The Netherlands has sharpened its travel advice for the whole of Belgium to orange, meaning all but essential travel should be avoided. A travel warning for Antwerp and Brussels was introduced earlier in the summer.

The recommendation has been introduced because Belgium has now classified Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland and Utrecht as red zones.

Travellers from these three provinces now have to have a test if they are in Belgium for more than 48 hours and must stay in quarantine for 14 days, or as long as their visit lasts – hence the Dutch warning.

All of Spain, Denmark and Britain, plus large parts of France, the Greek islands and the area around Lisbon are currently on the Dutch orange list. Travel is still allowed to all of Germany and Italy.

The Dutch autumn holidays take place between October 10 and 25, depending on the region, but the government is recommending people limit their travel in the Netherlands as well, because of the risk of spreading coronavirus.

To check foreign travel destinations use the government’s travel planner (Dutch).