When can and can't I go outdoors during curfew hours?

Yes. If you are outdoors due to an emergency, you don’t have to carry a form. You can explain the situation to the police if you are stopped. 

 Yes. If, for instance, you’re an informal carer, or you need to go to someone due to a medical emergency, you can indicate this on the self-declaration for curfew exemption. Ask yourself, however, whether the help they need has to be provided during curfew hours, or whether it could wait until the next day.

You can indicate this in your self-declaration for curfew exemption.Tick the box ‘Someone needs my urgent assistance’. Under ‘Explanation’, describe briefly why help cannot wait till morning. Show the form if you are stopped by the police and, if necessary, explain the situation.

You do not need to provide any additional proof that you are an informal carer or healthcare volunteer. The reason you can be outside is because the help or care cannot be delayed. You have indicated that by ticking the appropriate box on the form.

Yes, pharmacies will remain open during their normal opening hours. You can collect medication during curfew hours if this is necessary.

Needing urgent medical assistance is a valid reason for being outdoors after 21.00. You should consider, however, whether it could wait until the next day. If you are on your way to or from a coronavirus test or vaccination, you can indicate this in your self-declaration for curfew exemption.

If you are accompanying someone who requires assistance to a coronavirus test or vaccination, this is a valid reason to be out during curfew hours. You can indicate this in your self-declaration for curfew exemption. 

Ask yourself if is absolutely essential to go out during curfew hours. If it is necessary for you to go for a walk during curfew hours due to serious psychological problems, you must have a self-declaration for curfew exemption with you. Explain your situation on the form. You must also carry a signed declaration from a BIG-registered healthcare professional, explaining that you are in serious psychological distress. Your healthcare professional must state in the declaration that you have been advised to take a walk outside if you are in psychological distress, and that this is part of your treatment. Taking a walk must be necessary for your safety, or for the safety of those around you.

There may be situations in which it is impossible to fill out a declaration before going outdoors, for example if you are dealing with domestic violence. This is considered an emergency and is a valid reason for being outdoors during curfew hours without a declaration.

You can walk a dog, on a lead. You must do this on your own. You do not need to carry a self-declaration for curfew exemption.

No. You can only walk your dog, on a lead.

You can go outdoors if your animal/pet needs urgent medical assistance. You will need to fill in the self-declaration for curfew exemption and carry it with you.

You must have an urgent reason for travelling to or from your hobby animal. Providing general care, such as food or water, is not permitted during curfew hours. You may, however, go outside to provide urgent medical assistance. For example, if the animal needs to be given medicine every 4 hours. You will need to carry a self-declaration for curfew exemption with you.

Essential shops, such as chemists, must close at 20.00. Shops that sell groceries, such as supermarkets, must close at 20.45.

Yes. Delivery workers may still deliver post and parcels during curfew hours. They must carry a self-declaration for curfew exemption and an employer’s declaration for curfew exemption.

No. You’re not allowed to go and get takeaway food between 20.45 and 07.00. You can still have it delivered, though.

Yes, but you must stay indoors during curfew hours while you are staying there.

In specific cases in which both parents (or a single parent) need to work in the evening or at night (for example, healthcare workers), and the babysitter has no option other than to travel during curfew hours, the babysitter may be outdoors on the basis of the exemption ‘someone needs my urgent assistance’. This section must be filled in on the self-declaration for curfew exemption. You must provide a short explanation of why this is a valid reason.
 
We ask parents who regularly use babysitters to look for alternatives. For example, swapping shifts, having the babysitter stay overnight, or taking the child to the babysitter. There may also be local options for emergency care in the evenings.

Yes, you may be outside if you are travelling to take an exam or test as part of your MBO, HBO or university course and can prove this. You will need to carry a self-declaration for curfew exemption with you.

Sports clubs and anyone organising activities for children must ensure that the participants are home by 21.00.

Yes. Public transport will still run during curfew hours; this is for people who have to make an essential journey, for instance they are travelling to or from work. Passengers must be able to show that they have a valid reason for making the journey during curfew hours, by means of forms or other documents.

Yes. Taxi drivers need to be outside to perform their job, provided it is necessary and cannot be done at another time. They do not need a form for this. Passengers must carry the necessary forms.

The evening curfew is in force between 21.00 and 4.30. Make sure you are home on time. Plan extra time in case there are traffic jams or you miss the bus or train. It is up to the police to decide whether you have a valid reason for travelling during curfew hours.

Yes. Petrol stations remain open during curfew hours for the sale of petrol and related items. The parts of petrol station shops selling groceries are closed to the public between 20.45 and 06.00. This is line with the closure of other grocery stores during curfew hours.

No, people who are allowed to travel during curfew hours can’t be picked up or dropped off by another person. The person travelling to the airport or station must use public transport (train, tram, bus or metro) or get a taxi.

Yes, you can. This applies to passengers making an essential journey only. Passengers must have the necessary forms to show they have a valid reason for travelling. Passengers entering the Netherlands by international train or coach must be able to show a negative PCR test result based on a sample collected no more than 72 hours previously. 

Shops selling food and drink before the security check must close no later than 20.45 and open no earlier than 06.00. Other shops selling essentials must close no later than 20.00 Establishments selling food and drink after the security check may remain open during the night, so that passengers are able to eat and drink during a scheduled or unscheduled wait.

Station shops selling essentials must close by 20.00. Station shops selling food and drink must close by 20.45.

Yes, you can travel to and from work with a colleague. You must both carry an employer’s declaration for curfew exemption and a self-declaration for curfew exemption. You must also follow all the other coronavirus measures. For example, wearing a face mask where required. Avoid travelling in the same car with people from a different household.

No, you cannot. If you need to be outside during curfew hours for work, you can only travel to and from your home address. 

No, you must travel to or from work yourself if it is necessary to do so. You must carry a self-declaration for curfew exemption and an employer's declaration.

If you do not have your own means of transport, you can use public transport or a taxi.

You could also consider speaking with your employer about changing your working hours for the duration of the curfew.

Yes. National goods transport, including local logistics and deliveries to shops, is work that falls under the valid reasons for travelling during curfew hours, as long as is necessary for it to be done during those hours. During curfew hours, transport workers must carry a self-declaration for curfew exemption and an employer’s declaration for curfew exemption.

Yes, international goods transport is a valid reason for travelling during curfew hours. International transport workers don’t need to carry any extra declarations to show that they have a valid reason to travel during curfew hours. International transport workers must, as always, carry an EU certificate/consignment note.

If you have travelled by air, you will have an airline ticket and 2 negative test results.  Show these documents to prove you have arrived from abroad. You don’t need to carry a self-declaration. 

The same goes for people arriving from abroad by coach, train or car. You won’t need a form, but will have to prove you have arrived from abroad. And you have to be able to explain why it is necessary for you to travel during curfew hours

Yes, if their journey is essential. People who have arrived in the Netherlands by air, must be able to show their airline ticket and negative PCR test result. The same applies to people who have arrived from abroad by international train or coach. They can use these documents to prove they have arrived from abroad. They don’t need to carry a self-declaration. People travelling to a train station, ferry terminal or airport in the Netherlands in order to travel abroad must be able to show a self-declaration for curfew exemption, an employer’s declaration for curfew exemption (if applicable) and/or documents (such as a ticket) proving they have a valid reason to be travelling during curfew hours.

No. Travelling to or from a funeral is a valid reason to be outdoors during curfew hours. Travelling to or from a wake is not.

If a homeless person is found outdoors for no other reason than they have nowhere to stay, they’ll be referred to a shelter.