New rule for Holland?

[dickh]

Just read in Sailing Today that when entering Holland, you have to report to 'customs' and fill in a 'Crew list' - which is regularly checked at each stop. One yacht reported great difficulty when an extra crew member joined the boat after first reporting.
What are these new regulations? - presumably they are to stop illegal immigrants?

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[heerenleed]

it has somethong to do with Schengen or non-Schengen countries. The problem is that nobody really knows how it works. it seems you need to have a crew list on board (3-fold) abd that you need to report upon entry within the 12 miles zone of the Schengen countries, as well as when leaving.

So far, no clear indications as to what to do came from the authorities. i think it is wise to have the crew list ready. you can fill them in by hand, so have a number of clean copies just in case you see a customs officer.

when it gets clearer i shall post again about this. i could try customs, but when I was entered by Dutch Customs off Scheveningen they did not really know either.

Another example of Brussels bureaucracy i suppose

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[ccscott49]

You were entered by dutch customs? OOOO painful!

 

[heerenleed]

Forgive my poor English, Colin.
but then again, we need to feed your dirty moind, now don't we....

Anyway, i shall spare you the details..
cheers

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[dickh]

Peter, thanks for the reply - does 'Schengen/Non-Schengen' countries mean 'EC/Non-EC' countries? - I assume this is what you mean.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[ccscott49]

Forgiven! Just having a giraffe!

 

[bryantee]

Most but not all EC countries have signed the Shenigan (shenanigans) agreement,
UK did not,so you have to show your passport,to pass into a shenigan agreement country

 

[heerenleed]

having a giraffe.....

for tea or what.... Or do I not want to know....

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[heerenleed]

A number of EC countries signed the Schengen treaty: free traffic of goods and persons within the borders of these coutries, so no passport checks, no limitation of booze or tobacco transport between those countries etc. The outside borders of the participating countries are being better guarded than before, and the sea is, of course, such an outside border. Unfortunately bureaucreacy has got hold it it now..

I don't know exactly the participating countries, but if you want to know, you can go to http://www.eurovisa.info/SchengenCountries.htm (don't know enough about computers to make this clickable, sorry)

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[gunnarsilins]

What´s a giraffe?

In this case!

 

[vyv_cox]

The current situation is extremely unclear and confusing. Last Wednesday I travelled to Germany from Holland (both Schengen signatories) by train, something I have done many times before. There is in theory no need to carry a passport for this journey. On the return journey a group of police passed through the train inspecting everybody's passport. Fortunately I had mine with me this time.

My boss is a keen light aircraft pilot. He tells me that it has always been a requirement for him to clear in to Schengen countries when arriving by air, although he shared my view that this was not necessary by rail. On flying to Germany and France by commercial flights there is no requirement to carry a passport, although these days identification is necessary, for which a passport is most convenient.

In summer there is a constant stream of Dutch yachts heading south to France/Belgium and north to Germany. I would be very surprised if many of them cleared in, or whether anyone is monitoring them.

 

[dickh]

Thanks for the reply Peter, am planning next years summer cruise to the Netherlands which was the reason for the question.


dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[heerenleed]

You are quite right, nobody really bothers cruising between NL, B and F, and also GB. But sooner or later some idiotic official will discover that therre is a new rule to impose and will go out of his way to do it. As for now, nobody really knows what the rule is, but I will try and find out. It would be wise to carry a passport at all times, just to make sure. A crew list is als handy to have just in case anyone asks.

To start off with, i shall try some Dutch forums to see if anyone knows. If all else fails, I shall contact customs.

cheers

peter

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[quaelgeist2]

Did they specifically ask for passport ?

Don't forget, in most countries you have to provide an ID on request of authorities. So while not necessarily needed at the border, you have to carry identification (hereassport) with you all the time anyway.

Not that I believ in that or comply with it all the time myself, but I thought it could be interesting to avoid confusion with visitors.

Schengen is only about border controls and does not interfere with national rules on identification.

chris

 

[heerenleed]

i've been checking the internet and looked at a lot of Dutch sites but all the info I get is unclear and contradict on another. I've now sent emails to the Rotterdam police and to Dutch Immigration. I am curious to see what they come up with. The Rotterdam police sent me an email confirming receipt of my mail, ands informing me they have transferred my question to the 'proper department' for answering.

We'll see how long that takes.

Dutch immigration haven't made themselves heard yet. I'll keep you all posted....
cheers (and do come and see us in the meantime)


Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[ianwright]

Iv'e been trying to recall the last time anyone on the 'mainland ' asked to see my passport.
It was in 1986 in Oostende.
I had set out from Ramsgate towards Lowestoft but the wind changed so I went to Oostende instead. I had no passport and no ships papers of any kind,,,,,,, "Sorry officer, my fault, won't happen again." They understood.
At least one trip across the North Sea every year since then, except this year. Never been asked to show anything.

IanW

Vertue 203, Patience

 

[vyv_cox]

Yes, passport. I've lived in The Netherlands for six years now, so I think I know most of the rules. Interestingly, my Dutch colleagues at work tell me that there is no requirement to carry ID, so opinions clearly vary.

 

[heerenleed]

This is true, there is no obligation to carry ID documents for Dutch citizens, not within the Netherlands. When you travel, even within the Schengen area, you must comply with any rules of the countries you visit. most other Schengen countries do have the ID obligation.

having said all this, there is a discussion going on here too, so I wouldn't be surprised if we have to carry our ID's soon.

But this thread is more about other formalities like crew lists and having to report to customs. Strangely, other rules apply when you travel by car and ferry than when you travel by yacht.
Anyway, as i posted earlier, I have asked these questions per email at the Rotterdam police and at Dutch immigrations.

I'm curious to know what they come up with.

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[quaelgeist2]

Compulsory IDs in EU

fyi
http://www.privacy.org/pi/issues/idcard/idcard_faq.html#1
Correct, Holland should not have compulsory identification,
some others have ;-)

that's what I wanted to make fellow sailors aware of... (schengen, shenanigans or whatever)

chris

 

[VMALLOWS]

As far as I'm aware, because we're not in Schengen, we DO need to carry passports (at least as far as the first point of entry). What we don't have to do (if coming to/ from an EU country) is report arrival or departure.