Netherlands: The Netherlands on Tuesday (Feb 15) announced, From 25 February, travellers arriving in the Netherlands will no longer be required to self-quarantine. Travellers will, however, be required to have a negative test result to enter the country.
A yellow travel advisory is currently in place for EU countries. That means there are some risks but travel is possible. People travelling within the EU must have a Digital COVID Certificate based on proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID 19 or a negative test result. This will remain the case, even if the travel advisory for EU countries changes to green. This has been agreed upon at the European level.
The Netherlands also announced to reopen in 3 stages. Not all at once. Each stage is a big step towards full reopening, and the steps will follow each other in rapid succession.
Stage 1: effective immediately
Effective immediately the recommendation to receive no more than 4 visitors a day is cancelled. The advice on working from home as much as possible is changed to a recommendation to work no more than half the time at the office.
Stage 2: 18 February
From Friday 18 February all locations in the Netherlands will be allowed to stay open until 01.00. Until 25 February, the coronavirus entry pass (3G) must be shown at locations where this is currently mandatory, such as restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres and music venues and at professional sporting events. Once inside any of these locations, the rules on assigned seating, wearing a face mask and keeping 1.5 metres apart will no longer apply and capacity will no longer be limited. At locations accommodating more than 500 people, however, assigned seating and face masks will still be mandatory. The recommended period of self-isolation after a positive test result will be shortened to 5 days, but the guest must be symptom-free for at least 24 hours before stopping self-isolating.
Stage 3: 25 February
On Friday 25 February the final step. From then, opening times will return to normal and lifting of the following requirements: showing a coronavirus entry pass (3G) at locations accommodating fewer than 500 people, staying 1.5 metres apart, wearing face masks while walking around bars and restaurants, schools and shops, having a limited number of visitors, and assigned seating in bars, restaurants and other venues. That means that large nightclubs, discotheques, festivals and events can open up without limitations. At indoor locations accommodating more than 500 people where there is no assigned seating, for example, nightclubs and festivals, everyone must show a negative test result. This does not apply at events where there is a continuous flow of visitors, such as trade fairs and conferences. To ensure that vulnerable people are able to travel safely, the requirement to wear a face mask on public transport and at airports will remain in force even after 25 February.
On 15 March the Netherland government will evaluate the remaining rules including the face mask requirement for public transport, the pre-admission testing requirement (1G) and the advice on working from home.
Self-isolation
The self-isolation recommendation will be relaxed as of Friday 18 February. The minimum period of isolation will be shortened from 7 days to 5 days (if you are symptom-free for 24 hours). You should still self-isolate after a positive test, even if you have had a booster vaccine. This will prevent you from infecting the people you live with and others. If you have tested positive and have symptoms of COVID-19, the self-isolation period begins from the time you developed symptoms. If you test positive but do not have symptoms, the period starts on the test date.
