Ferry to Holland and onward travel to Spain

missile

Hi,

I would like to take the ferry from Newcastle to Holland, for onward travel via France to Spain.

Has anyone used the ferry from Newcastle recently and did you require a note verbale? 

On DFDS website it says. I have tried to contact DFDS but no reply. >

You must be able to show you have permission to enter the EU country/Schengen country in question. You can do this with a note verbale from that country’s embassy, for example, or another type of document that proves you can travel there. 

emmajones1976

Surely a UK passport suffices? It did when I went to Holland in November and Spain in October 🤷‍♂️

missile

Well, that is what I thought, but DFDS website says otherwise

eskbanker

I couldn't find that wording on the DFDS site but it does seem to be taken from the Dutch government's website, specifically in the section about exemptions from the EU travel bans applicable to those who are unvaccinated:

https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/exemptions-to-the-entry-ban/eu-entry-ban-exemption-categories

That page is only linked from the DFDS site in a section about unvaccinated travellers - are you fully vaccinated?

https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/corona-virus/updates/amsterdam-newcastle

missile

eskbanker said:

I couldn't find that wording on the DFDS site but it does seem to be taken from the Dutch government's website, specifically in the section about exemptions from the EU travel bans applicable to those who are unvaccinated:

https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/exemptions-to-the-entry-ban/eu-entry-ban-exemption-categories

That page is only linked from the DFDS site in a section about unvaccinated travellers - are you fully vaccinated?

https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/corona-virus/updates/amsterdam-newcastle

Yes sorry, I ought to have clarified:

• the DFDS website references the Netherlands government website.
• I am 2X vaccinated plus booster
• I also checked UK gov website, which has not been updated to reflect revisions to Netherlands requirements.

Like many aspects of covid rules, I find this confusing. I would be interested to hear from anyone who had made this crossing who could confirm if the new requirement for "note verbale" is being enforced or ignored.

eskbanker

missile said:

• I also checked UK gov website, which has not been updated to reflect revisions to Netherlands requirements.

[...]

...the new requirement for "note verbale"...

There is no new requirement for note verbale so nothing for the UK gov site to update - that wording has been in place on that NL page since at least last April, but it doesn't apply to vaccinated visitors....