Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Netherlands

Apr 23, 2020

COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and it was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since then, there have been outbreaks reported all over the world, including in the Netherlands. In March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared it a pandemic.

The coronavirus is now considered endemic in the Netherlands, meaning measures to control the spread of the virus are no longer necessary, according to the Dutch government. Here is what you need to know about COVID-19 in the Netherlands.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 - regularly referred to as corona in the Netherlands - is the disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus is highly contagious and is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing droplets of the virus into the air around them. If others inhale those droplets or get them in their mouth, nose, or eyes, they may become infected with the virus.

The severity of COVID-19 symptoms vary greatly from person to person, and in some cases, the virus can lead to the hospitalisation and death of a patient. However, others remain asymptomatic, making it even harder to track and control the spread of the virus.

COVID-19 symptoms

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are:

Stuffy and/or runny nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Fever
Sudden loss of taste and/or smell

Some people have reported a number of other symptoms, including tiredness and fatigue, muscle ache, dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, and a variety of rashes or skin conditions.

f you experience any of these symptoms, you are encouraged to isolate at home and reduce your contact with others as much as possible. But, if you are suffering from severe symptoms (i.e. difficulty breathing or a fever above 38 degrees celsius) you are encouraged to call your GP or the local out of office medical centre (huisartsenpost) immediately.

COVID-19 prevention and treatments

In some people, coronavirus can be symptomless. It is therefore important to prevent further spread by following some basic rules, such as keeping your distance from others, washing your hands regularly and thoroughly, and staying home as much as possible.

If you only have mild COVID-19 symptoms, you will normally get better within a few days. You can stay home, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. You can treat your pain or fever with over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol.

However, if your symptoms worsen and you need to be treated in hospital, there are two medicinal treatments that have a clinical effect in hospitalised COVID-19 patients:

Dexamethasone - a drug that suppresses the immune system and, in severe cases, has been shown to reduce the risk of death in hospitalised patients.
Remdesivir - an antiviral that is administered through an IV and can accelerate clinical recovery in COVID-19 patients who require supplemental oxygen.

COVID-19 vaccines in the Netherlands

The Netherlands started its vaccination program on January 6, 2021. Everyone over the age of 12 was invited to be vaccinated.

Four different vaccines are available in the Netherlands: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen, and AstraZeneca. Due to advice from the Health Council of the Netherlands, AstraZeneca is only offered to people born in or before 1960. Most people in the Netherlands received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

RIVM: COVID-19 new cases in the Netherlands

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) advises the government on control measures and develops guidelines and scenarios for professionals working in infectious disease control, for example on the best way to respond to an epidemic so the Dutch healthcare system won't collapse.

In times of unprecedented health crises, the RIVM can assemble the Outbreak Management Team (OMT), made up of a number of specialists and experts from a variety of backgrounds, chaired by the director of the RIVM Centre for Infectious Disease Control.

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the RIVM was publishing a weekly coronavirus report every Tuesday between 2pm and 3pm, detailing the number of reported COVID-19 infections, hospital admissions, and deaths from the previous seven days, as well as the total number of tests that were carried out by the GGD and what proportion of them came back positive.

COVID-19 measures of the Dutch government

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, (former) Prime Minister Mark Rutte and (former) Health Minister Hugo de Jonge gave regular press conferences to keep the people of the Netherlands up-to-date on the national coronavirus situation and inform them of any new measures or restrictions. IamExpat provided regular coverage of the measures that were announced.

Basic rules

While the severity of national and regional coronavirus measures changed a number of times between 2020 and 2023, a number of standard rules remained in place:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
Cough and sneeze into your elbow
Blow your nose into a paper tissue and throw it away immediately after use
Do not shake hands
Keep 1,5-metre distance from the people around you
Wear a non-medical face mask on public transport

Those over the age of 70 or suffering from underlying health problems were advised to be extra cautious.

CoronaMelder app

The Dutch coronavirus tracking app, CoronaMelder, was launched nationally on October 10, 2020. It works via Bluetooth, assigning every mobile phone that has the app downloaded a unique personal ID to monitor a person’s movements and whether or not they have come into close or extended contact with someone who has registered themselves as having coronavirus.

If you test positive for the virus, you can press a button in the app to send an anonymous notification to everyone you’ve been in close contact with to notify them.

For the app to work, both the infected person and the non-infected person have to have the app downloaded on their phones, but downloading the app was never made mandatory in the Netherlands. The CoronaMelder app is available in a number of languages, including Spanish, German, French, and English. For more information about the app, read our CoronaMelder guide.

CoronaCheck app

At the start of June 2021, the Dutch government launched the CoronaCheck app. Through a QR code in the app, members of the public were able to show that they had recently tested negative for coronavirus, recovered from coronavirus, or were fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

The app was launched as part of the government’s Testen voor Toegang campaign, which allowed for certain events to go ahead and nightclubs to reopen, as long as everyone in attendance could prove that they were fully vaccinated or didn't have coronavirus.

The Testen voor Toegang campaign is no longer active; you do not need to have a coronavirus certificate to attend events in the Netherlands.

Coronavirus dashboard

The coronavirus dashboard was developed by the Ministry of Health, and aimed to provide a complete overview of the coronavirus situation in the Netherlands. It provided up-to-date information and figures, such as the R-number, the number of confirmed cases, and the number of (planned) vaccinations. The dashboard was updated on a daily basis.

FAQ about coronavirus in the Netherlands

People had a lot of questions about coronavirus. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Who is at risk when it comes to COVID-19?

The risk groups for the novel coronavirus are as follows:

People over 70 years old
Adults with underlying health symptoms, such as people with respiratory problems, heart problems, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, an autoimmune disease, as well as people with morbid obesity.

How do I get tested for COVID-19 in the Netherlands?

From March 11, 2023, the advice on testing for a coronavirus infection and isolating after a positive test no longer applies.

However, if you develop symptoms for coronavirus, you may still want to get a test. You can get a test:

By purchasing a self-test from a drug store or pharmacy
From your GP

Do you have severe symptoms? You will need to contact your GP or A&E department. If the situation becomes life-threatening, you should call the emergency number 112.

How do they test for the coronavirus?

The test is done by taking a sample from the back of your throat or nose. A doctor or nurse will insert a cotton swab deep in your nose and/or tickle the back of your throat around your tonsils. The sensation is uncomfortable, often provoking a gag reflex and causing your eyes to water, but not normally painful. After the swab is collected, it is inserted in a phial of liquid and sent off for testing.

How long will it take before I will know the test results?

Depending on the type of test you take, it can take anything from a few minutes to several days to receive your coronavirus test results. If you are concerned you have coronavirus, it's a good idea to remain at home until you get a negative result.

Can I get vaccinated against coronavirus?

You can currently only get a coronavirus vaccination with a referral from your GP. If you have a referral, you can book your vaccination online.

When do I need to quarantine myself because of coronavirus?

You are no longer required to quarantine if you have a positive test result or are showing symptoms of coronavirus. However, you can choose to remain home to prevent the spread of the disease.

How do I know if someone I have been in contact with has COVID-19?

There are various ways in which you can be notified that you have had contact with someone who has COVID-19. For instance, you can be called by the person whom you have had contact with, or if you have installed the CoronaMelder app, you may still get a notification on your phone.

Who can I turn to for help when it comes to coronavirus?

If you are feeling stressed, lonely or afraid because of the coronavirus, or if you have questions about the virus, you can contact Steunpunt Coronazorgen. You can also contact them when you are a healthcare worker, if you are taking care of someone who is sick or if you are recovering from COVID-19.

How long does it take to recover from COVID-19

This differs from person to person. Some people are asymptomatic, some people only have mild symptoms, while others need to be taken to hospital. Some recover within days, while others will have related issues for weeks or even months (so-called long covid). However, generally, your recovery time will also depend on how healthy you were before you got the virus.

Can I get COVID-19 for a second time?

It is possible to get COVID-19 twice, three times, or even more. This is because the virus keeps mutating, while each person's protection against the virus diminishes over time. It's therefore possible to get reinfected multiple times.

Coronavirus and your business

As the coronavirus measures in the Netherlands have affected entrepreneurs and self-employed people profoundly, the Dutch government put in place various financial schemes, such as the NOW (temporary emergency scheme for job retention) and TOZO (temporary self-employment income support and loan scheme) to help them out. See for which financial schemes you are eligible.

Coronavirus and travel to/from the Netherlands

Are you travelling to the Netherlands? You will be happy to know that all travel restrictions related to COVID-19 have been lifted. If you plan on travelling abroad, however, it's still wise to check your destination for possible COVID-19 measures.

The website of the Dutch government shows the current situation when it comes to travel to and from the Netherlands. This information may change, depending on the situation. So, it is a good idea to check it before you book any flights.

COVID-19 and pregnancy

It is worth noting that there is no evidence to suggest that pregnant women are more susceptible to COVID-19. The RIVM also notes that there is no data that suggests that, should a pregnant woman become infected with the virus, COVID-19 increases the risk of miscarriage or birth defects. The effects of COVID-19 on a pregnant woman do not appear to be any different to those from any other respiratory infection.

The same basic measures and symptoms apply to pregnant women, and if you are pregnant and start showing symptoms, the RIVM encourages you to follow the same steps as someone who is not pregnant: getting tested and self-isolating at home.

If you're pregnant and wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19, you will be offered either the Moderna or the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

COVID 19 and animals

There have been a handful of reports from around the world of animals becoming infected with COVID-19. In the Netherlands, a number of mink farms have been forced to close following an outbreak of the virus among the animals. Some pets have also become infected with the virus, and in almost all cases they appear to have contracted it from their owners who tested positive for the virus.

There has been no evidence to suggest that an infected cat or dog can pass the virus along to another cat or dog, or to a human. However, on the mink farms that experienced outbreaks, some members of staff contracted COVID-19 from the infected animals.

If you own a pet, the RIVM issues the following advice:

If someone in your household is showing symptoms, there is little chance of the pet becoming infected, but avoid cuddling or close contact with the animal until the results of your COVID-19 test are known (if possible, arrange for someone else to care for your pet during this time).
If someone in your household is showing symptoms and the pet is showing symptoms, keep the pet indoors and avoid it coming into contact with other animals and people as much as possible - if the animal has severe shortness of breath and/or diarrhoea, contact your vet.