Explore: Netherlands - Formalities
Clearance
COVID-19 coronavirus: New procedures are in place for arriving yachts – see Biosecurity for details.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
General Process:
Although an EU country, all boats arriving from overseas must fly the Q flag and report on arrival and departure. This is strictly enforced.
On arrival, the Customs will issue a certificate of entry, which is valid for a maximum of 12 months. During this period a yacht may leave and re-enter the Netherlands, showing the certificate on each re-entry. Foreign yachts must be registered.
Visiting yachts may need to complete an entry form in triplicate and hand it in at an Immigration office. EU yachts can simply post such a completed form.
Two copies should be kept on board for future reference. Forms can be obtained in advance, or from the Harbour Master at the port of arrival. When the Harbour Master’s office is closed, contact the Immigration office by phone: 0118 483400.
Spot checks are often carried out and yachts are fined if the correct procedure is not followed.
Last updated: January 2022
Immigration
All visitors require a passport which must be valid for at least three months after departure from the territory of the Schengen countries.
The Netherlands is a member of the Schengen Agreement Area. See Noonsite’ Schengen page for more details on the immigration rules.
Last updated August 2018.
Customs
Arriving by Yacht:
An EU resident travelling into another EU Member State with a pleasure craft (boat), you must demonstrate that import duties and VAT have been paid for the pleasure boat in 1 of the EU countries by means of an invoice or a statement from the Customs authorities of an EU country. See more details here.
Travellers who are not EU residents and who want to stay in the Netherlands with their pleasure boat for a short period of time can be granted a temporary exemption from customs duties and VAT. See EU VAT page for more information.
If arriving from outside the EU by private vessel, you will need to file a declaration if you are taking goods with you from that country with a total value of more than € 300. These are the goods you bought or were given there. You must also file a declaration if you are travelling with cash totalling € 10.000 or more. It makes no difference what currency you are carrying.
You must also file a declaration if you are carrying more alcohol or tobacco products to the Netherlands than you are allowed to import duty free. For all of the above situations, you will need to contact a Customs office. A list can be found here.
You should also check that your goods are not prohibited.
Other Items:
- All firearms must be licensed, and a copy of the licence carried. There are restrictions concerning signalling pistols. Very type flare pistols must be accompanied by a firearms certificate issued in the country of origin.
- A radio operator’s licence may also be requested.
- Import of raw meat is prohibited.
- Medicines are only allowed to bring in for your own use. A medication passport obtained at your physician or pharmacy can prove that the medication is for yourself (or for your children). It is advisable to take medicines with you in the original pharmacy packaging with label.
- You are not allowed to bring veterinary medicines with you.
- The yacht may not be sold, rented or borrowed while in the Netherlands, unless the appropriate taxes have been paid.
- EU regulations apply concerning temporary importation. See EU VAT page for more information.
Last updated: January 2022
BioSecurity
With the continual change in protocols due to the pandemic, we outline the last-known situation below for yacht arrivals. Skippers should follow the recommended links in “resources” to confirm the latest protocols. Always check with your intended port of arrival before getting underway to be 100% certain of what is required. Please e-mail [email protected] if you find protocols have changed.
The European Union has a traffic light system, clearly visible in the Re-Open EU website and mobile app, where you can see if travel is possible to each member state, the requirements of each destination, and other information to answer travellers’ questions. Note that not all EU countries class crew arriving by private yacht as normal travelers, so rules may differ. Refer to the information below to see how.
COVID-19: OPEN
Yachting Protocols:
December 2021:
- If coming from a high-risk country within the EU (the majority are high-risk) you must show either proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative test result.
- If coming from outside the EU/Schengen area entry rules vary (and even travel bans for very high risk areas) depending on where you are coming from.
- See the Government Website for a list of country classifications and the latest rules for entry.
- The Dutch Minister of Health, Hugo de Jonge, announced in December that starting from February 2022 the country’s authorities will only recognise COVID-19 vaccination certificates that indicate that the holder has received a booster shot. Accordingly, this means that the Netherlands will shorten the validity of vaccination certificates from 12 to nine months, and all those who don’t meet this requirement will be required to follow additional entry rules.
Resources:
- https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad
- https://www.zeelandveilig.nl/coronavirus-informationen-deutsch-english#open-accordion-97
- National Institute for Public Health: https://www.rivm.nl/en
History:
- From 27 March, 2020, only EU citizens were permitted entry to the Netherlands on yachts. In Zeeland (south of the Netherlands) it was no longer permitted to sleep on board your yacht. All public facilities closed including marinas and associated services.
- Some ports remained open to visiting yachts, for example Den Helder.
- Easing of lockdown restrictions began on 11 May, 2020.
- The Netherlands re-opened on 15 June, with tourists from the EU and the Schengen countries, except Sweden and the United Kingdom, able to visit with no quarantine. Non-EU travelers were still not allowed entry.
- By December 2020, even though borders were open, the recommendation was not to travel to the Netherlands unless it was strictly necessary. The country locked down for 5 weeks over the Christmas period.
- At the start of 2021 arriving with a negative COVID test was introduced as well as 10 day self-quarantine for EU and Schengen travelers.
- At the end of January 2021 a ban on flights and vessels from the UK, as well as a ban on flights from many other countries was introduced. Pre-arrival testing and testing on arrival, plus self-quarantine was mandatory for those arriving from high-risk countries.
- A travel ban was still in force for travelers coming from countries outside the EU.
- At the start of the summer 2021, rules eased, and if coming from a safe country citizens of any country could enter the Netherlands with no restrictions. However, in August 2021, rules changed again, and even those arriving from safe countries had to submit a negative PCR test for entry, proof of vaccination or proof of having had COVID.
Health
Documents
Yachts must carry their original registration document, insurance policy and ship’s radio licence. One member of the crew must have a radio operator’s certificate of competence. For EU boats, proof of VAT status is also required. A copy of Binnenvaart Politie Reglement (BPR) must also be carried, even if the Dutch are not understood.
On inland waterways, any person steering a vessel capable of more than 9 knots must be over 18 years and have the Dutch “vaarbewijzen” or an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) endorsed for inland waterways. This same rule applies to boats longer than 15 meters. Such a certificate may now be requested by anyone in charge of an offshore yacht.
Fees
Restrictions
Navigation
Shipping traffic is very heavy along the coast. A very busy shipping route is via the Hook of Holland over the New Waterway to Rotterdam, and there is no yacht harbour in this port. In a strong westerly wind and outgoing tide from the New Waterway, there can be a high tidal sea.
Inland waterways
Access to the inland waterways is from the ports of Veerhaven and the IJmuiden locks. From Den Helder, there are connections via the Noord-Hollands Canal and the Zaan with Amsterdam. There is access through Vlissingen with a standing mast via the Canal through Walcheren with connections to Dordrecht and Rotterdam. There is no access from Scheveningen.
There are no speed limits on the larger rivers (except the Maas), the IJsselmeer, the open-sea channels in Zeeland, the Waddenzee and the coastal waters. However, there are speed limits in force on the canals and lakes, varying between 5 and 9 knots in different areas, which should be checked. Motorboats capable of travelling at more than 9 knots must be registered. This can be done at most larger post offices for a fee, showing proof of identity. In some areas, local permission must also be obtained to travel at greater speeds.
On many of the canals and rivers, yachts must keep to starboard and have their engines prepared for use. If motorsailing on the waterways, yachts are required to display forward a black cone, apex downwards.
Landing on some islands in the inland waterways is restricted. There are also restrictions concerning draft and height. However, there are certain routes that can be taken by yachts with high fixed masts without encountering any bridges. These are in the western and northern parts of Holland, such as Vlissingen to Delfzijl.
Yachts are required to have on board a copy of the Inland Waters Police Regulations, which are in force on most of the inland waters, the Zeeland channels (except the Western Scheldt, where its own shipping regulations apply), the IJsselmeer, and the Waddenzee. On the Dutch Rhine, the Waal and the Lek the Rhine Route Police Regulations are in force.
The Inland Waters Police Regulations are available in Part I of the Almanak voor Watertourisme, in Dutch only. Part 2 contains tide tables, opening times of bridges and locks, and other essential details.
The rules applicable to Amsterdam, are called the Verordening op de Haven en het Binnenwater.
On the basis of these rules the Amsterdam port control and police patrol boats can give compulsory instructions and issue fines if necessary.
It is recommended to have the latest charts on board as depths change and banks, as well as shallow areas, move frequently.
From January 2009 it is prohibited to discharge black water (toilet waste) from all pleasure boats on all inland waterways, lakes, the Waddensea and territorial waters within 12 NM of the Netherlands Coast.
Pleasure boats can be installed with holding tanks, dry or chemical toilets or boaters could choose simply not to use their toilets. The law is likely to be enforced with rigour.
Fishing
There are certain regulations regarding fishing in the Netherlands and a permit must be bought. Permits can be obtained at post offices. Regulations must be respected concerning closed seasons, areas where fishing is permitted, types of rods which can be used and types of fish which can be caught.
Local Customs
Pets
Animals are accepted from within the EU and which have an  EU Pet Passport.
All cats and dogs must be micro chipped and have an anti-rabies vaccination certificate (dated at least 30 days in advance and for it to have been administered at least 21 days after the microchip was inserted), as specified in the PETS travel scheme.
For additional EU regulations regarding pets coming from some countries, see https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement/ms-websites_en
Rabies vaccinations administered by a veterinary practitioner not authorised by an EU country will render the EU Pet Passport invalid for travel.
If entering from outside the EU and from a country on the ‘High risk’ list, then a Health Certificate from a veterinarian and other requirements must be complied with.
The import of all birds, including pet birds and poultry, arriving from countries infected with Avian influenza is prohibited.
The import of psittacine birds if coming from Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Honduras, Indonesia, Nicaragua or Paraguay is prohibited.
