UK holidaymakers are being alerted to new travel advisories for the Netherlands and Belgium by the Foreign Office as the festive season approaches. The Foreign Office has announced that temporary border controls are now in effect for entry into Germany.
The Netherlands has also reinstated temporary land border controls, with additional checks on certain international trains and flights, set to last for six months.
In a statement, the Foreign Office advised: “Adults, including parents and guardians, who are travelling to or from Belgium with children aged 17 or under may have to provide proof of their relationship to the children they are accompanying. Carry a birth certificate or court order, particularly if you have a different surname to the children.”
Last week, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its advice pages for Belgium, noting that these border controls will remain for a six-month period. The FCDO also mentioned: “Plans for the introduction of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) for all non-EU nationals, including British nationals, travelling in or out of the Schengen area has been delayed. Information will be updated when available.”
This postponement follows initial plans for changes to Schengen area travel starting from November 2024, which would require those entering or leaving the Schengen zone to undergo biometric data collection, including fingerprints and photographs, reports Birmingham Live.
The FCDO has issued a warning that “Queues at borders may be longer when these changes begin.” They also noted, “If you enter the Schengen area through Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, your fingerprints and photo will be taken before you leave the UK.”
Brits with an eye for winter culture often flock to Belgium, with cities such as Bruges being top destinations.