(TAN): The Dutch government will lift restrictions for several European countries starting mid-June, joining Italy which reopened its borders to tourists from the European Union and Schengen Area earlier this week.
The Netherlands will initially open its borders to visitors from 12 countries in the region that have controlled the spread of COVID-19. Travellers from Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic will be able to enter the Netherlands for nonessential purposes starting June 15.
“The Netherlands’ policies to control coronavirus have led to encouraging results, which is why the country is carefully moving to re-open its borders. Initially, borders will be open only to tourists from 12 European Union countries,” the Dutch government announced.
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In the next phase, spanning between mid-June and July 6, the nation will allow tourists from 16 more countries to enter the Netherlands. Residents of France, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Greece, and Slovakia will be able to travel to the Netherlands for a vacation.
However, citizens of Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom will still not be permitted to enter the Netherlands. Only international visitors from countries with health risks “similar to or lower than in the Netherlands” will be able to enter the Netherlands, the authorities said.
The government added that all tourists must observe the measures laid down by the country to fight COVID-19 during the stint of their visit. Visitors must also book their accommodation ahead of their visit – failure to show proper proof of reservation may result in being stopped to enter the country.
While the Netherlands will not allow people from outside Europe to enter except for essential travel, the country also directed visitors from high-risk regions both within and outside Europe to show proof of complete health screening and quarantine themselves for a fortnight.
“Travellers from high-risk areas within or outside Europe must also produce a completed health screening form, and are strongly urged to self-quarantine for 14 days,” the administration said.
Flights from many countries have been banned from arriving at the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands such as Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba until mid-June.
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