Dutch close airports to most planes from Spain, stranded Indians can go home

Schiphol airport. Photo: Gaby Richter
Schiphol airport. PhotoL Gaby Richter

The Netherlands has closed its airports to planes from Spain unless they are carrying Dutch nationals on their return journey or medical supplies and patients.

The ban, imposed on Saturday night, will last for 14 days, and comes after the Netherlands added Spain to its list of high-risk countries alongside China, Italy, Iran and South Korea.

More than 100,000 Dutch nationals spend the winter in southern Spain, many of whom have already left. There are also several thousand holidaymakers currently in coastal resorts or on the Canary Islands.

Meanwhile, a group of 150 Indian nationals who were stuck at Schiphol airport after India said it was halting incoming flights are being allowed home after all.

The group were travelling back to India from the US when their plane was ordered back to the Netherlands four hours into the flight over Russia.

Closer to home, some Belgian local authorities have been using barricades to try to stop Dutch and French nationals crossing the border, after Belgium said it was sealing itself off to all but essential traffic on Friday.

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