Customs protest to slow arrivals at Schiphol Airport on Tuesday; Long lines likely

Customs officers will stage a protest at the baggage claim area on Tuesday, which is expected to cause long lines and delays.

The action will take place between 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. at baggage halls 3 and 4. All arriving passengers will undergo extra checks after collecting their luggage. Normally, passengers with nothing to declare can pass through quickly.

The campaign targets the national government, not Schiphol, and is part of customs officers’ demand for higher wages. “We understand that this is inconvenient for travelers, who have just completed a flight,” Schiphol said.

“We facilitate the right to demonstrate while ensuring everything remains safe and orderly. All of Schiphol’s efforts are focused on that,” Schiphol added. Unions warn that without a new raise and inflation adjustment, customs officers will lose purchasing power.

Other recent wage protests include a one-hour strike by female prison staff in Nieuwersluis in January, a two-hour strike at De Schie prison in Rotterdam, and a 2.5-hour work stoppage at Rotterdam Detention Center last week.