NETHERLANDS

Pets

Netherlands is a Member State of the European Union. You must fill out a bilingual health certificate Cats and dogs are subject to special regulations (EC) No. 998/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council. For more information contact the nearest Dutch embassy. Pets may enter as passenger's checked baggage, in the cabin (consult transporting carrier) or as cargo.

Psittacine birds (parrots or parrot-like birds) for entry or transit: Always consult the local Ministry of Agriculture or Veterinary Service or nearest Dutch Consulate prior to travel, because "endangered species", whether alive or stuffed or parts thereof may not be imported and will be returned, even if the health documents are in order.

Dispensation to be obtained prior to arrival from the Department for Nature Conservation, Environmental Protection and Wild Life Management, Bezuidenhoutseweg 73 (P.O. Box 20401), 2500 EK The Hague (phone: 31-70-3793390 or fax: 31-70-3792922).

Entry or transit limited to max. 5 birds per family or person traveling alone, provided bird(s) are accompanied by health certificate issued and signed, not more than 2 months before, by the veterinary service of the country where birds have been taken from, stating that animals have been submitted for examination by a member of the family or person traveling alone and upon examination fowl plague, newcastle disease, fowl cholera, psittacosis and pullorum disease have not been diagnosed.

The import of all birds, including pet birds and poultry, arriving from countries infected with Avian influenza is prohibited.

The import of psittacine birds if coming from Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Honduras, Indonesia, Nicaragua or Paraguay is prohibited.

Notice: Pet dogs, cats, and ferrets must be identified with either a clearly readable tattoo or a microchip. The microchip must comply with ISO standard 11784 or 11785 Annex A, or the appropriate microchip reader must be provided along with the pet. Annex A type microchips available in the United States include AKC/TROVAN, HOMEAGAIN and AVID EUROCHIP.

General Information

Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east. The capital is Amsterdam and the seat of government is The Hague.

The country is divided into two main parts by three large rivers, the Rhine and its main distributary Waal, as well as the Meuse.