WTF were we thinking? Half term road trip to Netherlands

[Ilikecakes]

We must've been fucking mad or in denial or both, but we've booked a trip to the Netherlands for half term. We'll use Eurotunnel to get over and then drive through France and Belgium to get there, then staying in Belgium for two nights on the way home.

Trying to get my head around what we need in terms of covid documentation for each place has honestly made me want to cry and scream and cancel the whole thing, but I think I'm nearly there now. If there's anyone here with recent experience or expertise in the area, I'd really appreciate if you could fill in some of the gaps. Two adults, fully vaccinated, and four kids under 12.

To enter France:

1. We need paper proof of vaccination - does this literally mean printing off the PDF copy of our covid travel pass from the NHS app?
2. The sworn statement (from here: www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Certificate-of-international-travel?fbclid=IwAR1ABwmuv_01IixjW9yKeESmW0dzahE_W3-AH_cvV4dPnqrtzhtVyi_0aHE) do we need this for every traveller or just the adults?

Belgium:
PLF form, antigen test (will do this 24 hours before departure) and NHS covid pass, which they thankfully recognise. Easy peasy (I think!)

Netherlands:
Antigen test - will have done
Quarantine declaration form - done
Paper vaccination proof- question as per France, is this just from the NHS covid app?

Does this seem OK? I'm not even certain whether the full covid rules apply if you're just transiting through the country on the way out and/or if I'll need to do a second set of antigen tests for our return trip through Belgium, but I'm honestly going a bit mad from looking at what seems to be completely different information from various sources (don't even get me started on the Eurotunnel info!). Also aware we'll need to book day 2 tests for our return, but I'm not even worrying about that yet.

Thanks in advance if anyone can help.

Looks ok, in my experience there are no checks at all between France, Belgium and the Netherlands

Once you’re in Europe, you’re in 😄 So you need to get your entry stuff for France right, and then your entry stuff for UK

Will you still need to day 2 test booked for your return to the U.K.? As well as the passenger location form.

I was in Holland two weeks ago, and they have done away with masks etc (apart from trains and buses) and it’s almost like covid does not exist.

Thank you. Any idea on the paper proof of vaccination? Is that simply to print the pdf from the nhs website?

On the day 2 return test, it’s supposed to be lateral flows by then but I’m not clear who among us will need it ie adults only or everyone. I’ll work that one out while we’re away 🙈🙈

It’s just administration, would just crack on with it yourself.

I got paper proof of vaccination by calling 111 but it takes a week

As someone who has travelled to the Netherlands several times recently (albeit not by road) they barely check anything and are not strict at all. Don’t worry too much. The only annoying thing is that you need proof of vaccination to enter restaurants at the moment. I don’t really know how this works in real life, haven’t been since implemented.

Looks to me like France accept the COVID pass too? I haven't been there but this photo at this page:

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

Links to the NHS COVID pass as proof bit. Have a read yourself maybe?

Any chance of swapping your crossing to go straight to Hook of Holland? That would save some hassle, the crossing is lovely and all Channel crosses are fully refundable at the moment. The Covid travel paperwork is a pita but doable.

I think you need a UK sticker for the car now?

I'm heading to Belgium for half term and have been similarly flummoxed by the rules, despite considering myself to be fairly intelligent!

Transiting Belgium is allowed with just a single form:

May I transit this country?

Yes

Transit is considered essential travel and is therefore allowed. Travellers have to fill in, sign and carry with them a statement indicating the reason of their journey (more information and the form can be found at: www.info-coronavirus.be/en/travels/).

All persons returning to Belgium and all persons travelling through Belgium who are staying at least 48 hours must fill out a Passenger Locator Form.
...

Transit by land
From within the EU+ area, if you will be spending less than 48 hours in Belgium and if you are not travelling by air or boat, no PCR test is required. The same applies also to cross-border workers. For people arriving in Belgium with their own vehicle, random checks may be carried out at the borders.

From outside the EU+ area, if you will be spending less than 48 hours in Belgium and if you are not travelling by air, boat, train or bus, no PCR test is required.

Taken from here:
wiki.unece.org/display/CTRBSBC/Belgium

Yes, you print out the covid certificate pdf from the NHS website. It will contain QR codes for each vaccination and this is what they look at or scan. Under 12’s are covered by their parents’ vaccinations to enter France but I think you still do a sworn statement for each child. Get the Tous AntiCovid app for France so you can enter restaurants etc it accepts the NHS QR codes so you can show it on your phone which is convenient. You can check your circumstances here uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-rules-for-travel-between-France-and-the-UK

Netherlands doesn’t currently accept the NHS proof of vaccination for entering restaurants so you’d have to have regular tests done to actually go inside restaurants and cafes.

Is antigen test enough for Belgium? I thought you needed a pcr.

You can request a paper copy of vaccine. I think mine took about 5 days so unsure if yours will arrive in time but worth a try.

You'll be fine. Just don't forget the requirements for your car (for the Netherlands country sticker & proof of insurance and France requires an emergency kit I think?)

I live in the netherlands and have never been asked for proof of vaccicnation. Masks are needed on public transport and thats it. Thinggs can change really quickly though

The PassengerLocator form is a bit complex - one form per person. Don't know about children.

This is what I sent to a friend as a guide having returned from France in September...

We also have to completed a Passenger Locator Form (for return to the UK). I don't know if it will apply to you.
We had to create an account on the gov.uk site with a password (14 characters) and verified via mobile phone. It required Passport no. Address etc. You can create the account and basic information now but currently you can only complete the form when in France, within 3 days of return. Some of it is a bit ambiguous.

Also we converted our NHS vaccination record by downloading the French app called ‘Tous Covid’

There is another app called ‘Tous Covid Verif’ and if you install that you can verify someone else's but not your own. (Tous Covid Verif is what restaurants, bars, etc used to scan your Pass’

Note: This ONLY relates to France and may change!

Please note thecapitalsunited's comment just above.
Family member returned just last week from a stint working over there, during which they could not use restaurants or bars - due to a glitch whereby UK proof of vaccine status barcodes cannot be read by the Dutch equipment. Hopefully this is being addressed but do check the status of this.

I believe Belgium requires a PCR test for entry

Thank you so much, fabulous and wise MNers.

To clarify - we're only transiting through France both over and back, so I'm not worried about entering restaurants etc, but I've noted the point about needing proof of vaccinations for Dutch restaurants/bars etc so thank you for that. I have definitely left it too late to get the official paper vaccine cert from 111, so I'll just have to hope that the printed pdf via the covid app works for that. If not, we're staying in self catering accommodation so worst case scenario, we'll just be cooking at home for each meal.

Re Belgium, we are transiting only on the way over so I will complete that statement (thank you @OliveHenry), but it looks as though we'll need to do PCR tests and PLFs for the return leg as we'll be staying there for two days, so I'll get those organised while we're away.

I have ordered UK car stickers so thank you to the posters who mentioned those, and will print off all our insurance details too.

Think that's it - oh except that I've just remembered we have a cat that'll need minding. Fuuucccckkkkkk! I'm normally an intelligent, organised and rational human but it's been an insane few weeks and this trip has just crept up on me!

Thanks again all

Have you got a kit for French roads? It needs a breathalyzer I think, and fluorescent jackets? I got one off Amazon.

I think everything’s already been said, but have a lovely time! It’s a trip we do often as we have family in the Netherlands and I always really enjoy our overnight stops in Belgium en route. Antwerp, Brugge and Ghent are all really lovely.

Ah thank you @VenusClapTrap. I've got so caught up in all the admin that I've forgotten there's a lovely trip at the end of it! Doing Center Parcs there, Efetling and then staying in a small town between Ghent and Bruges so hoping to spend a day exploring each one before heading home. Getting excited now....

Efteling is fab! Best theme park ever. Sounds like it’ll be a great trip.

@Gladioli23

Have you got a kit for French roads? It needs a breathalyzer I think, and fluorescent jackets? I got one off Amazon.

I don't believe you need the breathalysers on France anymore.

The bill included an article saying the law obliging drivers to carry breathalysers has now been scrapped. The government justified the move by saying it had not proven to be effective at cutting drink-driving, which is still one of the biggest causes of fatalities on French roads.8 Jan 2020

www.thelocal.fr/20200108

We love the Efteling too. Usually go to NL for October half term but didn’t book this year which I’m glad about now because two of my dc have covid.

You could always get a takeaway from a local Chinese, we always do that during a trip there so dh can get his peanut sauce fix