14.1 Entry passes to Schiphol Airport

Eligible persons from diplomatic missions and consular posts can obtain access to protected areas by means of an airport pass carrying electronic information.

At present two types of entry passes are available for persons who have to be present in the protected area by reason of their position:

• the Schiphol pass, for persons who have to be present several times a week;
• the Schiphol day pass, for persons who do not have to be present on a regular basis.

Every mission is eligible for a limited number of personal Schiphol passes related to the number of diplomatic staff:

• missions with a staff of no more than seven diplomats qualify for a maximum of three passes;
• missions with more than seven diplomats may apply for a maximum of five passes.

The entry passes are for specific individuals and should be applied for and collected from Schiphol Airport directly, without the Ministry’s intervention. In accordance with Schiphol policy, and due to safety regulations, only a limited number of passes can be obtained.

Applications should be made using the contact details below:
SCHIPHOL GROUP
Access & Identification Centre
Section Regulations
Triport 2, Room 2314, Locatiecode 03-20
Schiphol Centrum
Postbus 7501
1118 ZG SCHIPHOL CENTRUM
Tel.: +31 (0)20 601 2626
Website: Schiphol applications

Heads of mission will be guided personally through the application and issuing process by an officer from the Access & Identification Centre. Please note, that the short security test needed to obtain a Schiphol pass is mandatory at all times.

Due to Schiphol’s security regulations:

• it is not possible to exempt heads of mission from the short test which must be passed in order to obtain a Schiphol pass. Heads of mission do have priority to take the test, however. They may make an appointment through the Schiphol Badge Centre, Evert van 73 der Beekstraat 202, Schiphol (tel.: +31 (0)20 601 2626; email: toegangszaken@schiphol.nl;
• due to a Schiphol security measure aimed at limiting the number of versions of Schiphol passes, it is not possible to create a distinctively coloured Schiphol pass for diplomats.

Study materials (in nine languages) for the Schiphol pass test can be found at: Study materials

Persons entering or exiting the restricted section of the arrivals hall have to pass through a special staff entrance and not through any passengers’ entrance or exit.


14.2 VIP Lounge

The following persons may use the VIP Lounge at the Ministry’s expense if they are coming to this country on a state, official or working visit:

• heads of state and vice-presidents (only when replacing the head of state while paying a visit to the Dutch head of state);
• prime ministers, deputy prime ministers (only when replacing the prime minister while paying a visit to the Dutch prime minister) and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, if they are meeting their Dutch counterparts;
• the President and judges of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, on their first arrival and final departure;
• ambassadors accredited to the Netherlands on their first arrival and final departure;
• heads of international organisations based in the Netherlands and persons with head of mission status on their first arrival and final departure;
• (in random order) the Secretary-General of the United Nations, UN Representatives at USG level, the Secretary-General of NATO, the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the President of the European Council, the President and Commissioners of the European Commission, the High Representative of the EU, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the World Bank, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, the SecretaryGeneral of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the President of the African Union, the President of the European Central Bank, and the highest spiritual authority of a religion.

NB: These rules do not apply if the persons mentioned above are on a private visit or in transit.

Diplomatic missions and consular posts receiving any of the persons listed above and wishing to use the VIP Lounge at Schiphol are advised to make arrangements well in advance. They should address their requests to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the form of a Note Verbale. The Protocol Department will then make the reservation and the costs will be borne by the Ministry. If, for some reason, the reservation is not necessary anymore, diplomatic missions and consular posts are expected to cancel the reservation in time by informing the Protocol

Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the cancellation is reported to the Protocol Department less than 36 hours in advance, the invoice will be forwarded to the Diplomatic Mission or Consular Posts for payment.

In all other cases, diplomatic missions and consular posts must make reservations directly with the VIP Lounge directly by emailing VIP Schiphol and bear the costs themselves.

Please note that the use of the VIP Lounge does not exempt passengers from security checks at Schiphol Airport.


14.3 Security procedures at Schiphol Airport

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol uses both walk-through metal detectors and security scanners at their security checkpoints.

If anything suspicious is observed when a person is scanned, a partial pat-down body search is normally done. The Netherlands considers that such body searches are contrary to the inviolability of the person of a diplomatic agent as guaranteed by article 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and that a privileged person may therefore refuse to undergo them. This may however cause the airline to refuse to transport the person concerned if reasonable grounds for suspicion cannot be removed.

At the VIP Lounge, a security scanner has replaced the walk-through metal detector.

The following persons are exempt from security checks at Dutch airports:

• heads of state, prime ministers and Ministers of Foreign Affairs;
• the Secretary-General of NATO;
• the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
• the President of the World Bank; 
• diplomatic officials posted to the Netherlands who have a diplomatic passport and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs identity card with the code AD or AC;
• family members who form part of the household of the diplomatic officials referred to under e, provided that they are not Dutch nationals and that they have a diplomatic passport and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs identity card with the code AD or AC;
• officials employed by international organisations who have a diplomatic passport and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs identity card with the code AO;
• family members who form part of the household of the officials referred to under g, provided that they are not Dutch nationals and that they have a diplomatic passport and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs identity card with the code AO;
• armed bodyguards of persons in any of these categories.

Persons in any of these categories will be requested to pass through a security scanner or a walk-through metal detector (depending on the location), but should not be subjected to a body search. Their baggage may be scanned but may not be searched without serious grounds, such as a suspicion that it contains a prohibited article. Their baggage may only be searched with the consent and in the presence of the owner.


14.4 Passage through security checkpoints at Schiphol Airport and other security concerns

In order to avoid having to undergo security checks, privileged persons who are exempt from a security check must show their identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before entering the checkpoint. The identity card only exempts the persons in question from security checks; officials can ask to see a valid travel document in the event of cross-border travel. The different documents are presented as part of two separate procedures.

Although extra security measures are taken (including camera and live surveillance) to detect pickpockets, passengers should be careful with their luggage and personal belongings.

For other security concerns at Schiphol, please contact the Royal Military and Border Police (KMar) on +31 (0)800 1814.


14.5 Incoming flights

The latest flight information is available at the yellow information desks at the airport or through the special Schiphol Amsterdam Airport app: Schiphol app or on the website: Schiphol web.

Information on arrival gates, when known, may be obtained by telephone (for a charge) by calling + 31 (0) 900 0141 from the Netherlands (press 2 for English and an operator will inform you of the arrival gate) or general enquiries +31 (0) 20 794 0800 from abroad. Arrival gates may be subject to last-minute changes.


14.6 Incoming and departing delegations

The standard procedure for holders of a Schiphol pass is for them to enter and depart through the special lanes for Schiphol staff. However, if the holder of the pass needs to remain with a delegation at all times, please inform the coordinator of the Special Security Operations Brigade of the Royal Military and Border Police beforehand (email: sao@mindef.nl; tel.: +31 (0)20 603 9472. Please be aware of the fact that the authorities may ask for a valid travel document when crossing the border.


14.7 Parking

Schiphol Airport offers Embassies the possibility to park in front of the Terminal for the maximum duration of two (2) hours. Please register your car in accordance with below prodecure. We expect you to respect and act according to the Schiphol Airport Parking rules and limitations. In case of violation Schiphol will inform the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consequently, specific sanctions could be taken.

Public parking is also available next to Departure Hall 3 (see schiphol parking).

14.7.1 Additional security measures for parking in front of the Terminal

As of 1 April 2023 there are additional security measures in place at the entrance of the Dienstenbaan. This to continue the guarantee of the security at Schiphol Airport. In order to qualify for CD parking on the Dienstenbaan you have to comply to all of the following requirements.

• The Embassy or Consular Post is registered at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (see section 14.1 above);
• The driver of the CD vehicle must have a personal Schiphol pass with Known Transporter authorisation for access to the Dienstenbaan. These passes are additional to the limited number of passes for the diplomatic staff. The required authorisation for Known Transporter (‘Chauffeur BT’/ Driver BT) for the pass must be requested in the eVesta account of the Embassy or Consular Post;
• The driver of the CD vehicle must complete the ‘Known Transporter’ e-learning module. The e-learning module must be renewed every 2.5 years. One will be informed with instructions by the Badge Center of Schiphol 10 weeks prior to the expiry of the e-learning module.
• The CD vehicle(s) must have a Schiphol vehicle pass. This pass can be requested in the eVesta account of the Embassy or Consular Post;
• A Visual inspection of the CD vehicle must be executed every time before heading to Schiphol Airport (inside and outside, on prohibited articles, e.g. knives, guns and explosives).
• The authorities at Schiphol are allowed to visiually inspect cars and refuse entry at all times.

Only if all of the above conditions are met, access will (continue to) be granted to the Dienstenbaan. For questions regarding the additional security measures for parking in front of the Terminal, please contact Schiphol Security via bekendtransporteur@schiphol.nl Public parking is also available next to Departure Hall 3 (see schiphol parking)

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