Netherlands Travel Warning
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
Now, now... Read the very last sentence of this: They send, and re-send these warnings and, this way, they keep their jobs every time an act of terrorism happens somewhere in the world. Perhaps they should hire a few more people in this agency to send warnings about killings in US schools, night clubs and post offices.
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
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Is this serious? It's one of the safest countries in the world. I'm surprised there's even a warning.
I'm not generally as critical of State Dept travel warnings as many others here, but this one might as well say don't ever leave your house. If this were a new warning based on credible evidence, I'd get it, but just a general warning makes me wonder if there's any place in the world that wouldn't get a level 2.
This is what makes people ignore the warnings, even the ones they shouldn't. For somewhere like Paris, a level 2 probably makes sense, but not for The Netherlands (unless I'm missing something).
I'm not generally as critical of State Dept travel warnings as many others here, but this one might as well say don't ever leave your house. If this were a new warning based on credible evidence, I'd get it, but just a general warning makes me wonder if there's any place in the world that wouldn't get a level 2.
This is what makes people ignore the warnings, even the ones they shouldn't. For somewhere like Paris, a level 2 probably makes sense, but not for The Netherlands (unless I'm missing something).
#4
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It may have to do with concerns that connect the Dutch drug trade with Iranian-backed Hezbollah or with just the latter being positioned to act up dangerously in the Netherlands in the event of further hostilities involving Iran. Ill probably hear more about this on Tuesday.
The Netherlands is on the same level as France, and its as I would expect it to be. Will I change my travels because of it? No.
The Netherlands is on the same level as France, and its as I would expect it to be. Will I change my travels because of it? No.
#6
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Denmark has also been moved up to Level 2 this year. The UK was already at 2 IIRC. Sweden is at 1.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jul 20, 2019 at 7:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
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It may have to do with concerns that connect the Dutch drug trade with Iranian-backed Hezbollah or with just the latter being positioned to act up dangerously in the Netherlands in the event of further hostilities involving Iran. Ill probably hear more about this on Tuesday.
The Netherlands is on the same level as France, and its as I would expect it to be. Will I change my travels because of it? No.
The Netherlands is on the same level as France, and its as I would expect it to be. Will I change my travels because of it? No.
It seems odd to me that a country like this would have the same warning level as countries that actually have a history of terrorist attacks, such as France, Belgium, or the US. Maybe the point I'm trying to make is that the system isn't very useful.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA, UA lowly commoner
Posts: 778
There was the Utrecht tram attack last winter, though it was small-scale. And authorities said last year that people arrested in Arnhem were planning a major terrorist attack. So perhaps there's some justification for the official caution, despite the absence of a major incident so far.
ETA: To clarify, I'm not saying that people shouldn't travel to the Netherlands (I still will), just that the warning may have some basis.
ETA: To clarify, I'm not saying that people shouldn't travel to the Netherlands (I still will), just that the warning may have some basis.
Last edited by Giggleswick; Jul 21, 2019 at 10:30 am
#9
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It's a fairly pointless CYA-style warning. It would be easier and more effective if they just published a warning along the lines of:
If you travel anywhere outside your house you face multiple dangers to your life, at any time. These life threatening dangers can come in any form, including ones you least expect. Take precautions accordingly. Life threatening dangers also lurk inside your house.
If you travel anywhere outside your house you face multiple dangers to your life, at any time. These life threatening dangers can come in any form, including ones you least expect. Take precautions accordingly. Life threatening dangers also lurk inside your house.
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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It's a fairly pointless CYA-style warning. It would be easier and more effective if they just published a warning along the lines of:
If you travel anywhere outside your house you face multiple dangers to your life, at any time. These life threatening dangers can come in any form, including ones you least expect. Take precautions accordingly. Life threatening dangers also lurk inside your house.
If you travel anywhere outside your house you face multiple dangers to your life, at any time. These life threatening dangers can come in any form, including ones you least expect. Take precautions accordingly. Life threatening dangers also lurk inside your house.
Beware of driving a car, you could have a fatal car accident.
Beware of heating your house, you could die of carbon monoxide poisoning.
And so on.
#11
#12
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,634
When in doubt (e.g. I recently travelled to Kosovo because of work and wanted to go and see other places apart from the capital city), I normally go for the Foreign Travel Advice on gov.uk: always up-to-date, no-nonsense, 'elegantly' written and with plenty of useful info - very British indeed
G
G
#13
Join Date: Feb 2014
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They should bring back the Boris Johnson's Travel Advice page - which in its eloquent way was probably the best there ever was
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ent...b0daae46fc12d8
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ent...b0daae46fc12d8
#15
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA, UA lowly commoner
Posts: 778
I normally go for the Foreign Travel Advice on gov.uk: always up-to-date, no-nonsense, 'elegantly' written and with plenty of useful info - very British