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With its quaint, hidden alleyways, colorful riverside buildings that adorn its canals and world-famous coffee shops and nightlife districts, a trip to the Netherlands can provide Americans with the type of postcard experiences that they travel to Europe for in the first place. Unfortunately for American travelers, trips to the Netherlands have been off the cards for some time as a result of the global pandemic – until now.
The Netherlands has recently placed the US on its safe travel list, joining the likes of Germany in putting vacations to the country this summer firmly back on the menu. That means American tourists will be able to enter the Netherlands without testing or quarantines regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not.
Here’s everything you need to know about this story, plus a look at what restrictions are currently in place in the country.
US Travelers Can Vacation In The Netherlands – Information For Travelers
For both the US and the Netherlands, that pandemic could not have come at a worse time. The number of Americans traveling in the Netherlands had been steadily increasing; 2019 saw just over 1.5 million Americans make the trip, which was an increase of 6% compared to the previous year. Unfortunately, like most countries around the world, the pandemic led to border closures in the Netherlands that saw the total number of tourists flying into the country fall to a mere 7 million.
However, this week there has been action on the restrictions front, with an easing of entrance policies that is bound to see tourism levels in the Netherlands finally begin to improve. That’s because the United States was one of eight countries to be added to the list of non-EU “Safe countries/regions with a low COVID-19 risk” from today, alongside Albania, Hong Kong, Macau, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Serbia and Taiwan.
For American travelers heading to the Netherlands, the experience will be similar to how it was in pre-pandemic times. The addition of the US to this list means that travelers will no longer need to show a negative test result or self-quarantine when they arrive in the Netherlands – a fact that is bound to appeal greatly to travelers compared to restrictions still in place in other destinations and could be a decisive factor for Americans planning their summer vacations.
Travelers who are set to arrive in the Netherland via air will still need to fill in a health declaration form before arrival, a feature that some airlines allow to be completed digitally during the check-in process. Countries that were already on the safe list prior to the addition of the US include Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
Covid-19 Measures In The Netherlands – What Travelers Should Know
Whilst the levels of Covid-19 are low at present in the Netherlands, with the 7-day rolling average firmly below 1,000 at just 748, the country still has a series of measure in place in order to mitigate further spread of the virus. The government asks for masks to be worn when on public transport and in shops, and asks people to keep a distance of 1.5m from one another wherever possible.
Travelers heading to the Netherlands should still be able to experience all the country has to offer to a good extent. Shops are still open, with a capacity capped at one customer for 10 square meters, whilst bars restaurants and cafes are still open, with a maximum of four people at a table and closing time set at 10PM.
READ MORE:
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Countries Open For Vaccinated Travelers: The Complete List
EU Set To Allow Cross-Border Travel For Vaccinated Travelers
Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Arjen Jonkhart
Wednesday 25th of August 2021
What are the COVID rule for returning to the US?
Kashlee Kucheran
Thursday 26th of August 2021
72-hour antigen test
John Biel
Monday 28th of June 2021
By the way, as of June 26th the mask requirement has been lifted in the Netherlands. I just returned home to Canada yesterday and avoided hotel quarantine by exemption but had spent the day in Utrecht on Saturday with not a mask to be seen and some pretty large crowds both indoors and out. A bit surreal after wearing masks for so long. We were able to dine indoors and have a beer on the terraces, go to the grocery store and clothing stores all without needing a mask anymore.
Elisa
Tuesday 29th of June 2021
@John Biel, yes indeed. Face masks are only mandatory on public transport in NL.
Johnathan
Saturday 26th of June 2021
Would I be able to enter if I were coming from Spain (Madrid) in July? I will be coming initially traveling from the states to the Maldives and then stopping back in Spain on the way back home. However, if I can tack on Amsterdam just after Spain, that would be amazing!
Kashlee Kucheran
Saturday 26th of June 2021
mainland Spain is currently not on the 'safe list' for the Netherlands. You can still enter from there, but you will need a test. After July 1 if you are vaccinated, you may only need proof of vaccination. Since mainland Spain is currently 'high risk', they also suggest you self isolate for 10 days. All this may change again come July
Tammy Gunn
Friday 25th of June 2021
Do you know coming from Ecuador is on the safe list going to spain?
Stephan
Friday 25th of June 2021
Btw - my small country, Austria, also put the US on the list of safe countries last week....from the US you can enter either vaccinated (3 weeks after first dose for 3 months and 6 months after second shot) or recovered or tested.....
We will be happy to see you back in Vienna - and we hope you will let us in soon as well!