Netherlands implements expanded mobile border surveillance

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee has implemented a new oversight system known as expanded Mobile Security Supervision (MTV) as of October 1. While temporary internal border controls have ended, surveillance is not being scaled back; instead, the method and location of inspections have changed.

Under the new system, the Marechaussee has increased authority to inspect vehicles and travelers within a zone of up to twenty kilometers from the border. This shift is particularly noticeable along the borders with Germany and Belgium, where authorities may conduct checks further inland. This approach aims to reduce traffic congestion directly at the border crossings.

Inspections are not universal but are conducted based on intelligence and risk assessments. This means travelers may pass through a border without a traditional checkpoint only to be inspected later by mobile units. The policy affects various modes of transport, including cars, trains, buses, and planes. Travelers within the Schengen Area are reminded to carry valid passports and, if applicable, residence permits or Schengen visas.