Marechaussee to gain wider border powers from October
Temporary internal border checks are ending, but regular mobile monitoring will be expanded.
From 1 October, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee will have a broader framework for checks in the border region. This brings the current temporary arrangement for internal border checks to an end, but spot checks on travellers from other Schengen countries will not disappear.
Since late 2024, the Marechaussee has carried out additional checks at the borders with Belgium and Germany and on flights within the Schengen area. That temporary arrangement will end by 30 September at the latest. From 1 October, the checks will once again fall under Mobiel Toezicht Veiligheid, the regular framework for monitoring after a border crossing.
The cabinet wants to broaden that framework because, in the government’s view, the existing rules are not sufficiently flexible. This will enable the Marechaussee to act more selectively on the basis of risks and available information, without permanent or systematic passport checks being introduced at internal borders.
Among other changes, the draft decision replaces the fixed maximum number of aircraft and trains to be checked with a percentage. Under the standard arrangement, monitoring may take place on no more than 25 per cent of flight routes and no more than 25 per cent of scheduled flights per month on each route.
Where there are concrete indications of a significant increase in illegal residence, the draft says that percentage may temporarily be raised to 50 per cent. Aircraft and trains may also be checked in full rather than in part. For road and water traffic, the maximum number of hours of monitoring will be increased.
The Council of State has criticised parts of the proposal. According to its advisory division, a new intermediate variant is difficult to distinguish from the intensified framework that already exists. The government must, in the Council’s view, explain more clearly what the additional variant adds. A specific formulation in the decision must also be amended.
For travellers, the change does not mean that every journey within Schengen will once again involve a fixed border check. The Marechaussee will continue to work on a random and risk-based basis. For carriers, however, the broader powers could lead to more checks, delays and additional attention being paid to travel flows on specific routes.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The temporary internal border checks will end on 30 September.
- The cabinet wants to broaden mobile monitoring.
- Under the framework, the Marechaussee will continue to carry out risk-based and random checks.
- The Council of State has requested further justification and amendments to the wording.
Left
Arguments Free movement within Schengen and protection against arbitrariness must come first. Expanding checks could disproportionately affect travellers with a migration background and therefore requires strict safeguards.
Values Fundamental rights, proportionality and non-discrimination.
Consequences Less extensive powers could limit monitoring, but would reduce the risk of systematic checks and unequal treatment.
Centre
Arguments Targeted monitoring may be justified if it demonstrably combats cross-border crime and illegal residence. The powers must remain clear, reviewable and available for temporary use.
Values The rule of law, security and administrative oversight.
Consequences A clear framework can combine security and mobility, but requires transparent figures on effectiveness and proportionality.
Right
Arguments The Marechaussee must have sufficient scope to respond quickly to people smuggling and illegal residence. A fixed and overly restrictive ceiling on checks could hamper effective action.
Values Public order, national control and enforcement.
Consequences Broader checks could strengthen border monitoring, but could also lead to more delays and tension with the Schengen principle.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The legal changes and checking percentages can be verified in the advice issued by the Council of State. The text distinguishes between the temporary arrangement and the future regular monitoring.
- confirmed The temporary internal border checks will end by 30 September 2026 at the latest. — Mentioned by the Marechaussee and the Council of State. source
- confirmed From 1 October, the checks will once again fall under Mobiel Toezicht Veiligheid. — Described in the advice issued by the Council of State. source
- confirmed The draft mentions a maximum of 25 per cent of flight routes and flights. — The percentages appear in paragraph 83 of the advice. source
- confirmed The Council of State considers the added intermediate variant insufficiently justified. — This is an explicit conclusion of the advisory division. source
Editor's note
The legal transition on 1 October and the proposed percentages are set out in public government documents. The practical effects on waiting times and the number of checks are not yet known.Sources
- Wijziging van het Vreemdelingenbesluit 2000 in verband met de aanpassing van de juridische kaders van grenstoezicht — Raad van State
- Tijdelijke herinvoering van grenscontroles — Koninklijke Marechaussee
- Tijdelijke binnengrenscontroles tegen migratie zonder geldige documenten — Rijksoverheid
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „marechaussee grenscontrole”
- NU.nl — „marechaussee grenscontrole”
- De Telegraaf — „marechaussee grenscontrole”