As the number of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rises, this week the country is set to turn from orange to red on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's (ECDC) map, which could mean travellers from the Netherlands will face stricter rules when travelling to other EU countries.
After the country saw a significant spike in the number of coronavirus infections over the summer, the past few weeks had seen the daily infection rate stabilise at around 2.000 new cases every day. However, since the start of October, cases have once again been on the rise, with 3.703 new infections reported on October 17 - 1.000 more than were reported on the previous Sunday.
Medical experts here in the Netherlands expect the country to face yet another wave this autumn, and as cases continue to rise, this week’s ECDC map will likely see most regions go from orange to red, the second-highest risk level recognised by the EU health agency.
With a 14-day cumulative case notification rate for COVID-19 of between 200 and 500, Limburg is currently the only Dutch province to be categorised as red. However, current projections expect Utrecht, Gelderland, South Holland, Overijssel, Flevoland, and Friesland to change colour on Thursday.
While the ECDC map and colour codes don’t have any direct impact on travel restrictions in EU, member states do use the categories to determine the travel rules and entry requirements they set for other countries.
Travel within the bloc has opened up significantly since the introduction of the EU COVID-19 certificate and the CoronaCheck app, but the latest developments could mean anyone travelling from or via the Netherlands could face stricter restrictions in the near future.
When the Netherlands experienced a peak in infections as a result of the government's Dansen met Janssen campaign, both France and Germany adjusted their entry requirements for travellers, with Germany classifying the country as a high-risk area and requiring all un-vaccinated holidaymakers to quarantine upon arrival.