The Netherlands has introduced checks on its borders with Belgium and Germany. The measure will remain in place for six months.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee – a branch of the Dutch armed forces – will conduct checks on roads and railway lines at both borders from Monday. The government says it has cracked down on movement to tackle human trafficking and irregular migration.
There are approximately 840 border crossing points in the Netherlands, ranging from motorways to country roads and forest paths. However, the exact location of the checkpoints has not been decided yet. Police say this will depend on "risk and intelligence analysis".
The Dutch Minister for Asylum Policy Marjolein Faber said the measure would make a difference and was not just symbolic.
Schengen zone
Over 40 Dutch municipalities in border regions have criticised the government's decision, fearing it could hinder cross-border mobility.
The Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany are all part of the Schengen zone. This means that all borders are supposed to remain open and allow over 400 million people to travel freely without passing through border control.
Despite the agreement, France and Germany have also reintroduced border controls, both citing "irregular migration".
People travelling between these countries must now present identification documents.
