Thousands of Dutch stranded in Asia as Middle East war continues to disrupt flights
Thousands of Dutch travelers are stranded in Asia due to war in the Middle East, which has disrupted air traffic in the Gulf states, RTL reports.
Package travelers can receive support from the Dutch Calamity Fund, but those who booked flights independently face mounting costs and uncertainty, according to the ANVR, the Dutch travel industry association.
About 40 percent of Dutch travelers book package vacations, which cover extra nights and flights through the Calamity Fund. The majority, however, book independently and must arrange and pay for additional accommodations themselves, with no guarantee that their return flights will operate.
Eli van der Zanden and his girlfriend Laura de Gooyert are currently in Thailand. They were scheduled to return via Abu Dhabi on March 21, but the flight was canceled. Two subsequent rebookings were also canceled. They are currently booked on a flight for March 25, but its departure remains uncertain.
Costs for extra accommodations are rising, as neither travel insurance nor the airline covers the expenses. Van der Zanden said, “It’s a significant cost. We can’t do much. We are being sent from one place to another. No one takes responsibility, so you are backed into a corner.”
Both travelers are also unable to work. Van der Zanden runs his own business and worries about missing the April high season. Laura de Gooyert had planned to return to her job at a mental health care institution.
Despite the difficult situation, the couple said the tropical surroundings offer some relief, though the uncertainty remains. “Yes, of course, I can understand it. It’s beautiful here. But the uncertainty is difficult. There is also fear that the conflict will escalate and it will become impossible to return,” van der Zanden said.
The ANVR expects Dutch travelers who booked package vacations to return within two weeks, as travel companies actively manage their repatriation. For independently booked travelers like van der Zanden and de Gooyert, the return route via Abu Dhabi may fail, and they are considering traveling to Vietnam or China to find alternative routes back to the Netherlands.
