Thirteen British nationals have been refused entry to the Netherlands since 1 January, as the UK’s departure from the EU means it is no longer exempt from Covid-related travel restrictions on non-essential visitors from outside the bloc. A Dutch border force spokesman confirmed that the individuals were turned away at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport because their trips were deemed non-essential under new third-country regulations.
Robert van Kapel, a spokesman for the Dutch gendarmerie, told NOS public broadcaster that all of the travellers had negative PCR tests but overlooked the requirement that the journey must be necessary, such as for work or serious personal circumstances. He noted that some simply wanted to visit Amsterdam, while one man intended to fly on to Spain for a skiing holiday, adding: “That’s just not the intention now.”
The incidents follow reports of British citizens living in Spain being barred from boarding flights in the UK after airlines deemed their pre-Brexit residency papers invalid. Others were refused entry to Germany, where a Lufthansa spokesman confirmed a British citizen was stopped from boarding after failing to prove residence. Victoria Dobbie tweeted that she was denied boarding to Munich despite presenting a rental contract, work contract and German tax number.
Under current EU rules, only a handful of countries with low coronavirus rates are exempt from the ban on non-essential travel from outside the bloc and European Economic Area. The UK was removed from that list at the end of the Brexit transition period. British citizens resident in the EU can still travel from the UK with a negative test and proof of residence, but those without residency rights may only enter for urgent family reasons, study, or work in specific sectors.
Since 1 January, British travellers to the EU must also have at least six months left on their passport, cannot use fast-track passport control lanes, and should be prepared to show a return ticket and proof of funds. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been approached for comment.
