Netherlands classed as red by EU: vacation plans thrown into disarray

We all knew it was going to happen, so here it is. The ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention Control) has announced that the Netherlands is officially a code red (high-risk) country due to the high number of coronavirus infections. Groningen has been labelled dark red.

This means that travellers coming from the Netherlands might find it harder to go on holiday. Each country can determine what restrictions they put on Dutch travellers. This could include a quarantine obligation or an entry ban. Some countries might change these depending on whether or not you have been vaccinated.

A country is labelled red if there are 200 to 499 infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 14 days, according to the EDCD. Dark red is if there are 500 or more infections per 100,000.

The other countries that have been marked red include Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Cypris. Parts of Greece and Denmark are also red.

Are you surprised by which countries are now red? Does this change your travel plans? Tell us in the comments.

Feature Image: elenathewise/Depositphotos

Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧
Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧http://globeshuffler.wordpress.com
A British native, Chloe has a love for other languages and cultures, having lived in Spain before moving to the Netherlands. She is keen to explore the Dutch landscape, cultural spots and — the most important — food! After being here for a few months she already has developed a mild addiction to kibbeling.

25 COMMENTS

  1. Surprised not at all. Yes my travel plans are in ruins. All because the government jumped and opened up everything. And yet they will not put back mask as mandatory???

  2. I’m not surprised. I’m not going on holiday but i would like to see my family I’ve not been able to go back to Wales since 2019.

  3. I’m not surprised at all. It was only a matter of time before it happened. I am now waiting to see how the UK reacts as I am supposed to return to the UK next week, that might not happen if they insist on hotel stays due to it being red.

  4. Seeing how dumb people are (just look back 1 year) we booked holiday’s here in NL. It’s kinda predictable now how governments really can’t get it right. It’s a numbers game, but not one that makes money. In all reality, a decent lockdown where a virus cannot be transmitted should have happened from day 1. Stay local, stay away from people and take a lot of precautions.

  5. Govt. should’ve never lifted mask use and social distancing. Spread was controlled because of it & you gotta be really stupid to think lifting the ban will magically cure everything. These people who decide are they even competent to hold the positions that they do? Because it’s naive to even think otherwise.

      • And how do you think that helps when thousands of stupid people think otherwise and put themselves and everyone around them at risk?
        They do their stupid things without consequences and the people who are trying to be careful pay the price.

      • You miss understand the purpose of masking ,it is firstly to protect others
        More than yourself , washing hands , social distancing these are precautions
        One takes to protect oneself

      • I think a lot of people who think this way do keep their mask on (myself included), the problem that the OP is raising is that, without it being a government directive, it’s everyone else who doesn’t think this way not wearing a mask that is one of the many many problems.

  6. I was so looking forward to visiting my 86 year old mother in England on the 30th, whom i have not seen for almost two years!
    It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out how quickly the virus would spread once al the restrictions had been lifted,!!!
    As a front line worker i could see exactly what was going to happen, am I suprised ? Absolutely not !!!
    I am however, extremely upset, totally devastated and unbelievably disappointed at thlj political mismanagement!!

    • Yes, freedom over safety! Diseases are important for evolution. But you modern humans would prefer to live in a bubble wrapped world. Don’t know why you guys want to save the planet when you are so afraid of it.

  7. Booked a holiday to Greece end of July. Had both vacations if we test negative on the day what’s the problem.

  8. And the plot thickens. This whole story is about as solid as the events in the bible and the whole world is falling for it, for the third time in 1,5 years.
    Corrupted, oppressive governments ARE a giant problem, yes, but the absolute ignorance of the people is an even bigger one.

  9. Anyone else getting tired of being locked down because of a virus that is so weak that you need a test to see if you even have it?

  10. What if some people are asymptomatic? How can a home test
    be reliable or even a test with GGD?
    What can they do be locked down
    for how long?

    • Hey Mary, great question! A PCR test should provide reliable evidence of whether or not you have coronavirus, even if you don’t have symptoms. If you have taken a rapid test that is inconclusive or suggests you are negative, the advice is to book a PCR test. I hope this helps. 🙂

  11. In Luxembourg, everybody wears a mask but we still got red.
    Graduating class went on a senior trio to Majorca and 11 came back positive
    It’s a young thing now

  12. Why have vaccinations if ya still can’t travel ridiculous covid is here to stay so live with it no need to close the world down

  13. I’m in the north of Spain (dark red) and I need to travel back home next week to the Netherlands (Red). If I leave now, I understand I should be able to go home. If I wait Until the end of my stay, it might become dark red.

    Will I have troubles getting back home then? I’m having a hard time finding that info online

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