The Netherlands launched its COVID-19 vaccination programme on 6 January 2021. Four months later, with 6 million vaccine doses administered, we are seeing the effect of this as the number of confirmed cases and hospital admissions declines. Groups that have been vaccinated are less likely to test positive for coronavirus or be admitted to hospital with COVID-19 than groups that have not yet been vaccinated.

Impact of 6 million vaccinations reflected in fewer positive tests and hospital admissions

The number of people who test positive (confirmed cases) indicates the extent to which the virus has spread in the Netherlands. The dashboard contains a lot of information. What should you know about positive tests?

Positive tests: the spread of the virus

The cabinet introduces basic rules: wash hands, sneeze into the elbow, don’t shake hands, keep your distance, stay home in case of symptoms. Various measures are introduced: no gatherings with more than 100 people. Hospitality venues, schools and childcare centres, sports venues closed. Work from home.

The first measures go into effect

Everyone should stay home as much as possible. Maximum of 3 people visiting. All gatherings are prohibited except funerals and church weddings. People working in contact-based industries cannot perform their work.

Intelligent lockdown

Hospitality, theatres and museums are allowed to open under certain conditions. Face masks are mandatory in public transport. Secondary schools open (from 2 June). Primary schools and childcare centres open (from 8 June).

Relaxation of measures

Keeping a distance remains the norm, except for children under 18. Events permitted. No maximum number of visitors in transit locations. No maximum number of visitors in indoor and outdoor areas with assigned seats and health check.

Further relaxation of measures

Stricter measures 

All primary and secondary schools are fully open again.

All schools open again 

Maximum of 3 people visiting. Limitation of group size. Restaurants and bars must close earlier. No spectators at sports events.

Tightening of national measures 

Among others things: restaurants and cafes closed. No alcohol sales between 8pm and 7am. No events permitted. Sports limited, matches and competitions not permitted. Urgent advice to wear a face mask in indoor public areas.

Partial lockdown 

Maximum of 2 people visiting per day. Group size indoors and outdoors maximum 2 people. Maximum 30 people at a funeral, 20 at a wedding. Publicly accessible locations closed, except hotels, gyms, airports, wedding venues and funeral homes.

Reinforcement of partial lockdown 

Face mask mandatory in all public and covered areas, education, public transport and when working in contact-based industries.

Mandatory face mask

The partial lockdown becomes a full lockdown: remote and online teaching, people working in contact-based industries cannot perform their work, shops closed, indoor sports venues closed, all publicly accessible venues closed.

Lockdown 

The vaccination against COVID-19 has started. Nursing home employees and employees in direct COVID care are the first to be vaccinated.

First vaccine dose administered

Curfew applies: no going out between 21:00 and 04:30 (from 31 March: between 22:00 and 04:30). Maximum 1 person per day visiting at home.

Introduction of curfew 

RIVM reports that the alpha variant (formerly British variant) is being found more and more often in the Netherlands. This variant is more contagious and leads to more hospital admissions. Stricter measures have been in place since this week to prevent it from spreading.

Rise of alpha variant

Schools open (from 1 March). Contact professions allowed to start again, shops open by appointment, outdoor sports in groups allowed for people up to 27 years of age (from 3 March).

Cautious widening of lockdown

Higher education open to a limited extent (from 26 April). End of curfew. Maximum 2 people visiting. Shops and terraces open.

Step 1 opening plan

Indoor sports venues open to a limited extent, outdoor recreation venues open, indoor arts and cultural activities possible to a limited extent, outdoor performing arts venues open, terraces open longer.

Step 2 opening plan

Secondary schools can be fully open again. Pupils do not have to keep a distance. Self-tests available for staff and pupils.

Secondary schools open

Maximum 4 people visiting, group size outside maximum 4 people. Cultural institutions open. Indoor recreational facilities open. Expand opportunities for sport. Restaurants and bars open. More visitors allowed with coronavirus entry passes.

Step 3 opening plan

No limitations on number of visitors and group size. Face mask requirement largely dropped. Working in the office possible for part of the time. Amateur sports matches permitted, with spectators. All locations and events open under conditions. End of alcohol sales ban after 10pm.

Step 4 opening plan

Assigned seats required in restaurants, at events and in cultural and sporting venues. Discothequess and nightclubs closed. Bars and restaurants closed between 00.00 and 06.00 o’clock. Entry tests valid for a shorter period of time.

Additional measures

Work from home, unless there is no other option. Make sure there is plenty of fresh air in indoor areas.

Work from home and fresh air

No orange travel advice in EU countries based on corona infections, only with new virus variant. Prolongation of the ban on multi-day events until 1 September 2021.

Travel advice Europe changed, ban on multi-day events

Everyone from the age of 18 has the opportunity to advance already planned appointments for the second vaccination, by one week. 

Possibility to receive second shot earlier

Travelers from the age of 12 need a COVID certificate when they return to the Netherlands if they come from an EU country with a yellow travel advice. 

COVID certificate upon return to the Netherlands

The extra measures will be extended until 19 September 2021. 

Extra measures extended

Social distancing no longer applies at secondary vocational schools (MBOs), higher professional education institutions (HBOs) and universities. Students can take on site classes again.

No social distancing for higher education

Several countries have been designated as high-risk or as very high-risk areas. It is advised to read the travel advice of the country from which one travels (back) to the Netherlands.

Changes for travelers to the Netherlands

Restaurants, cafes and sports canteens open again at maximum capacity and all events are allowed with coronavirus entry passes. The work from home advice has been adjusted: work from home if possible and at the office if necessary. 

Further reopening with coronavirus entry passes

Guide to basic ventilation tips published. Ventilating well ensures better air quality and limits the spread of virus particles, for example from the coronavirus.

More attention to ventilating well

The number of infections must decrease, which is why the cabinet announced adjusted. 

Adjustment of measures 

In places where an admission ticket is not required, the following applies: keep a distance of 1.5 meters and a wear a face mask. Work from home, unless there is no other option. Avoid crowds, travel outside rush hour. A maximum of 4 visits at home per day (children up to 12 years not included). Non-essential shops are open until 6 pm, essential shops open until 8 pm. With a corona ticket and a fixed seat, the catering industry is open until 8 p.m. and events last until 6 p.m. No audience allowed at sport events.

Not everyone could be tested yet. The number of positive tests is therefore low.

Limited testing capacity

People can get tested without symptoms after an alert from contact tracing or the CoronaMelder app. Face mask mandatory in all public and covered areas, education, public transport and when working in contact-based industries.

Testing without symptoms and mandatory face mask

People can take a quick test on themselves. If the result is positive, people still need to have a test done at the Municipal Health Service (GGD).

Self-tests available

Travelers arriving at an airport in the Netherlands will receive a free corona self-test in September.

Handing out self-tests at airports extended 

All households will receive a letter to order 2 corona self-tests, free of charge.

Infections

Confirmed cases in Zaanstad

Average number of confirmed cases over the past 7 days

Average number of confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants per day

Number of confirmed cases over time

Number of confirmed cases of inhabitants of Zaanstad