The government of the Netherlands has announced the lifting of all Covid-19 related restrictions for travelers entering the country.
It has also lifted restrictions on passengers coming from countries located outside the European Union (EU) or the Schengen area.
The new rules came into effect on September 17.
In a statement, the government said: “The Dutch government has decided to lift the ban on entry into the EU for the Netherlands from 17 September.
“Given the current epidemiological situation in the Netherlands, the government believes that the ban on entry into the EU is no longer proportionate.
“The European Commission is also planning to publish a proposal to revise the EU accession rules in the autumn of 2022.”
The Dutch government had previously made it mandatory for visitors from the Schengen area and the EU to show proof of vaccination or a recovery certificate to enter the Netherlands.
Before that, unvaccinated passengers from the US or Canada were not allowed to visit the country, while vaccinated passengers had to present proof of vaccination.
Vaccination certificates also had to meet certain criteria, such as the last dose being within the last nine months or with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization (WHO).
Additionally, the government has reportedly lifted the mask mandate, but people have been advised to be extra cautious and take the necessary measures to protect themselves.
It also advises high-risk patients to consult their doctors before traveling and to delay their trips if they feel more comfortable doing so.
In a separate development, Spain has further relaxed Covid-19 travel rules at its ports and airports.
From 20 September, non-EU passengers will no longer need to present Spain Travel Health (SpTH) information upon arrival.