You can refer to the following website to learn more about which countries have a red or orange travel code. Please note that this list can change on a daily basis, so we advise you to stay well informed. You can find more information on which travellers need to self-quarantine on the website of the Dutch Government.

If you travel to the Netherlands from a country listed by the Dutch government as high risk (red or orange code), you are advised by the Dutch government to be in self-quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. The Dutch government offers information on their website on what self-quarantine means and which quarantine rules you are strongly advised to follow for the first 10 days after arrival in the Netherlands. You can find more information on which travellers need to self-quarantine on the website of the Dutch government.

Even if you are not experiencing any corona symptoms, you could still carry the virus and contaminate people around you. There is more likelihood of carrying the virus if you come from a country or region coded red or orange. The university complies with the government's advice to self-quarantine when coming from a country or region coded red or orange, to protect the health of its students and staff.

• If you are registered as a resident in the Netherlands (BRP registration) you will be invited for a COVID 19 vaccination. You will receive an invitation by post from the RIVM.
• If you already received one vaccination in your home country with the AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you can receive your second dose of the vaccine in the Netherlands.*
• If you are not registered as a resident, but you are staying in The Netherlands for longer than one month, you can get vaccinated if:
  • You are not yet vaccinated, or;
  • You received one vaccination in your home country with the AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. You can receive your second vaccine in the Netherlands.*
• If you have a medical issue that is known to your Dutch GP, you may receive an earlier invitation directly from your GP.
• If you are doing an internship in the field of healthcare, please check with your internship provider whether you may also be eligible for earlier vaccination.

*If you already received a different kind of vaccine in your home country, unfortunately you cannot be vaccinated in the Netherlands. The Health Council of the Netherlands does not approve of mixing different kinds of vaccines, other than Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Make your appointment

If you meet the requirements for vaccination you can make an appointment by calling 0800-7070 (daily 08:00-20:00).

• We advise you to go for a free PCR-test 5 days after your arrival, to make sure you do not have the virus while getting vaccinated. Note: if you come from a high-risk region, a PCR-test and quarantine is mandatory. See the Dutch governments checklist for entering The Netherlands.
• If you have recently tested positive, you will have to wait 8 weeks from the date you tested positive before getting vaccinated.

At the vaccination location

• Please take these with you to the appointment:
  • The letter from the RIVM and the completed questionnaire about your health (please note: only people who are registered at the municipality will receive this letter. If you didn’t receive a letter, you are still allowed to be vaccinated)
  • Your ID-card or passport
  • A face mask
• Wear clothing that allows easy access to your upper arm.
• You can bring someone to the appointment to help you.
• At the vaccination location, you will be asked to fill in a questionnaire about your health. If you have any questions, an employee will be present to assist you. If needed, a doctor is present to advise you on health-related topics regarding the vaccine.
• You will be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.
• After the vaccination, you will sit in a waiting room for 15 minutes. This is to make sure you are feeling well before you leave the venue. First aid is available at all times and doctors are always present at the location.

Make sure you are (back) in the Netherlands 10 days before the introduction week, so that you can self-quarantine up to the start of teaching.

More information about the start of teaching this academic year

Leiden University’s Warm Welcome Service looks for ways to give a good welcome to new students. 

If you are travelling by public transport, please bear in mind that in the Netherlands passengers are required to wear a non-medical facemask when travelling by public transport. If you don’t wear a facemask, you could be given a fine.

You are advised not to travel to the Netherlands from an area coded red or orange if you haven’t yet found accommodation.

Contact the Housing Office to inform on available housing.
More information on housing

Notify the Housing Office via the contact form if you can’t make it to your appointment because you are in self-quarantine.

Make clear agreements with your housemates, for example about meal times, toilet use, etc. Stay in your own room as much as possible and always keep a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and your housemates. If you live in accommodation with a residence assistant, inform him or her about your situation. Avoid direct contact when doing so. Make sure that you and your housemates keep the surfaces in your house disinfected and clean.

No, if you decide to self-quarantine because you travelled from an orange or red country, your roommates do not have to self-quarantine as well. Only if you (or they) develop symptoms should you all stay inside and avoid contact with others. 

If you are unable to isolate yourself in your current accommodation, you may want to consider arranging temporary accommodation that offers private facilities, such as a hotel, hostel or bed and breakfast. 

When you are renting through the Housing Office and develop symptoms (coughing, a cold, fever, shortness of breath) and/or test positive for COVID-19 you can contact the Housing Office to discuss alternative arrangements during your self-quarantine.

First, use your network: maybe you know other students who are prepared to do grocery shopping for you. These days you can also order shopping online. When you live in housing arranged by the Housing Office of Leiden University you can also contact your RA for assistance.

At Jumbo.com you can pay for online shopping with your credit card.  

The format of the introduction week is very much dependent on the coronavirus measures in place. The introduction week teams are planning for every possible scenario to make sure you have a memorable experience, whether this be online, face to face, or a combination of the two. 
If you have to quarantine upon arrival, you can certainly join any online introduction activities. However, you cannot join face to face activities whilst in quarantine. Therefore, if there are face to face activities and you do need to quarantine, we advise you to arrive early and complete you quarantine period before your introduction week. See the introduction weeks page for the latest news. 
 

Yes, if you have registered for one of the introduction weeks, you can join the online programme while in self-quarantine.

Leiden University offers a buddy service for students who would like a little company, help and support in these difficult times. Your student buddy can provide (online) social interaction, moral support and practical tips. If you are in self-quarantine and can’t order groceries online, your buddy can do your grocery shopping up to twice a week.

• Join the Student Buddy Service

We will do our best to provide you with a buddy, however please be aware this may not always be possible due to capacity issues. If we are unable to find you a buddy, we will instead refer you to other external resources.

Because of the corona measures, some banks offer the possibility of opening a bank account online. Some options are: 

• ABN AMRO Bank
• Rabo Bank 
• Bunq Bank

More information about opening a bank account

We advise you to bring with you a credit card and some euros in cash. Once you are in the Netherlands, you can open a bank account, including online. See also: I don’t have a Dutch bank account yet. How can I arrange this while in self-quarantine?

It is possible to register with the municipality after your quarantine period.

More information on town hall registration

Leiden University offers a range of ways in which you can connect with other students whilst in quarantine. For example, you could join an online student support group or request a student buddy. For information on these options and more, please visit the Your wellbeing page. 

It’s understandable that you might feel lonely and isolated whilst in quarantine. On the Your wellbeing page you can find  tips and tools to help you maintain your mental wellbeing and connect with other students. Here you can also find information on who to turn to for support, both within and outside Leiden University.  

If you have symptoms such as a cold, a cough, fever or loss of taste or smell, you can have yourself tested for corona virus.

Do you belong to a high-risk group or are you seriously ill? Do you have a fever, for example, or are you short of breath? If so, call your GP (general practitioner), your medical specialist or the local medical centre.

In life-threatening situations, always call 112
 

Maybe you don’t yet have a GP? For most GP practices you can register online or by phone. Information on GP practices that have experience with international students.

Don’t forget that you need to make sure you have adequate healthcare insurance.

During the introduction week you can contact your introduction mentor. From the start of the academic year you can contact your study mentor.

You can also contact the Student Support Services via studentsupport@leidenuniv.nl or tel. 071 – 527 8025 (workdays from 9.30 till 12.00).