Minister Raymond Knops of the Interior and Kingdom Relations calls on people from Brabant and Limburg not to travel unnecessarily to neighboring countries.
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“It concerns non-important trips such as refueling, shopping and trying to avoid a holiday,” said the minister’s spokesperson. Knops has one letter sent to the House of Representatives on the situation of the border regions.
Do not refuel
In the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, the Belgian government has decided to close the borders to people who have no interest in the country. “So do not refuel in Belgium,” said the spokesman.
National borders
According to the minister, the Netherlands sees no need for the time being to introduce restrictive measures at the Dutch borders with Germany and Belgium. The government has not yet received expert advice that gives cause for this.
Frontier workers
The cabinet wants to prevent obstacles for border workers in the border regions and to continue to guarantee a free passage of goods transport.
Germany
Germany has not closed its borders with the Netherlands. As of March 17, the German government advises against all non-essential trips, including to the Netherlands. “Since a journey for work is seen as an essential journey, the passage of frontier workers and goods and services is guaranteed to date. In view of the situation in the border regions, the Cabinet maintains close contact with the German authorities”, the minister writes in the letter.
Also read: Belgium asks Dutch people who come to show proof of necessity
The Belgian police have been carrying out border checks at various locations since Friday morning. This also happens at the border with Limburg. Dutch people who do not have a good reason to be in Belgium are returned on pain of a hefty fine.
