530 denied entry as Dutch border checks complete year of inspections

Over the course of a year of border inspections, authorities refused entry to 530 individuals. From December 9, 2024, through December 8, 2025, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee inspected 143,960 people and 35,380 vehicles. According to a letter to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, from caretaker Asylum and Migration Minister David van Weel, 250 people were taken into custody at the border during that period.

Those denied entry to the Netherlands did not have proper travel documents or were unable to clarify the purpose or length of their stay. The VVD minister said that some of these individuals might represent a risk to public order or national security.

Airport inspections started in July 2025, during which authorities checked 134,370 passengers and 1,500 aircraft. As a result of these checks, 50 people were turned away.

The border checks were temporarily reintroduced on December 9, 2024, at the internal borders with Belgium and Germany to combat irregular migration and cross-border crime. The move mirrors actions taken by other EU member states and relies on provisions in the Schengen framework that allow checks when there is a serious threat to public order or internal security.

In November, caretaker Asylum Minister David van Weel said the inspections would continue for an additional six months.

Recent figures from the OECD Migration Reports 2025 show that initial asylum applications in the Netherlands declined by approximately 17 percent in 2024, dropping to around 32,000.

Most applicants came from Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. The government also approved a set of asylum reforms in December 2024 designed to ease strain on the asylum system, such as restricting family-based admissions and speeding up processing for people from countries deemed safe.

In addition to conducting standard border checks, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee has a key role in verifying travel documents and combating irregular migration. Operating within the Dutch defense structure, the force performs these duties in close coordination with other national agencies.

According to official migration data and monitoring reports, including those from the AIDA/Asylum Information Database, there have been no pushbacks at the Dutch borders. Individuals who wish to seek asylum can still do so, provided they meet the conditions set by EU and Dutch legislation.