Owais Crawford
Customs at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is handled by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch armed forces with police powers. Customs checks take place in the arrivals hall, where there are two lines: 'Nothing to Declare' (green sign) and 'Goods to Declare' (red sign). If you have nothing to declare, you can proceed to the arrival hall. If you have goods to declare, you will need to speak to a customs officer. Customs checks at Schiphol are for when you return from your trip, to ensure nothing illegal is brought into the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location of customs counters | Departure Hall 3, 1st floor near check-in counter 30 |
| Near Lounge 3 (start of the F pier) | |
| Customs rules | Govern what you are allowed to take with you, even when you exit the Netherlands |
| Items not allowed | Drugs, weapons, rare or endangered animal or plant species |
| Fresh food like fruits and vegetables | |
| Cash declaration | If you wish to take €10,000 or more in cash out of the EU, you must submit a Customs Declaration |
| Process | Two lines: 'Nothing to Declare' with a green sign and 'Goods to Declare' with a red sign |
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What You'll Learn
Customs checks occur upon arrival
Customs checks at Schiphol Airport occur upon arrival. There are two lines or herding areas: 'Nothing to Declare' and 'Goods to Declare'. If you have nothing to declare, follow the green sign into the arrival hall. If you have goods to declare, follow the red sign and speak to a customs officer.
The 'Goods to Declare' line is for those carrying things like more than €10,000 in cash or goods above certain levels. As a tourist, you are unlikely to need to worry about this. However, it is important to be aware of the customs rules that govern what you are allowed to bring into the country. For example, drugs, weapons, and rare or endangered animal or plant species are prohibited.
Upon arrival, customs officers may want to inspect your suitcase to ensure that nothing illegal is being brought into the country. These inspections help keep the airport and the country safe. Security staff, on the other hand, scan your bags before boarding to ensure prohibited items are not taken onto the plane.
At Schiphol, after going through customs, you will enter an area with shops that may feel like a shopping mall. Keep walking, and you will reach a large lobby with high ceilings. From there, you can head towards the exit or your next destination within the airport.
It is worth noting that passport control at Schiphol is handled by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch armed forces with police powers, and not by Dutch Customs. They are responsible for checking the passports of travellers arriving from or departing to non-Schengen countries.
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'Nothing to declare' and 'goods to declare'
When you arrive at Schiphol Airport, you won't go through customs until you return from your trip. If you are travelling to another Schengen country, you'll go through passport control after the security check, which is handled by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, not Dutch Customs. Security staff will scan your bags before you board your flight to make sure you're not taking any prohibited items, but customs will want to look in your suitcase when you come back to make sure nothing illegal is being brought into the country.
Nothing to Declare
If you have 'nothing to declare', you can follow the green signs to the arrival hall. Customs enforces rules to ensure that prohibited items are not brought into the country. These items should never be packed in your baggage:
- Drugs such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth or other narcotics
- Real or fake weapons, pepper spray, ammunition or explosives
- Protected or endangered animal and plant species, as well as any items made from them, such as crocodile leather shoes or jewellery made of ivory
- Certain medicines
- Counterfeit products
- Meat, fish and dairy
Goods to Declare
If you have 'goods to declare', follow the red signs and speak to a customs officer. If you are bringing any of the following into the country, you may need to pay additional taxes:
- Cigarettes, tobacco or alcohol
- Items over a certain value
- VAT refunds: If you live outside the EU, you can get a VAT refund on goods purchased in the Netherlands. To be eligible, you must meet certain conditions, including showing proof of residence and taking the products with you within three months of purchase.
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Customs rules and prohibited items
Customs at Schiphol Airport enforces rules to ensure prohibited items do not enter the Netherlands. These prohibited items should never be packed in your baggage. They include drugs such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and other narcotics. Real or fake weapons, pepper spray, ammunition, and explosives are also prohibited. Additionally, you must not carry any items made from protected or endangered animal and plant species, such as crocodile leather shoes or jewellery made of ivory.
Separate rules and restrictions apply when bringing certain other items into the Netherlands. For instance, there is a maximum value of €430 that may be imported from countries outside the EU, and taxes will be due if this amount is exceeded. Cigarettes, tobacco, and alcohol may also attract additional taxes if you exceed the permitted amount. The number of cigarettes or alcoholic beverages you are allowed to bring depends on whether you are entering the Netherlands from within or outside the EU.
Medicines, meat, fish, dairy products, and pets are also subject to specific regulations when entering the Netherlands. If you are bringing €10,000 or more in cash out of the EU, you must submit a Customs Declaration. It is important to note that all countries have their own customs and import rules, which usually cover items such as animal products, food items like vegetables and fruits, as well as plants and flowers.
When it comes to liquids, gels, creams, pastes, balms, and aerosols, there are specific restrictions. Liquids are generally allowed in containers up to 100ml and must fit in a closed, transparent, 1-litre ziplock bag. However, additional liquids are permitted if you can prove their necessity, such as with a doctor's prescription. If you plan to travel with a firearm and/or ammunition, it must be placed in your hold baggage, and a permit may be required in some cases.
At Schiphol Airport, you will go through customs when returning from your trip, unless you are travelling to another Schengen country. Customs might inspect your suitcase to ensure nothing illegal is being brought into the country. If you have nothing to declare, follow the green sign into the arrival hall. If you have goods to declare, follow the red sign and speak to a customs officer. Customs counters can be found in Departure Hall 3, on the first floor near check-in counter 30, and near Lounge 3 (the start of the F pier).
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Passport control and security checks
At Schiphol Airport, security checks are carried out using CT scans, which can detect objects on your skin or clothing. If something is detected, a security officer may search you manually. To speed up this process, it is recommended that you prepare and pack your luggage in advance, keeping in mind that you can now leave liquids and electronics in your hand baggage. However, any liquids should be in containers no larger than 100ml and placed in a transparent, resealable bag.
Most travellers at Schiphol must pass through passport control, except those travelling to or from a Schengen country. If you are flying from Schiphol to a country outside of the Schengen Zone, you will go through passport control, which is handled by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch armed forces with police powers. They will check your passport and compare your face with the photo in your passport.
If you have a biometric passport with an e-symbol, you can use the eGates for automatic facial recognition at passport control. However, you must be 14 or older and hold an EU passport. These gates are not always open, and at times, manual checks are carried out instead.
When you return from your trip, you will go through customs. Customs might want to inspect your suitcase to ensure nothing illegal is being brought into the country. If you have nothing to declare, follow the green sign to the arrival hall. If you have goods to declare, follow the red sign and speak to a customs officer. Customs rules govern what you are allowed to bring into the country, and certain items, such as drugs, weapons, and endangered animal or plant species, are prohibited.
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Customs location in the airport
Customs at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is located in Departure Hall 3, on the first floor near Check-in Counter 30, near Lounge 3 (the start of the F pier).
If you have nothing to declare, follow the green signs into the arrival hall. If you have goods to declare, follow the red signs and speak to a customs officer. There will probably be two lines or herding areas: one for those with nothing to declare, and one for those with goods to declare, such as a large amount of cash or goods above certain levels.
You won't go through customs at Schiphol until you return from your trip. Security staff will scan your bags before you board your flight to ensure you're not taking any prohibited items, but customs might want to take a look in your suitcase when you return to make sure nothing illegal is being brought into the country.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch armed forces with police powers, deals with passport control at Schiphol. If you are travelling to or from a non-Schengen country, your passport will be checked by a Marechaussee border guard (unless you use the eGate, an automatic self-service checkpoint).
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Frequently asked questions
Customs is located in Departure Hall 3, on the first floor near Check-in Counter 30, near Lounge 3 (the start of the F pier).
You won't go through customs until you return from your trip. If you're travelling to another Schengen country, you'll go through passport control after the security check instead.
If you have 'nothing to declare', follow the green sign into the arrival hall. If you have 'goods to declare', follow the red sign and speak to a customs officer.
