Netherlands could soon make hidden compartments in cars & boats a crime

Hidden compartments in cars and boats will soon be illegal. Criminals often use them to stash drugs, weapons, or cash, and people could face prosecution not only for building them but also for owning or using a vehicle that has one. A wide majority in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, backed the proposed law during Wednesday’s debate.

The police have been discovering an increased number of hidden compartments in vehicles. “These are not amateur tinkerers making them, but it has become quite a professional industry,” said PVV MP Max Aardema.

He noted that police encountered roughly a thousand vehicles with hidden compartments last year, often during technical checks, but law enforcement currently has little power to act against them.

If authorities discover a hidden compartment, prosecutors must still prove the owner knew about it, said outgoing Justice Minister Foort van Oosten (VVD). Evidence could include drug or gunpowder residue, DNA traces, or witness statements. A driver who is truly unaware, for instance, because the car was purchased later, cannot be held responsible.

Hidden spaces for legitimate use, such as storing valuables in a camper, will not be targeted, Van Oosten explained. He noted that illegal compartments can usually be recognized because they are installed in odd locations and require structural modifications to the vehicle.

Other measures in the bill to better tackle organized crime were also well received. For example, the bill should make it easier to confiscate money obtained through criminal activities.