Any information on "Dutch government-approved standard hotels" for quarantine/isolation?

[Turtles06]

We are scheduled for a Viking River Cruise out of Amsterdam in April, postponed from April 2020, to be preceded by a week in the city.  I'm doing my best to keep on top of all relevant covid-related rules, regulations, and information, but one thing that has me stymied is what exactly would happen in the event that one of us tested positive upon embarkation.  Viking tests guests when they board (and every day thereafter), and their web site says that if guests test positive, Viking "will arrange for them to recover ashore before returning home once their recovery is complete."

 

I've called Viking to get more information about what those "arrangements" would be, and have spent many frustrating hours on the phone with them, as the shoreside staff, including at the supervisor level, don't have any information.  The first person with whom I spoke said guests who test positive will be sent to a "facilty" that was "like a hotel but NOT a hotel."   After more calls, I was told that guests who test positive will be taken off the boat and sent to what was described as a "standard government-approved hotel" for quarantine.

 

They had absolutely NO information about where this hotel would be, the type of accommodation, whether guests would have access to the internet, room service for food, etc. They said no one from Viking would check up on the guests, and apparently neither would a doctor or nurse to assess their medical condition.  They told me that the guests or their travel insurance would be responsible for all costs, including for the room and food, but could not tell me anything about the daily room costs.  It pretty much appeared that Viking would be washing their hands of you once you were escorted off the boat. 

 

So here is my question for anyone who may know:  does the government of the Netherlands in fact have hotels that have been designated as quarantine or isolation hotels for visitors who have tested positive for covid?   If so, what can you tell me about them, including whether anyone checks up on the guest's medical condition,  how food is arranged, further testing so you can be released?   Anything else.   All I could find from an internet search was the article below mentioning a Ramada Hotel near Schiphol Airport where plane passengers from South Africa were brought last November at the beginning of the spread of Omicron, but no other details and nothing of relevance now.

 

I'm tagging our known experts from the Netherlands here on CC  @Ine, @dutch girl and @FreestyleNovice, but certainly anyone else should weigh in if you can help with any information (and apologies if I've missed anyone by name).  Thanks so much!

 

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211129-dutch-covid-hotel-saga-raises-quarantine-questions

   

Edited February 6, 2022 by Turtles06

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

I can often find a country's Covid site just by googling, although many of them don't get very specific, and I'm sure you and others would prefer specific!  If that doesn't work,  you could find the country's  government website and look for ministry of health or Covid or something like that.  And if you're on Facebook, there are a couple of Facebook groups you could join where all things related to Viking are discussed, including (almost ad nauseum) testing and quarantine procedures/experience.  And googling "sherpa travel restrictions" might help, or the U.S. Government State Department travel website.

 

It seems to be a mixed bag in terms of what happens when you test positive in just about any country, as Viking is at the mercy of the countries they visit.  (You may already know that.)  If the country allows you to stay on the ship, you can stay on the ship and isolate.  If the country wants you to isolate in their country before flying home, you're taken off the ship at the next port.  I've heard of some countries that have a list of hotels for Covid, but not many.  

 

We cruised around Iceland on Viking ocean this past summer.  Nobody ended up getting sick or testing positive, so I have no real experience to tell you about.  And that was August in Iceland, and may not apply anyway.  Some things aren't well defined, and things change rapidly.

 

Some people stick really close to home a week pre-travel so they lessen possible exposure to covid.  I'm planning to do that pre-travel when my time to cruise or fly again rolls around.

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

And it looks like you're going on a river cruise next.  I've been following the Facebook group that is titled something  like "Viking river & ocean cruise travelers" for a long time, and I don't remember anyone being denied boarding in Amsterdam or testing positive while on board after embarking in Amsterdam.  That doesn't mean it never happens, but there are enough people traveling on Viking now that I would have expected someone to mention bad things by now, so I take that as good news.   And believe it or not, although it sounds like everyone is getting omicron, there are plenty of us who haven't gotten it, or at least haven't tested positive for it.  Of course, it depends where you live.  I'm lucky. I live outside a big city in a compliant, careful area with 90% of the over 15 year olds vaccinated, 7% positivity rate, etc.  

[Ine]

I am abroad at the moment, but I can tell you for sure there are no dedicated hotels in The Netherlands in case you get Covid. Unfortunately you will be on your own to find place and to quarantine. After that you will need to prove you are recovered by doing a test in order to fly home. Remember all rules can and have changed various times. 
In the article you mention it was indeed the Ramada Hotel where passengers from a flight from South Africa were put in. But that were the 1st cases of Omicron that reached The Netherlands and nobody knew then whether it  is was a serious new type of Covid.

By now we know more people get Omicron but in general most of them are just sick for a few days with hardly any complains. 

[FreestyleNovice]

2 hours ago, Ine said:

I am abroad at the moment, but I can tell you for sure there are no dedicated hotels in The Netherlands in case you get Covid. Unfortunately you will be on your own to find place and to quarantine. After that you will need to prove you are recovered by doing a test in order to fly home. Remember all rules can and have changed various times. 
In the article you mention it was indeed the Ramada Hotel where passengers from a flight from South Africa were put in. But that were the 1st cases of Omicron that reached The Netherlands and nobody knew then whether it  is was a serious new type of Covid.

By now we know more people get Omicron but in general most of them are just sick for a few days with hardly any complains. 

 

What Ine said.

 

Omicron is surging right now in The Netherlands but no serious medical conditions for most of the general population.

 

My guess is that they will put you in a regular Amsterdam or airport hotel. The situation is still very liquid, especially with a new variant coming, so I would not be surprised if a cruise line would go ahead and say reserve a hotel floor for their guests. I've read some quarantine stories on the Royal Caribbean board how people were just dropped curb side by their q-hotel (selected by the cruise line and in some aspects with special arrangements made for their stay as house rules and food delivery) and besides a dedicated phone number they just had to sit out their days. It could be very similar.

 

For our March cruise I've had some challenges to sort out all the (extra) testing, you can always opt to take a voluntary antigen test at https://spoedtest.nl/en/ for 40 Euros (45 USD) a few days in to avoid any surprises.

 

The surge here is currently especially spreading around the youth. Social distancing, masks, hand washing, getting the booster and visiting only well ventilated and no crowded places will keep you safe, it does for us for almost two year now!

[Turtles06]

@Ine and @FreestyleNovice-- thank you both for your prompt and helpful replies; much appreciated!

 

1 hour ago, FreestyleNovice said:

The surge here is currently especially spreading around the youth. Social distancing, masks, hand washing, getting the booster and visiting only well ventilated and no crowded places will keep you safe, it does for us for almost two year now!

 

It's certainly what we've been doing for almost two years now at home. 🙂  But for a visitor to Amsterdam in April, avoiding "crowded places" would likely defeat the point of the visit. (Museums, Anne Frank House, etc.  It would be our first time in the Netherlands.)   We don't have to make a final decision yet, but this just might not be the best time for this trip. 

 

Thank you both again; please stay safe.

[mort&fran]

Ine and FreestyleNovice – Are visitors to the Netherlands from the US and UK who are fully vaccinated no longer required to self-isolate?

[Dutch_Travelgirl]

1 hour ago, mort&fran said:

Are visitors to the Netherlands from the US and UK who are fully vaccinated no longer required to self-isolate?

Indeed. Those visiting from Very High Risk countries like the USA or UK no longer need to quarantine if they’re fully vaccinated + boostered. Those not fully vaccinated or those not yet boostered still need to quarantine for at least 5 days. 

[FreestyleNovice]

17 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

@Ine and @FreestyleNovice-- thank you both for your prompt and helpful replies; much appreciated!

 

 

It's certainly what we've been doing for almost two years now at home. 🙂  But for a visitor to Amsterdam in April, avoiding "crowded places" would likely defeat the point of the visit. (Museums, Anne Frank House, etc.  It would be our first time in the Netherlands.)   We don't have to make a final decision yet, but this just might not be the best time for this trip. 

 

Thank you both again; please stay safe.

 

Hmm, I have good hope that the museums and other indoor points of interest will have good Covid policies to ensure their continuation. 

It might be even your best shot, before the tourists return in full force. Even the Keukenhof is opening, we're taking a Caribbean cruise with a week around Florida pre-cruise and to be honest; I fear the flight and cruise the most in terms in Covid contamination. I am not worried about a stroll over Ocean Drive, a dinner somewhere or a mall visit. 

 

And please post any questions about The Netherlands, "we" the Dutch here on CC love to help out to make your week in our small but lovely country one for the books.   We will get you that one windmill photo without hundreds of others blocking your photo, that lovely quiet canal town that might even be better than Amsterdam or guide you through our railway system to get to places others won't!

 

[stebar04]

How easy is it for an American to get a covid test in Amsterdam prior to flying home after a transatlantic cruise and a few days wandering the canals?

thank you!

[Turtles06]

36 minutes ago, stebar04 said:

How easy is it for an American to get a covid test in Amsterdam prior to flying home after a transatlantic cruise and a few days wandering the canals?

thank you!

 

What you also might want to know is  -- should you test positive, how easy will it be in Amsterdam in or around tulip time in April (you mention you're on a TA), or perhaps a little bit later, to find a decent hotel in which to quarantine for an unknown time at the very last minute, since the test has to be taken no earlier than one day prior to flying home to the U.S.

[Dutch_Travelgirl]

20 hours ago, stebar04 said:

How easy is it for an American to get a covid test in Amsterdam prior to flying home after a transatlantic cruise and a few days wandering the canals?

thank you!

Testing centers are literally all over the place. Many of them have websites in English, so just Google “PCR test for travel Amsterdam” or “Antigen test for travel Amsterdam” and many results will come up. 

[FreestyleNovice]

21 hours ago, stebar04 said:

How easy is it for an American to get a covid test in Amsterdam prior to flying home after a transatlantic cruise and a few days wandering the canals?

thank you!

 

Very easy!

 

https://spoedtest.nl/en/

 

Not affiliated but a reliable party, normal pricing, be sure to check out the latest news and info before you travel as things are likely to change, locations come and go and opening hours may change.

 

At the shopping plaza at Schiphol Airport there's also a test site but at a higher price, different company.

[Levanah]

Hello,

 

We are scheduled on a May 14 NCL cruise from Southampton which disembarks in Amsterdam on May 24 where we plan to stay 3 nights before flying back to the US.  We are both fully vaccinated and boosted and may even be able to get a second booster shot before May.  We will be tested before we exit the ship but concerned about entry into restaurants, museums and other venues during our visit.  Our vaccination proof is in the form of paper CDC cards which apparently cannot be used successfully to get a digital certificate. We have emailed the Dutch government for information but no reply yet.    Apparently, we can get tested to stay but then need a test every 24 hours!  We are wondering if we will even be able to stay in Amsterdam for 3 days even though we have booked a hotel (can be cancelled).   Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Thanks so much!

 

Cynthia

[Ine]

5 hours ago, Levanah said:

Hello,

 

We are scheduled on a May 14 NCL cruise from Southampton which disembarks in Amsterdam on May 24 where we plan to stay 3 nights before flying back to the US.  We are both fully vaccinated and boosted and may even be able to get a second booster shot before May.  We will be tested before we exit the ship but concerned about entry into restaurants, museums and other venues during our visit.  Our vaccination proof is in the form of paper CDC cards which apparently cannot be used successfully to get a digital certificate. We have emailed the Dutch government for information but no reply yet.    Apparently, we can get tested to stay but then need a test every 24 hours!  We are wondering if we will even be able to stay in Amsterdam for 3 days even though we have booked a hotel (can be cancelled).   Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Thanks so much!

 

Cynthia

This coming week new announcements will be made and as far as I heard a lot might be less strict in the near future. Let us hope it will make travel easier. 

[Dutch_Travelgirl]

13 hours ago, Levanah said:

Our vaccination proof is in the form of paper CDC cards which apparently cannot be used successfully to get a digital certificate.

Please check out the most recent posts in the topic about how to get access to museums and restaurants. There are some recent developments that might be of interest to you. See here; 

 

[Levanah]

Thank you!  I did see this and it is a great relief to hear!  This sounds hopeful.

 

I am hearing that Omicron has been surging in the Netherlands.  Is this true?  This is so challenging not only for individuals and families, but for all of society.  Whether we are able to visit your country or not, my thoughts and wishes are with everyone for health and healing very soon.

 

Cynthia

[Dutch_Travelgirl]

Omicron is surging or has surged pretty much everywhere, not just in the Netherlands. The Netherlands went into lockdown in December which is why we reached the peak at a later time than for instance our neighbours to the south Belgium. There is absolutely no point in worrying about what rules will be place 3 months from now. A lot can and will happen between now and then. 

[Levanah]

Very true - thank you!  We’ve had to cancel so many times, it’s easy to let anxiety get the better of us.  With each day, we are more optimistic about this trip.  

[FreestyleNovice]

Good news!

 

https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2022/02/15/3-steps-to-reopen-the-netherlands

 

The most important one for you all, in short;

No more green pass need in to restaurants (under 500 guests) after Feb 25th! No social distancing, no face mask besides public transport and at the airport.
And self isolation is reduced to 5 days after testing positive, effective immediately. 

 

I will quote the third step:

 

"....On Friday 25 February we will take the final step. From then, opening times will return to normal and we will lift the following requirements: showing a coronavirus entry pass (3G) at locations accommodating fewer than 500 people, staying 1.5 metres apart, wearing face masks while walking around bars and restaurants, schools and shops, having a limited number of visitors, and assigned seating in bars, restaurants and other venues. That means that large night clubs, discotheques, festivals and events can open up without limitations. At indoor locations accommodating more than 500 people where there is no assigned seating, for example night clubs and festivals, everyone must show a negative test result. This does not apply at events where there is a continuous flow of visitors, such as trade fairs and conferences. To ensure that vulnerable people are able to travel safely, the requirement to wear a face mask on public transport and at airports will remain in force even after 25 February.

On 15 March the government will evaluate the remaining rules including the face mask requirement for public transport, the pre-admission testing requirement (1G) and the advice on working from home.

All the rules, recommendations and conditions are explained in more detail at government.nl/coronavirus."