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Last update: 14.06.2021
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands has changed since May 15, 2021 the travel advice (color codes) for several countries from orange to yellow, and in some cases even to green. It is now possible again to travel from The Netherlands to an increasing number of countries with green or yellow travel advice. That is more beneficial for your travel insurance coverage, quarantine and testing obligations. This creates new possibilities! So which countries can I go on holidays to from The Netherlands this summer?
Since last year a generally negative travel advice was applicable. Until May 15, 2021 the whole map was colored with orange or red travel advice. The Dutch government wanted to discourage Dutch inhabitants to travel abroad. This to limit the possibility of further spreading of COVID-19 and virus mutations. Now these colors for some countries have changed from orange to yellow or green, holidays abroad are possible again with travel insurance coverage.
Travelers coming from The Netherlands are now welcome at all countries with a travel advice (color code) yellow or green, as mentioned below. If Dutch travelers are now not welcome in a certain country, for example when this country finds our infection rate too high, this country will remain on or turn back to orange.
Which countries can I go on holidays to?
Effective immediately, you can travel to the following countries fom The Netherlands, as per the travel advice (color codes) as set by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Click on the country or area name to visit the respective Dutch governmental travel advice page (check under ‘Coronavirus’).
Countries with color code green
Countries and island groups with color code yellow
- Aruba
- Curacao
- Greece partly, only:
- Aegean Islands (excluding Crete)
- Ionian Islands: Corfu, Lefkada, Ithaka, Kefalonia, Paxi, Zakynthos, Kythira, etc.
- Finland
- Ireland
- Malta
- Portugal including the Azores and Madeira (mainland 14 days quarantine upon arrival)
- Rwanda
- Spain partly, only:
- The Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera
- Canary Islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Graciosa
- Saint Martin
- Thailand
New additions after May 15, 2021:
In chronological order of addition.
- Bonaire – yellow from May 19, 2021
- Portugal – was already yellow, but mainland quarantine obligation was lifted for travelers from The Netherlands on 22 May, 2021 (see below update)
- Sardinia – yellow from May 28 mei, 2021 (mainland Italy still orange changes as of June 10, 2021, see below)
- Hungary – yellow from June 4, 2021 (but still with an entry ban, so for now only business travelers, students, etc.)
- Corsica – yellow from June 4, 2021 (rest of France still orange)
- Bulgaria – yellow from June 4, 2021 (with proof of vaccination, recovery of COVID-19 infection or PCR or rapid test)
- Germany – yellow from June 10, 2021 (still registration and COVID-19 test before arrival)
- Austria – yellow from June 10, 2021 (PCR test max 72h, antigen test max 48h or proof of vaccination)
- Italy – yellow from June 10, 2021 (PCR or antigen test still required, which must not be older than 48 hours on arrival)
- Czech Republic – yellow from June 10, 2021 (admission requirements depending on color NL on CZ list)
- Slovakia – yellow from June 10, 2021 (show proof of vaccination or earlier infection or quarantine)
- Luxembourg – yellow from June 10, 2021 (test obligation when traveling by plane)
- San Marino – yellow from June 11, 2021 (vaccination certificate or test)
- Malta – yellow from June 14, 2021 (PCR test from 5 years old)
And more changes…
- Iceland – green from June 17, 2021 (was yellow since May 28, 2021, please note entry restrictions)
- Romania – green from June 17, 2021 (was yellow since May 28, 2021, please note entry restrictions)
- Poland – green (was already yellow from June 10, 2021, vaccination certificate or quarantine on arrival)
- Greece – South Aegean Islands (i.e. Andros, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kea – Kythnos, Kos, Mykonos, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Rodos, Syros, Santorini, Tinos) also yellow again from June 17, 2021 (were orange since May 30, 2021 , please note entry restrictions). The North Aegean Islands (i.e. Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos, Iimnos and Samos) were already on yellow.
- Cyprus – yellow from June 17, 2021 (note entry restrictions)
- Liechtenstein – yellow from June 17, 2021 (note there are entry restrictions)
- Croatia (except Sjeverna Hvatska region including Zagreb) – yellow from June 17, 2021 (note there are entry restrictions)
- Switzerland – yellow from June 17, 2021 (note there are entry restrictions)
Countries with color code orange/red
- Rest of the world >> see map and Quarantine obligation after return to The Netherlands: for which countries?
If you click in the above list on a certain country, it will lead you to the governmental source with more explanation of the color codes and local rules. The information is in Dutch, so better use Google Chrome browser and translate to English with two clicks.
More countries are expected to be added in the near future. This will depend on several factors, like COVID-19 infection rates of both The Netherlands and those countries. I expect Iceland to be added soon for example, since they were one of the first to announce their clear entry rules. But perhaps the infection rate in The Netherlands is currently too high for them to allow us in? Time will tell.
Update: The Portuguese government has lifted the quarantine obligation for travelers from the Netherlands. (…) Anyone traveling to Portugal no longer needs to be quarantined (at home). (…) The quarantine obligation had previously been lifted for Madeira and the Azores, but anyone who wanted to go on holiday to mainland Portugal was faced with a quarantine obligation of fourteen days. Now, travelers from the age of two who arrive by airplane from The Netherlands, are required to show a negative PCR test (taken up to 72 hours before departure) to enter Portugal.
Travel Pro 22.05.2021
Local rules
Please familiarize yourself with the rules of the country of your choice before booking and departure. For example, Thailand still requires 14 days quarantine upon arrival, in a hotel assigned by the government. Obviously something you want to know before going, right?!
Many countries still have rules in effect on when/where to wear a face mask, evening clock, distance to keep from others, etc. Best sources are local governmental websites as indicated per country on the website of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Dutch only).
Countries indicated with yellow travel advice set additional rules for travelers. For example:
- Mandatory negative test result: all countries as mentioned above, except Thailand (where it can only shorten your quarantine). It varies per country whether children also have to be tested or not.
- Mandatory quarantine: some countries require travelers ro quarantine themselves upon arrival, including Ireland, Finland, Portugal, Thailand and Rwanda. The duration of the quarantine varies by country. In some countries you only have to quarantine while waiting for the test result upon arrival.
- Special rules: some countries set different rules for arriving travelers. For example Curacao wants travelers to take an antigen test on the 3rd day after arrival. Some countries want travelers to complete a health declaration upon arrival.
Book your trip
So now you know the answer to the question: Which countries can I go on holidays to from The Netherlands this summer? you can book a trip to one of those countries or islands if you want. Here you need to make a choice: book everything yourself or ask a travel agent to do that for you? If you book everything yourself, make sure to use your credit card and book as flexible as possible. Things can change quickly, so check the cancellation/change conditions carefully before booking.
Should you want to book yourself, I can recommend the following booking sites:
- Accommodation: Booking, Expedia, Eliza was here, Agoda, Natuurhuisje.nl, Heerlijkehuisjes.nl, Interhome, Radisson Blu
- Rental car: Sunny Cars (excellent flex service)
- Camper: WorldWideCampers (compare quotes)
- Bus tickets: Flixbus (Europe), 12GoAsia (Asia)
- Flights: Skyscanner (but be aware of online broker sites), Transavia
- Activities, tours & transfers: Get Your Guide, Viator, Klook, Voyagin, Take Me Tour (Asia)
- Parking airport NL: Q-Park
- Package deals: TUI, Reizendeals.nl, Expedia
Travel agent
Travel agents will have the right answer to the question: Which countries can I go on holidays to from The Netherlands this summer? The benefit of asking a travel agent is that they will arrange everything for you, also if something will change, and know and stay up to date on all the rules. They will give you their full support, which can be extra beneficial in insecure times like this. Also, if you book a package deal (hotel, flights), non-medical repatriation is the responsibility of the travel organization.
Also, if the travel agent is a member of SGR, ANVR and the Calamity Fund you are covered for bankruptcy for instance. A travel agent does not necessarily need to be more expensive than booking online, they can adjust the package often within your budget. Examples of travel agents in The Netherlands: Stip Reizen, Travel Store.
Once you booked
- In case you need a PCR or quick test before departure, I can recommend the following:
- Vaccinaties op Reis (13 locations in NL)
- PCR Test Nederland (same day result, 19 locations in NL/BE/DE)
- The situation in a country can change quickly, for example when the COVID-19 infection rates will rise in The Netherlands or at your destination. So the smartest is to stay as flexible as possible. Stay up to date on the admission requirements and local rules of your next destination and – if applicable – airline. For example which tests are needed and where/when a facemask is mandatory.
- Always keep an eye on the governmental travel advice. Download the Reizen app of Buitenlandse Zaken and set your favorite(s). Then you will receive notifications in case anything changes in the travel advice given by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Check your travel insurance what their coverage is. No Dutch travel insurance company covers cancellation due to COVID-19 for bookings made after mid-March 2020 for example. Not all insurances cover orange travel advice destinations, should it change between your booking and departure for example.
The travel advice that is valid on your return date is valid for the question whether or not you should quarantine upon arrival back in The Netherlands. Keep in mind this can change between booking, arriving and returning.
PCR test
The travel advice color codes are not an indication whether or not you need a PCR test before departure for example. Please check the specific travel advice section ‘Corona’ for more details on that. You may also want to check the local authorities and your airline to ensure you do not miss out on any detail. Or contact your travel agent who can do all that for you.
In case you do need a PCR or quick test before departure, I can recommend Vaccinaties op Reis (NL only) and PCR Test Nederland (same day result, NL/BE/DE). The GGD will not provide a travel certificate.
Travel tips & info
Now you know Which countries can I go on holidays to from The Netherlands this summer? you may want to get more information on what to do and see in these countries. Out of the earlier mentioned countries, on this website you will find travel tips and information on the following of these countries:
- Curacao
- Finland (Lapland)
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Portugal (Sintra near Lisbon)
- Spain (Ibiza, Gran Canaria)
- Thailand
- Netherlands
If you click in this list on the respective country then it will lead you to my travel tips & info.
I also included The Netherlands as travel destination because that is still the least tricky option. And The Netherlands has so much to offer! Have you ever been to Drenthe or Limburg for example? I plan to visit several out of the 100+ Dutch vineyards this summer.
What do the color codes mean?
The answer to the question: Which countries can I go on holidays to from The Netherlands this summer? has a lot to do with the travel advice (experessed in color code) valid for a country. The color codes give an impression of the safety risks, the health risks and the COVID-19 measures in a country or region.
Please be smart and only travel to countries with green or yellow travel advice. Whichever country you go to, you will have to deal with COVID-19 measures such as a quarantine and/or mandatory test.
- Green: You can travel to the country or area. When returning to The Netherlands, you do not have to show a negative COVID-19 test result and you do not need to be quarantined.
- Yellow: You can travel to this country or area. But be aware: there are safety or health risks. Prepare your trip well. When returning to The Netherlands, you do not have to show a negative COVID-19 test result and you do not need to quarantine.
- Orange: Travel to this country or area only if absolutely necessary. Vacation trips are not a necessity. If you decide to go anyway, there can be consequences, for example for your travel and cancellation insurance coverage. Prepare yourself very well. Upon return in The Netherlands, you must show a negative COVID-19test result and you will have to quarantine yourself.
- Red: Please do not travel to this country or area, it is dangerous. If you decide to ignore that negative travel advice, and you are going to go anyway, please take into account that you must show a negative test result and you will need to go into quarantine upon arrival back in The Netherlands.
Update: from June 1, 2021, two types of orange travel advice countries or areas can be distinguished. 25 countries with orange travel advice are marked as a very high-risk area and are subject to a mandatory home quarantine, with a fine if caught non-compliance. For all other countries with orange travel advice, quarantine after returning to the Netherlands is an urgent advice.
Read the article Quarantine obligation after return to The Netherlands: for which countries?
Color codes travel advice
The yellow, orange or red color of the travel advice can come from various reasons, from violence to COVID-19 infection rates, this varies per country. This travel advice is determined by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on a lot of factors. And important for insurance coverage for instance. For further explanation on the travel advice color codes of The Netherlands check out this page.
I would strongly advice to reconsider your trip if the travel advice of your country of choice becomes orange again. This because it may have consequenses (risks) for your health, travel insurance, non-medical repatriation, etc. Especially if you are not vaccinated yet. If the number of COVID-19 infections is too high in a country, the orange travel advice will remain applicable, or even go back from yellow/green to orange.
Where do you want to go on holidays this summer? Is your favorite destination listed? As you can see, countries like the UK, Germany, Belgium, France, etc. are not listed yet. I will try to keep this article up to date as things will develop further.
Source: Nederlandwereldwijd.nl
I wrote several articles about COVID-19. Want to read more on this topic? Check out the COVID-19 Blog Archives.
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Last Updated on 06/19/2021 by Flitter Fever
