The Dutch government announced on Friday that the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive at the Port of Rotterdam next Monday, with most crew members set to undergo a six-week quarantine in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Rotterdam has been designated in the Netherlands as the port for the handling of infectious diseases in shipping, according to a letter sent to parliament on Friday and signed by Sophie Hermans, Dutch minister of health, welfare and sport, and Tom Berendsen, the country's foreign minister.

According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch operator of the vessel, there are currently 27 people on board, including 25 crew members and two medical personnel. The group consists of 17 Filipinos, four Dutch nationals, four Ukrainians, one Russian, and one Polish national.

The ministers said that some crew members would enter home quarantine upon arrival, while those unable to return immediately to their home countries would be housed in designated quarantine facilities.

Regarding the vessel's 17 Filipino crew members, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) recommended that they remain in the Netherlands for the entire six-week quarantine period.

The letter said that the RIVM's recommendation followed careful consultations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and is in line with WHO guidance.

The vessel will also undergo cleaning by a specialized external company in accordance with RIVM guidelines, which incorporate WHO recommendations and are being implemented in close cooperation with the Rotterdam municipal health service.

Personal protective measures are being taken to ensure that the cleaners do not need to quarantine after the cleaning, the letter said.

According to the WHO, the cruise ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina, for Cape Verde on April 1. During the voyage, it experienced an outbreak of the Andes virus, a strain of the Hantavirus family.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Island of Tenerife, Spain - May 10, 2026 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)

1. Various of Hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius, other vessels

2. Tents at evacuation site

3. Various of security guard, medical workers

4. Various of medical workers, security guard standing by shuttle buses

5. Various of medical worker getting on shuttle bus, shuttle bus leaving evacuation site

FILE: Amsterdam, Netherlands - March 16, 2017 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)

6. Dutch national flag

FILE: Rotterdam, Netherlands - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)

7. Various of buildings, traffic in Rotterdam