Netherlands - Pets
Two useful European Commission links for traveling with pets in the EU:
Netherlands’ Rules if coming from an EU country
Dogs and Cats must:
- have an EU Pet passport
- be identified with a microchip or a readable tattoo
- be vaccinated against rabies with a valid vaccine at the time of travel and included in the passport.
Animals less than 15 weeks old, and therefore not vaccinated with a valid rabies vaccine are not allowed to enter the Netherlands.
Netherlands’ Rules if coming from outside the EU
To introduce a pet from a third country, you must enter with your pet through one of the designated Travelers’ Points of Entry. Upon arrival in the Netherlands, you must report your pet to Customs.
It is important to check whether you are coming from a low-risk or a high-risk country regarding rabies.
Third countries listed in Annex II are considered low-risk countries, dogs and cats must:
- have an identification chip
- be vaccinated against rabies
- have a veterinary certificate issued by the official veterinarian in the third country
- have an EU Pet Passport (if the animal has previously been in the EU)
- have a signed declaration by the owner or the authorized person
Third countries not listed in the regulation are high-risk rabies countries. The above requirements for low-risk countries must be met. Additional requirement for cats and dogs apply.
- the animal/s must undergo a rabies antibody titration test in an authorized laboratory.
Registration of dogs is required if you are staying in the Netherlands for more than 3 months.
More details at the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality – Bringing pets into the Netherlands
Last updated: May 2023
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The relevant rules for vessels arriving from abroad (Schengen and outside Schengen) can be found here: https://english.marechaussee.nl/topics/reporting-requirements-for-commercial-and-recreational-vessels/recreational-vessels
Amsterdam rail bridge not operating from 1st Oct 2023 until 31st May 2024 for vessels with more than 6.25 m above normal canal level. Use the Haarlem route instead.
A port not to be missed when sailing the Friesian Islands is Harlingen. Both Vlieland and Terschelling are within reach, there is a connection to the inland waterways via the Van Harinxma Canal, and it is a beautiful town with a real seafaring feeling, including a very recognizable tidal scope. Waiting for the train bridge and town bridges to open up can take up to 30 minutes, but not more.
There is a much nicer and roomier marina in Amsterdam now, Amsterdam Marina (amsterdammarina.com). Newly built, great facilities. It’s a bit further from the centre, but 15min free ferry ride to the centre.
More detailed info regarding Standing Mast Route: http://www.varendoejesamen.nl/?language=en
A passport stamped with an entry into France (or any other Schengen Area country) does not negate the need to report your arrival into a different country, it only starts the clock ticking on your permitted length of stay in the Schengen Area.
Dutch formalities are a little unclear, we arrived in Rotterdam from Belguim via the MAAS and followed the VTS radio reporting rules as required reporting on each segment and requesting entry etc, see http://www.portofrotterdam.com.
we contacted the Harbour Master at Veerhaven before arrival and advised eta. Upon arrival and after berthing at Veerhaven spoke to HM and was advised no other formalities required. 1 hour later (7 pm Sunday evening) police launch arrived and had a good look at us from the cabin and 10 mins later 2 police officers arrived to advise us we had failed to report our arrival.
We were advised that Schengen formalities were not valid as we had arrived from the sea and although we had already cleared into France we needed to act as if we were arriving from international waters. We showed our passports with French EU entry stamps and French Customs inspection papers, this was apparently still not sufficient and another reporting was required although they were not able to tell us what.
We provided copies of all documentation and they advised that they would return if they needed any further information. they also advised that we would need to report to the HM at each port within the NL if we exited via sea eg Rotterdam to Scheveningen. We asked what documents or forms may be required or was there a website with such information and they advised us just to contact the HM on arrival.
We spoke to the Veerhaven HM again the next morning and he said he had no idea what they wanted and what we needed to do. as far as the triplicate customs forms and 1-year permit described above or any other papers at this stage no one seems to have any information on such documents.
Andrew s/v Katherine http://www.svkatherine.com