The fact that Belgium and Germany declared the provinces of South and North Holland to be a risk area last night has direct consequences for the tourism sector. It’s raining cancellations at hotels and tourist attractions.
At Duinrell amusement park in Wassenaar, for example, almost all Germans and Belgians who had reserved an overnight stay and a visit to the park for the coming month have postponed their booking to next year. And that while the eastern and southern neighbors are currently the largest group of foreign visitors.
Zaanse Schans
The Zaanse Schans also expects a drop in the number of visitors, as there are currently many Germans coming to Zaandam in addition to the Dutch. “We must now fully focus on the Dutch public”, says Maarten van der Meer, director of the Zaanse Schans Foundation. Van der Meer says he expects ‘a tough time’.
Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam is also noticing the adjusted travel advice. Germans and Belgians are an important target group for the wax museum. “We are already seeing cancellations coming in today,” said a spokeswoman.
Travel to Germany and Belgium
Travelers coming from the provinces of North Holland and South Holland must undergo preventive testing upon arrival in Germany and then go into self-quarantine in Germany for 14 days. This does not apply to travelers from other Dutch provinces.
Dutch people from North Holland and South Holland who travel through Germany to other countries such as Poland do not need to be quarantined or tested. They will not be able to stay overnight and will have to drive on, can be read on the website of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Belgium will give both Dutch provinces code red from tomorrow afternoon. Anyone traveling from these provinces to Belgium after a stay of at least two days must undergo a corona test and be quarantined.
Hotels in North and South Holland also received multiple cancellations from German and Belgian guests this morning. “While they are precisely the largest group of guests”, says an employee of the Sir Adam Hotel in Amsterdam.
The NH Hotel near Schiphol receives many questions from people who want to postpone their visit to a later moment. They also received this question several times since yesterday at a location of the chain in The Hague. “We are now rebooking the overnight stays to October.”
