Covid-19 and travel to and within Europe
Update: February 20, 2023
Each traveler must always meet the requirements set by the government of the travel country. Only if the travel organizer cannot execute the booked trip due to restrictions imposed by the government or if a fully vaccinated traveler is nevertheless required to spend four or more days in quarantine upon arrival in the travel country is it possible to change or cancel the trip free of charge.
If the tour operator can run the tour, but the guest is unable or unwilling to participate, the traveler can only cancel the trip upon payment of the applicable cancellation fee.
For these reasons, especially for non-EU citizens, it is important for the traveler to still carefully check whether she/he meets the country’s entry requirements. If you meet those requirements, you can also join the Boat Bike Tours trip and check in on the ship. Once in the travel country and on board, certain requirements may still apply there, if that is the current officially announced policy of that specific country and/or on that tour or ship. If this applies to a specific country, tour or ship, deviating rules (to the extent known) will be mentioned on the Boat Bike Tours website in the description of that trip.
Especially for non-EU citizens, but useful for all who have booked a trip with Boat Bike Tours, we have compiled an overview of the main official sources of information for the main travel countries.
You will find links for each country to the official website of that country’s government which includes entry requirements, current rules in the country and to a list where you can find your country’s embassy in the travel country to enable you to contact them, as well as useful touristic information.
Currently, (Feb. 2023) for travelers from most countries in the world, there are almost no government restrictions on travel to and within the EU in countries where Boat Bike Tours offers tours.
The links in the following lists are supposed to be “timeless” and were updated on February 20, 2023, but are without warranty and may be subject to future changes by the authorities.
Travelling to/in THE NETHERLANDS
Update: February 20, 2023
Given the current epidemiological situation, the Government of the Netherlands has decided to lift the European Union (EU) entry ban for the Netherlands as of 17 September 2022. Public life in the Netherlands has returned to normal. There is no obligation to show vaccination nor testing status when entering the country, using public transportation nor when entering restaurants, museums, shops, stores, etc. Wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory. The Government’s decision means that no Covid-19 related restrictions or requirements apply to travelers entering the Netherlands, including those from countries outside the EU/Schengen Area.
Dutch Government (official website in Dutch):
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/reizen-en-vakantie
Dutch Government (official website in English):
https://www.government.nl/
Official rules for travelling to the Netherlands from abroad:
https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/
Official information about measures concerning the Coronavirus COVID-19:
https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19
Find the Embassy of your country in the Netherlands:
https://www.embassypages.com/netherlands
General information on tourism: Netherlands Board of Tourism (NBTC):
https://www.holland.com/global/tourism.htm
Travelling to/in BELGIUM
Update: February 20, 2023
From 23 May 2022, Covid-19 related restrictions, requirements or measures will only apply to travelers entering Belgium from a ‘very high risk country’. Important: You are not allowed to travel when in quarantine or isolation. If you are in quarantine or isolation abroad, you must complete the quarantine or isolation before returning to or entering Belgium.
Belgian Government (official website in Dutch):
https://www.info-coronavirus.be/nl/
Belgian Government (official website in English):
https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/
Official rules for travelling to Belgium from abroad:
https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/travels/
Official information about measures concerning the Coronavirus COVID-19:
https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/
Find the Embassy of your country in Belgium:
https://www.embassypages.com/belgium
General information on tourism: Visit Flanders
https://www.visitflanders.com/en/index.jsp?country=en_US
Travelling to/in GERMANY
Update: February 20, 2023
In June 2022, all COVID-19 entry restrictions to Germany were lifted. From this date, entries to Germany will again be permitted for all travel purposes (including tourism and visiting trips). For entry into Germany, proof of vaccination, proof of convalescence or proof of testing is no longer required. However, persons residing in the People’s Republic of China still need an important reason to enter Germany (due to reciprocity). Only for ‘areas of variant of concern’ (currently no states are designated as virus variant areas) further entry restrictions would apply.
German Federal Government (official website in German – option to choose English):
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/coronavirus
Entry rules for travelling to Germany from abroad (German Federal Foreign Office) for fully vaccinated travelers:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus/2317268#content_0
Find the Embassy of your country in Germany:
https://www.embassypages.com/germany
General information on tourism: Germany Travel
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html
Travelling to/in FRANCE
Update: February 20, 2023
The rules previously applied to travelers to France no longer apply effective from 1 August 2022. Travelers are now exempt from any formalities prior to entry into France and are no longer required to present a health pass, regardless of the country or place of departure. Justification of travel (the “compelling reason”) is no longer required. Travelers are no longer required to present a sworn statement of non-contamination and an undertaking to undergo an antigen test or screening upon arrival in the country.
French Government (official website in French):
https://www.gouvernement.fr/
French Government (official website in English):
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/
Find the Embassy of your country in France:
https://www.embassypages.com/france
General information on tourism – Explore France:
https://www.france.fr/en
