Page 140 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

138 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Practical Information

Passports and Visas Netherlands; for the USA, and repatriation on
a certificate of inspection medical grounds. Anyone
Citizens of the EU/EEA, from the Plant Protection planning to stay for more
including the UK and Service is required. Bulbs than 90 days, even when
Ireland, plus citizens of are best mailed home; the coming from another EU/
Australia, New Zealand, dealer should carry out all EEA member state, is
Canada and the USA do the paperwork, but check required by Dutch law to
not need a visa to enter before you splash out. take out private heath
the Netherlands if staying insurance. When signing
for 90 days or less, but Travel Safety Advice up for medical insurance,
they do need a current ascertain whether payment
passport. Visitors can get up-to-date is made prior to, during or
On the other hand, travel safety information after treatment has ended.
travellers from many from the Foreign and
other countries, including Commonwealth Office Health
South Africa, need a in the UK, the State
passport and a tourist visa Department in the US Health care in the
for visits of less than 90 and the Department of Netherlands is of an
days; visas must be Foreign Affairs and excellent standard and
obtained before departure Trade in Australia. rarely will English speakers
and are available from encounter language
Dutch embassies. Travel Insurance problems – if the doctor
For stays in the or nurse can’t speak
Netherlands of longer It is advisable to take out English themselves there
than 90 days, EU/EEA an insurance policy that will almost certainly be
residents (with the covers cancellation or someone at hand who
exception of Bulgarian, curtailment of your trip can. Your local pharmacy,
Croatian and Romanian and theft or loss of money tourist office or hotel
nationals) will have few and baggage. As for should be able to provide
problems, but everyone medical costs, under the address of an English-
else needs a mix of visas reciprocal health speaking doctor or dentist.
and permits. Consult your arrangements all citizens If seeking treatment
local Dutch embassy of the EU/EEA who have a under EU/EEA reciprocal
before departure. European Health Insurance public health agreements,
Card (EHIC) are entitled to you may be asked to
Customs discounted medical produce documentation
Regulations and treatment within the to prove you are eligible
Immigration Dutch public health-care for EU/EEA health care.
system. Non-EU/EEA Sometimes this is not
Apart from offensive nationals are not entitled asked for, but technically
weapons, plants and to free or discounted at least you should have
perishable foods, there treatment and should your passport and your
are few limits on what EU/ take out their own medical EHIC ready to show.
EEA nationals can import insurance – though some If you have a travel
into the Netherlands for countries, for example insurance policy covering
personal use. Non-EU/ Australia, do have limited medical expenses, you
EEA citizens can buy mutual agreements. EU/ can seek treatment in
duty-free goods up to the EEA citizens may also either the public or private
current limit. Cats and want to consider private health sectors, the main
dogs are allowed, provided health insurance to issue being whether you
they have a “Pet Passport”, cover the cost of the have to pay the costs
which shows up-to- discounted treatment as upfront and then wait for
date inoculations. well as items not within reimbursement or not. No
Flower bulbs may be the EU/EEA’s scheme, vaccinations are
exported from the such as dental treatment mandatory for visiting.

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