The Netherlands walks back quarantine mandate for vaccinated travelers
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Keeping track of the ever-changing entry requirements and restrictions can be extremely frustrating for travelers eager to book a vacation. But the Netherlands is complicating things further by quickly flip-flopping on a new quarantine mandate.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Less than two weeks after imposing a 10-day quarantine for travelers (regardless of vaccination status) from the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries deemed “high risk,” Dutch officials have changed their minds and decided to roll back the directive.
From 22 September, fully vaccinated visitors from the U.K., the U.S. and other countries on that list will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival in the Netherlands, according to USA Today.
Vaccinated travelers are still required to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result upon arrival. People who are 13 and older who arrive by plane must also fill out a health declaration and carry it with them throughout their trip.
Unvaccinated visitors from high-risk countries are still prohibited from entering the Netherlands.
The reversal will no doubt be surprising to some, and frustrating for any travelers who spent the past few weeks scrambling to change their travel plans after the self-isolation mandate was put into effect.
It also comes right after Dutch officials decided to end social distancing measures and launch digital health passes (given to people who are fully vaccinated, tested negative for COVID-19 within 24 hours or can prove they have recovered from COVID-19). The move should help Dutch nightclubs, bars, events and festivals get back to business.
It’s no secret the travel industry was unhappy with the quarantine mandate given the recent efforts to revive travel.
In June, the Netherlands had reopened to American travelers with few restrictions: No vaccine, no quarantine, not even a negative test required for entry.
But the implementation of the 10-day quarantine period came after the EU recommended tighter restrictions on U.S. travelers, in particular, due to the spread of the delta variant. The Netherlands was the only country to take such drastic action.
The country’s flagship airline, KLM, criticized the decision, calling it “a big step backwards” in a statement.
Featured photo by Artie Photography Artie Ng/Getty Images.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,600
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 3X points on dining and 2x points on travel, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.