According to a government statement published on 10 November 2025, Minister for Asylum and Migration David van Weel said the measure aims to protect public order and prevent further strain on the asylum and migration system.
“The cabinet has decided to extend the temporary controls at the internal borders by six months, until 8 June 2026,” Van Weel stated in his letter to the House of Representatives. “This decision was made to counter the persistent impact of irregular migration and cross-border criminality.”
The minister added that maintaining public order remains a top priority, while authorities are working to minimise the economic and logistical impact on cross-border traffic, workers, and border regions. The government said there is no evidence so far that the controls have caused significant negative effects on trade or mobility.
The checks are carried out by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee based on risk analyses and within existing capacity. Individuals unable to show valid travel or residence documents may be refused entry and required to leave the country.
What the extended border checks mean for hauliers
The renewed checks could continue to cause occasional delays and longer waiting times for freight operators and drivers crossing the borders with Belgium and Germany. However, the Dutch government emphasised that the controls are selective and intelligence-based, not systematic, and should not disrupt the majority of commercial traffic.
Hauliers operating regular cross-border routes are advised to:
- Allow extra time in planning schedules, especially at known inspection points.
- Ensure that all driver and vehicle documentation is complete and accessible.
- Stay updated via national road authorities and logistics associations, which often issue local advisories when delays occur.
The cost of Europe’s renewed border checks
Recent data from Germany and the Netherlands show that the reintroduced border controls are taking a growing financial toll on both governments and the logistics industry.
According to official figures reported by dpa and AD, Germany’s border operations have cost more than €88 million since mid-September 2024, mainly due to overtime and logistical expenses. On the Dutch side, traffic-management measures alone have exceeded €8 million, as authorities work to handle congestion at major crossings such as the A12/A3 corridor.
Industry estimates suggest that each hour of truck delay costs hauliers €75–€100, with average waits of 15–30 minutes per crossing and an annual total of about 730 kilometres of traffic jams at Dutch-German border points.
Logistics associations warn that such repeated disruptions are eroding one of Europe’s key achievements — the free movement of goods under the Schengen Area — as temporary border checks become an increasingly regular feature of cross-border transport.
Internal border controls across Europe
The Netherlands is among several Schengen countries currently maintaining internal border checks due to security, migration, and public-order concerns, according to the latest data from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Home Affairs.
As of November 2025, the following Member States have notified temporary reintroductions:
| Country | Duration |
| The Netherlands | 9 Dec 2025 – 8 Jun 2026 |
| Germany | 16 Sep 2025 – 15 Mar 2026 |
| France | 1 Nov 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 |
| Austria | Multiple overlapping periods until 15 Dec 2025 |
| Poland | 5 Oct 2025 – 4 Apr 2026 |
| Denmark | 12 Nov 2025 – 11 May 2026 |
| Sweden | 12 Nov 2025 – 11 May 2026 |
| Italy | 19 Jun 2025 – 18 Dec 2025 |
| Slovenia | 22 Jun 2025 – 21 Dec 2025 |
| Norway (non-EU Schengen member) | 12 Nov 2025 – 11 May 2026 |
These controls are authorised under the Schengen Borders Code, which allows Member States to temporarily reintroduce checks at internal borders in response to serious threats to public policy or internal security. Each extension must be justified by a risk assessment and notified to the European Commission, Council, and European Parliament.
Meanwhile, tensions on the EU’s eastern frontier have further disrupted road freight flows. As of 1 November 2025, Belarus has banned trucks registered in EU countries from entering its territory under a new decree that will remain in effect until the end of 2027.
The restriction, described by Minsk as a response to the “unfriendly actions” of Western nations, has effectively halted EU–Belarus road transit, with exceptions only for postal, medical, and humanitarian transport.
Industry bodies in Lithuania and Poland warn that the closure could cause severe economic losses, particularly for companies moving goods between China and the EU via Belarus and Russia. Lithuanian associations estimate that the measure could cost the country’s logistics sector up to €1 billion annually.
