Schiphol customs will conduct full passenger checks until 1:30 p.m. as part of a pay protest.
Customs officers at Schiphol Airport began conducting extra checks on all arriving passengers Tuesday, including those with nothing to declare, as part of a protest against a government pay freeze. The campaign ran from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., affecting baggage reclaim halls 3 and 4.
Schiphol warned passengers to expect longer waiting times and to follow staff instructions. In a statement, the airport emphasized its role in facilitating the protest while maintaining safety and order, acknowledging that the disruption was frustrating for travelers.
The action is part of a broader protest by customs employees against the pay freeze for civil servants, which includes no salary increase or inflation adjustment. Officers said the extra inspections aim to draw the national government’s attention to their pay and benefits.
The unions FNV, CNV, and AC Rijksvakbonden stressed that the protest is directed at the government, not at Schiphol or passengers. They described the disruption as inconvenient but necessary, stating that officers were being “pushed into a corner” and that the action highlights governmental inaction toward employees.
Similar campaigns took place Tuesday at the ports of Rotterdam and Vlissingen, where customs officers also carried out additional inspections to support the nationwide protest.