According to Article 25 of the Schengen Border Code, Member States can, in case of serious threat to public policy or internal security and as a last resort, reintroduce border control at all or specific parts of its internal borders for a limited period that shall not exceed six months.

On this basis, the Netherlands notified the European Commission of a temporary reintroduction of border control with Belgium and Germany from 9 December 2024 until 8 June 2025. To justify this measure, the Netherlands mentioned a "high level of irregular migration, migrant smuggling, and substantial secondary migration flows". They also referred to the "high and cumulative pressure on the migration system, in particular for asylum reception" and to the "increase in criminal incidents at reception centres".

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee - a branch of the Dutch military with police duties - clarified that random checks would be carried out "based on risk analysis and information". This can happen at all border crossings and in international trains coming from the Schengen area. At airports, checks target "specific flights with a higher risk of irregular migration or cross-border crime".

For further details, please view this web page from the European Commission and this web page from the Koninklijke Marechaussee.