Border checks frustrate Marechaussee: “a pointless show”
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee has expressed growing frustration over the newly imposed border checks, calling them largely ineffective and burdensome. Officials reported dismal results during the first week, with only two individuals turned away at the Overijssel borders and fewer than ten nationwide. The situation has raised concerns among military police personnel, who describe the operation as a “farce.”
The border checks, introduced last week, aim to curb illegal migration and cross-border crime. However, internal emails obtained by Oost Nieuws reveal that on Friday, a “crisis” moment unfolded within the Marechaussee. Senior officials considered temporarily halting all planned checks due to mounting operational issues, though the decision was ultimately reversed later that evening.
According to Marechaussee personnel, the low number of apprehensions highlights the inefficacy of the controls. “We turned away just two individuals at the Overijssel borders, and fewer than ten in the entire country,” a source told Oost Nieuws. “Compared to our previous regular mobile controls (MTV), these numbers are shocking. Results have plummeted in comparison to last month.”
The Marechaussee currently has only 50 officers allocated to enforce the checks across approximately 840 border crossings with Germany and Belgium, as well as international train routes and high-risk flights. This shortage of resources significantly limits their ability to conduct meaningful operations.
Compounding the challenges is a lack of preparation for handling border refusals at internal European Union borders. Normally, the Marechaussee operates at external EU borders, such as at Schiphol Airport. Shifting their duties to internal border crossings has created logistical and procedural difficulties.
“It is practically possible to refuse entry to individuals at these borders,” a Marechaussee spokesperson confirmed. “But it requires a completely different way of working, and our colleagues are not currently equipped for that.”
An officer elaborated on the challenges: “The decision to introduce these border checks was made hastily. Our brigades simply are not ready for this type of work. Refusing someone at a border crossing within the EU is also complex because, by the time they are checked, they are already technically in the Netherlands.”
The additional burden of the border checks is pulling resources away from more targeted and effective operations. “These controls come at the expense of our regular duties, where we actually achieve real results,” one Marechaussee official said. “We would much rather focus on investigations and specific operations. Now, we’re diverting limited manpower to something that has virtually no impact. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
The checks have led to a decline in what Marechaussee officers refer to as “vangsten” — successful apprehensions or actions during standard operations. “The border checks are purely for show,” an officer said. “It’s a pointless exercise, and no one here is happy about it.”
