieland and Terschelling are within reach, there is a connection to the inland waterways via the Van Harinxma Canal, and it is a beautiful town with a real seafaring feeling, including a very recognizable tidal scope. Waiting for the train bridge and town bridges to open up can take up to 30 minutes, but not more.
There is a much nicer and roomier marina in Amsterdam now, Amsterdam Marina (amsterdammarina.com). Newly built, great facilities. It’s a bit further from the centre, but 15min free ferry ride to the centre.
More detailed info regarding Standing Mast Route: http://www.varendoejesamen.nl/?language=en
A passport stamped with an entry into France (or any other Schengen Area country) does not negate the need to report your arrival into a different country, it only starts the clock ticking on your permitted length of stay in the Schengen Area.
Dutch formalities are a little unclear, we arrived in Rotterdam from Belguim via the MAAS and followed the VTS radio reporting rules as required reporting on each segment and requesting entry etc, see http://www.portofrotterdam.com.
we contacted the Harbour Master at Veerhaven before arrival and advised eta. Upon arrival and after berthing at Veerhaven spoke to HM and was advised no other formalities required. 1 hour later (7 pm Sunday evening) police launch arrived and had a good look at us from the cabin and 10 mins later 2 police officers arrived to advise us we had failed to report our arrival.
We were advised that Schengen formalities were not valid as we had arrived from the sea and although we had already cleared into France we needed to act as if we were arriving from international waters. We showed our passports with French EU entry stamps and French Customs inspection papers, this was apparently still not sufficient and another reporting was required although they were not able to tell us what.
We provided copies of all documentation and they advised that they would return if they needed any further information. they also advised that we would need to report to the HM at each port within the NL if we exited via sea eg Rotterdam to Scheveningen. We asked what documents or forms may be required or was there a website with such information and they advised us just to contact the HM on arrival.
We spoke to the Veerhaven HM again the next morning and he said he had no idea what they wanted and what we needed to do. as far as the triplicate customs forms and 1-year permit described above or any other papers at this stage no one seems to have any information on such documents.
Andrew s/v Katherine http://www.svkatherine.com