Netherlands: Migration: Netherlands tightens border controls

The Netherlands has started stricter controls at the borders with Germany and Belgium. This is intended to curb illegal migration into the country, said the radical right-wing Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber at the southern border crossing with Belgium in Eijsden. The government wants “this influx to decrease.”

But restrictions on border traffic are hardly expected. According to their own statements, the border police do not have enough capacity for permanent checkpoints, as is the case in Germany. In the next six months there will primarily be spot checks and mobile checks of vehicles and travelers on international trains.

There are around 840 border crossings and the border police have deployed 50 officers for checks. However, the asylum minister rejected criticism of its effectiveness. “I don’t see this as symbolic politics at all,” she said. The border police now have the mandate to work more efficiently.

Almost 50 municipalities in the border area protested against the extra controls and expressed concern about hindrances for cross-border commuters. Where and when the checks are carried out is not disclosed. Officers on motorcycles will stop and check vehicles after a risk analysis based on camera footage and the origin of the cars, according to police.

The number of asylum seekers remains stable at around 40,000 per year. However, there is a crisis in the accommodation of people, as major austerity measures have meant that homes have been closed and jobs at the asylum authority have been cut.