Anyone planning a trip abroad this summer will be happy to hear that they will no longer be required to pay for their coronavirus tests. The Dutch government has set aside 3,5 million coronavirus tests to be made available to anyone who travels internationally in July and August.

Free coronavirus tests available to travellers this summer

The measure was announced at the press conference on June 18, with Health Minister Hugo de Jonge saying that free coronavirus tests will be made available to those who are not (fully) vaccinated but still wish to travel this summer. 

The new EU COVID-19 certificate which launches on July 1 requires travellers to present proof of vaccination, recent recovery from coronavirus, or a recent negative coronavirus test before being permitted entry to a country. In introducing free coronavirus tests, the cabinet is responding to a call by both the European Commission and the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) to make coronavirus tests freely available to the public. 

Dutch government invests 250 million euros into scheme

Holidaymakers will be able to make use of these free tests in one of three ways. Firstly, they will be able to request compensation for a test taken via a travel company. Alternatively, they could book a test via a company contracted by the Dutch government to carry out coronavirus tests. Lastly, a total of 35.000 free coronavirus tests will be available at the GGD every day to holidaymakers.

Both PCR and rapid antigen tests will be available. The government has said the PCR results will be available within 24 hours, while results for the rapid tests will be available within three hours. Travellers will then present their negative result via a digital or paper QR code.

The government expects that a maximum of 3,5 million tests will be required in July and August, and the Dutch Minister for Infrastructure, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, has announced that the scheme is expected to cost approximately 250 million euros.