Due to a new surge in COVID-19 cases, the Netherlands has issued new travel advice notices to its citizens, per the assessed risk per country. It is also only allowing non-EU citizens with vaccination certificates into its borders, with immediate effect.

It is advising its citizens to conduct only “necessary” travel to a list of “orange” countries. It’s also effectively barring entry to non-vaccinated non-EU residents.

South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the Southern African countries on the orange list and in East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are declared orange, due to “high risk of Coronavirus”. 

“Only travel to South Africa if it is necessary,” reads the advice in the South Africa section of the Dutch government website here.

Travellers who are not EU residents are not allowed to enter Netherlands if they are entering from an orange list country, unless they fully vaccinated, with a Netherlands-recognised vaccination,  or are Dutch citizens or another exception from a list (here).  

The recognised vaccines are: BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen).  For passengers who were vaccinated before August 14, the vaccination certificate is valid 14 days after complete vaccination. If vaccinated after August 14, the vaccination certificate is valid only after 28 days.)

South Africans and other non-EU residents are required to carry their paper vaccination certificates with them.

EU residents may provide an EU-issued proof of recovery or a negative result from a NAAT/PCR test taken within the 48 hours before travel.

But, all people entering without a Netherlands-recognised vaccination certificate are obliged to “self-quarantine” at home for 10 days. This could be shortened by booking for test and getting a negative result on day 5 or after.

Children of 12 to 18 years, travelling with their vaccinated parents or guardians are not required to complete a vaccination certificate. They are required to show a negative PCR test result from a test taken in the 48 hours before departure, or from an antigen test taken up to 24 hours before departure.

Children under 12 need not test nor be vaccinated.

Finally, the Dutch government gives the advice that all travellers from high-risk countries, both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, should test themselves before meeting others and/or returning to work/school.