False bomb threats at Schiphol already surpass 2024 total, sparking security fears

The number of bomb threats at Schiphol Airport has surged in 2025, raising serious concerns for airport security officials, NH Nieuws reports. The Koninklijke Marechaussee, responsible for safety at the airport, reports that the current number of bomb threats this year has already surpassed the total for all of 2024 — and every single threat has so far proven false.

In 2024, there were 25 bomb threats at Schiphol — averaging roughly one every two weeks. As of early June 2025, that number has already risen to 27.

“We are very concerned,” René van de Zandschulp of the Koninklijke Marechaussee told NH. “The problem is very serious. What we’re seeing is that we already have far more bomb threats now than in all of 2024. In such a short period, that’s troubling.”

Despite the fact that every reported threat has turned out to be false, each one triggers a full emergency response and causes significant disruption. “We see bomb threats being made by both young and old,” Van de Zandschulp explained. “They happen at the check-in counter, at security, but also by phone or email. Fortunately, they are always false alarms. Often it’s a joke, or someone gets frustrated by the process.”

Van de Zandschulp emphasized that false bomb threats are not treated lightly. Under Dutch law, such actions can carry severe consequences. “You can get four years in prison and a fine of 25,750 euros. You’ll be blacklisted by the airline, denied your flight, and risk getting a criminal record,” he told NH. Fines for false bomb threats start at 500 euros but can rise steeply depending on the circumstances.

Mayor Marianne Schuurmans of Haarlemmermeer, the municipality where Schiphol is located, said people often do not grasp the seriousness of joking about bombs. “Apparently there are a lot of people who think it’s funny to say ‘we have a bomb in our luggage,’ but we take that very seriously,” she told NH. “Schiphol is a designated high-risk security area, which means there’s an elevated threat level at the airport.”

Because of this, the Koninklijke Marechaussee responds immediately and with full resources to every report. “We take all scenarios into account,” Van de Zandschulp told NH. “That’s why we always deploy personnel and equipment appropriately. This can include using a bomb detection dog, for example.”

Mayor Schuurmans said the growing number of false bomb threats is putting a heavy burden on airport security. “I’m truly worried about this,” she told NH. “It takes up a lot of the Marechaussee’s capacity — and that capacity is urgently needed elsewhere at Schiphol.”

Schuurmans warned that a fake bomb threat could even be used as a diversionary tactic to carry out a real terrorist attack. “When we receive a threat, we immediately reassign capacity and move our personnel. We always keep in mind that something else could be happening somewhere else at the same time,” she told NH.

Beyond the strain on security forces, false bomb threats also cause significant disruption to airport operations. Flights can be delayed, passengers miss connections, and ground staff are often unable to continue working during an alert.

“People don’t realize how much impact it can have on themselves,” Van de Zandschulp said. “It affects the whole airport and everyone in it.”

Mayor Schuurmans issued a direct appeal to parents: “Tell your children not to make these kinds of jokes at Schiphol.”