Germany to Netherlands visa requirements

No visa is needed. German EU citizens can enter the Netherlands with a valid German passport or national ID card; ETIAS, EES, and the Schengen 90/180-day visitor cap do not apply. Carry ID because temporary German-Dutch border checks are currently notified. Germany and the Netherlands are both EU member states and Schengen countries, so German ordinary passport holders travel to the Netherlands under EU freedom of movement rather than a Schengen visitor route. A valid German national identity card (Personalausweis) or passport is enough to enter; the document only needs to be valid on the day of travel. German EU citizens do not need a visa, ETIAS travel authorisation, EES registration, an entry form, or any prior permission. The Schengen 90/180-day short-stay limit applies to non-EU visitors, not to German citizens. Under EU and Dutch guidance, a German citizen may stay in the Netherlands for up to three months without additional requirements, and longer under EU residence rules if working, self-employed, studying, genuinely seeking work, or otherwise self-sufficient with health coverage. The IND says EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are free to work in the Netherlands and their employer does not need a Dutch work permit (TWV). The IND also says EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a Dutch residence permit or IND registration, but anyone staying in the Netherlands for longer than four months should register at the local municipality (gemeente) for the BRP. Schengen internal borders are normally control-free, but this route has current temporary checks: the Netherlands has notified checks at its land borders with Germany and Belgium until 30 September 2026, and Germany has notified controls at all land borders including the Netherlands until 15 September 2026. Checks are risk-based rather than systematic on the Dutch side, but travellers should always carry a valid passport or ID card.