Netherlands avoiding PCR testing requirements

[ceejayt]

I have booked a family holiday for ourselves and two of our daughters families for a week at Dunreil in the Netherlands. One daughter is taking a caravan and going via France and we are taking the motorhome. Netherlands still has UK not on its safe list so testing is required.

Second daughter is camping and has booked P and O ferry from Hull - there are 6 of them and not only do they have to provide a PCR test P and O also require another £39 per person test just to get on the boat. basically almost £600 on top of the ferry fare. The ferry fare is refundable.

The other issue is what if they get to Hull and one child tests positive - none of them can go, test costs are lost as well as the holiday. They would take lateral flows before they set off but nothing is 100%

Daft as it may seem, the alternative is to get train to London and then to Brussels - no testing required. Stay overnight and then hire car and travel to Dunreil - entering from another EU country no testing required.

Have I missed something?

Family have been looking forward to this for about 6 months and we all thought restrictions would be lifted by Easter but have not been for Holland.

Any thoughts?

 

[Jonny1953]

I haven't checked but I would imagine that the Dutch would need to know if you had recently been to one of their "unsafe" countries.

 

[The Wino]

Why not change tack and go to another country instead.

 

[John Barrett]

I haven't checked but I would imagine that the Dutch would need to know if you had recently been to one of their "unsafe" countries.

Agreed. It's their Country and their rules. Trying to avoid them shows some of us Brits up for what we are...

 

[ceejayt]

Why not change tack and go to another country instead.

No refund on the booking so would lie around £1500

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ceejayt]

Agreed. It's their Country and their rules. Trying to avoid them shows some of us Brits up for what we are...

Agreed but how much sense is it that you can go to the rest of Europe with proof of vaccination and not Netherlands. EU themselves recommend vaccination proof only.

 

[orridge]

You can use lateral flow tests instead of pcr so much cheaper, going via another country does not get around the requirements to enter the Netherlands when travelling from the UK so why is P & O insisting on PCR ?

The Eu regulalations for other EU countries having a lower level of requirements is not relevant to us any more.

 

[Bailey58]

If the ferry fare is refundable as you say can the family go through France via the channel or tunnel depending of course on how The Netherlands view entry via another EU country if the journey originated in the UK.

 

[Garfields]

Your other potential problem is will you need to show the results of PRC test at site? Also have the kids had at least two jabs which is more likely to be asked for proof of on arrival at site? We were regularly asked for this when in Italy recently.
Rules could be different by Easter anyway I would hold off booking PCR test till a few days before.

 

[nicholsong]

I haven't checked but I would imagine that the Dutch would need to know if you had recently been to one of their "unsafe" countries.

And where would they check that? At the Belgium/Netherlands immigration post maybe?

Has anyone got a recent photo?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ingwe]

And where would they check that? At the Belgium/Netherlands immigration post maybe?

Has anyone got a recent photo?

Actually, when we were travelling from France to Rotterdam via Belgium, as soon as we entered into Netherlands, a customs car followed us and then pulled us over where they asked to see our vaccination certificates. Perfectly friendly and helpful but there you are.

 

[nicholsong]

Actually, when we were travelling from France to Rotterdam via Belgium, as soon as we entered into Netherlands, a customs car followed us and then pulled us over where they asked to see our vaccination certificates. Perfectly friendly and helpful but there you are.

Interesting.

Not asking for PCR test?

Also you said 'Customs': do they perform both Customs and Immigration roles?

Geoff

 

[Ingwe]

Not sure why there are references to PCR tests at P&O Hull. We’re planning a trip out from there next week and did a test booking. This refers to lateral flow tests as a requirement to enter the Netherlands. I attach the screenshot.
There is a P&O added ambiguity. It says that to streamline the LFT testing required for Holland, they can now supply tests at £29 plus VAT. This seems to suggest that only their LF tests are required. It doesn’t suggest that you can use a LF test obtained elsewhere within the requisite time period. I think a little bit of extra profit making by P&O.

The UK govt site says, with regards to Netherlands, if fully vaxed, a negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before travel or a negative LTF test taken no more than that 24 hours before travel.

 

[Ingwe]

Interesting.

Not asking for PCR test?

Also you said 'Customs': do they perform both Customs and Immigration roles?

Geoff

They only required sight of the vaccination certificate (and passports). The vehicle was Duane, had lights on the roof.

They were more interested to speak Afrikaans to me as one of them had worked there some years ago.

Not sure of the extent of their responsibilities.

 

[theapples]

It might be worth keeping an eye on
https://www.government.nl/topics/co...g-the-netherlands-from-abroad/checklist-entry
it says they had a meeting yesterday and they will soon be updating the website. we hope to go there at end of April so will be paying close attention.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Motörhead Fun]

We went out Hull-Rotterdam last week. Did LFT using Simply Test Me for £12 each. Asked for proof before boarding ferry but nothing on Dutch side.

 

[Jonny1953]

And where would they check that? At the Belgium/Netherlands immigration post maybe?

Has anyone got a recent photo?

That seems like a bit of a sarcastic reply. When PLF forms are completed for returning to the UK you are asked what countries you have been in, I would expect the Netherlands to ask the same. If you want to ignore that and lie about it we’ll that is up to you, but read #4 from John Barrett

 

[ceejayt]

Actually, when we were travelling from France to Rotterdam via Belgium, as soon as we entered into Netherlands, a customs car followed us and then pulled us over where they asked to see our vaccination certificates. Perfectly friendly and helpful but there you are.

But didn’t ask you for proof of pace test?

 

[Ingwe]

But didn’t ask you for proof of pace test?

No.

 

[Rapides]

No need for a test for those travelling by car via France?
<Broken link removed>

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Garfields]

Restrictions re the Netherlands PCR etc being dropped
Problem solved ceejayt

 

[ceejayt]

Restrictions re the Netherlands PCR etc being dropped
Problem solved ceejayt

Where did you see that? Latest press release 15th March says still in force

 

[ceejayt]

Anyway have changed the bookings and travelling via France so problem solved a different way

 

[orridge]

Anyway have changed the bookings and travelling via France so problem solved a different way

You are still travelling from the UK even if you transit France & Belgium to get to the Netherlands you still have to take into account the requirements of all three countries.

For the sake of a few £12 LFT tests why risk getting stopped by the Dutch authorities.

 

[Jonny1953]

Anyway have changed the bookings and travelling via France so problem solved a different way

Entry requirements - Netherlands travel advice

FCDO travel advice for the Netherlands. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

Fully vaccinated travellers aged 12 and over arriving in the Netherlands from the UK via aeroplane, ferry, passenger car, train or bus must show one of the following:

• a negative PCR test result (taken no more than 48 hours before departure), or;
• a negative antigen test result (taken no more than 24 hours before departure)

Even though you are arriving in the Netherlands from France you are still classed as arriving from the UK

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Rapides]

NL gov site suggests no test required if arriving by car overland. Link posted previously lists a number of exemptions.

 

[ceejayt]

Definitive and without question…

Currently to go direct to the Netherlands by plane or ferry you hasve to take a PCR test and if by ferry an additional P and O test - anyone telling you ant different has probably just been lucky to get away with it.

Travelling by car from anther EU country - they MAY make a random check to see if you have had a PCR - unlikely but vannhappen.

So, having changed all our bookings today with P and O ( 2 hours on the phone with a very helpful person - cancelled the Hull Rotterdam outward and booked Dover Calais instead) they just sacked their entire staff - someone upstairs doesn’t like me!

No more info required on thos thread thanks