- Marechaussee
- Tasks
- Enforcement of aliens legislation
Border control
In 1985, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France decided to gradually phase out border control on their common borders. This was laid down in the Schengen Agreement. Since then, more and more countries have become parties to the Schengen Agreement.
As a result of the Schengen Agreement, the Netherlands has not carried out any border control on its eastern border with Germany, the southern border with Belgium or in the case of ships or aircraft arriving from the participating Schengen countries since 1992. Only on the external borders of the Schengen area, at seaports and airports, does the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee still carry out border control. In the port area of Rotterdam, this task is performed by the local police.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is responsible for the border control at airports and seaports. This involves the inspection of people crossing the border with the Netherlands. Marechaussee personnel concentrate first on the inspection of travel documents. However, travellers must also be able to prove that they have sufficient means to support themselves. If a traveller does not meet the criteria necessary to enter the country, the Marechaussee will refuse them entry to the Netherlands.
Investigating criminal offences also forms part of the Marechaussee’s border control task and brings with it the detention of suspects and the execution of court decisions. In order to be able to perform this task properly, Marechaussee personnel at the borders have access to a central database containing complete files of all individuals on record.
Issuing emergency travel documents is another of the Marechaussee’s tasks. If a departing Dutch national does not have a valid travel document, the Marechaussee may in certain cases issue a temporary document so that the traveller can continue his or her journey.
In its activities relating to the enforcement of the aliens legislation, the Marechaussee has to deal with the initial reception of asylum seekers who request asylum as soon as they reach the border. The Marechaussee also looks after the transfer of aliens under a deportation order to foreign authorities and takes charge of Dutch nationals unwelcome in other countries.
In 2002, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee set up a National Documents Bureau. This Bureau is based at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and is staffed by specialists in the field of falsification. Information about counterfeit or forged passports, travel documents and other official papers which is brought to light as part of the Marechaussee’s border control task is processed here.
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