Summary

The Netherlands has introduced temporary border controls with Germany and Belgium to curb illegal migration and cross-border crime, citing Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code.

The measures, announced by Migration Minister Marjolein Faber of the far-right Freedom Party, will involve random checks by 50 officers at 840 crossings, using risk analysis and camera footage.

Critics, including border municipalities, warn of disruptions to cross-border travel, while Faber defends the plan’s efficiency.

The number of asylum seekers in the Netherlands remains stable at 40,000 annually.