14.1    Entry passes to Schiphol Airport

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

There are currently two types of access pass available for persons whose position requires them to be present in a restricted area:
•    the Schiphol pass, for persons who need to be present several times a week; 
•    the Schiphol day pass, for persons who do not need to be present on a regular basis.

Every mission is entitled to 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 can 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 any intervention on the part of the Ministry. In accordance with Schiphol policy, and for security reasons, only a limited number of passes can be issued. 

How to apply for Schiphol passes
You must make an online appointment to collect your Schiphol pass. Appointments can be made via www.schiphol.nl/afspraakpas. This is only possible if your diplomatic mission or consular post is already registered in the Vesta system at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. For any questions related to the Schiphol pass or the Vesta system, you can contact the Badge Center via badgecenter@schiphol.nl or call them on 020 601 26 26. The appointment confirmation lists the documents you need to bring with you.

If your diplomatic mission or consular post is not already registered in the Vesta system at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you need to register first. You therefore need to download the company registration form from the website: www.schiphol.nl/nl/werken-op-schiphol/pagina/bedrijf-registreren-voor-schipholpassen/. Once you have completed this form in full you should send it to:
Area & Access Control 
Postbus 7501 (location code 01-06)
1118 ZG Schiphol

For any questions related to the registration process, you can contact Area & Access Control via access@schiphol.nl or call them on 020 – 601 39 30.

The entry passes are for specific individuals and should be applied for and collected from Schiphol Airport directly, without any intervention on the part of the Ministry. These passes can be requested via Schiphol’s digital webportal eVesta or by submitting a paper application form.  

Heads of mission will be guided personally through the application and issuing process by an officer from the Badge Center. Please note that the short security test needed to obtain a Schiphol pass is mandatory in all cases. 

Due to Schiphol’s security regulations:
•    it is not possible to exempt heads of mission from the short test that must be passed in order to obtain a Schiphol pass. The appointment must be made via www.schiphol.nl/afspraakpas;
•    due to a Schiphol security measure aimed at limiting the number of versions of Schiphol passes, it is not possible to produce a distinctive coloured Schiphol pass for diplomats.

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

Persons entering or leaving the restricted section of the arrivals hall must use a dedicated staff entrance and not a passenger 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 the Netherlands 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 Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), 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 Secretary-General 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 the reservation is no longer necessary for any reason, 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 post for payment.

In all other cases, diplomatic missions and consular posts must make reservations for 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 carried out. 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:
a.    heads of state, prime ministers and ministers of foreign affairs;
b.    the Secretary-General of NATO;
c.    the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
d.    the President of the World Bank;
e.    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;
f.    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;
g.    officials employed by international organisations who have a diplomatic passport and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs identity card with the code AO;
h.    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;
i.    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 matters

In order to avoid having to undergo security checks, privileged persons who are exempt from security checks 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 in place (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 Amsterdam Airport Schiphol app: Schiphol app or on the website: Schiphol web. 

Information on arrival gates, when known, may be obtained (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 in advance (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 allows embassies to park in front of the terminal for a maximum of two (2) hours. Cars must be registered in accordance with the procedure below. The parking rules and restrictions at Schiphol Airport must be respected. In the event of non-compliance, Schiphol will inform the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and specific sanctions may 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

Additional security measures were introduced at the entrance to the Service Lane (Dienstenbaan) on 1 April 2023. In order to qualify for CD parking in the Service Lane, all of the following requirements must be satisfied: 
•    The diplomatic mission or consular post must be registered with 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 Service Lane. These passes are in addition to the limited number of passes for diplomatic staff. The required Known Transporter (Chauffeur BT/ Driver BT) authorisation for the pass must be requested via the eVesta account of the diplomatic mission or consular post. 
•    The driver of the CD vehicle must complete the Known Transporter e-learning module. The e-learning module must be retaken every 2.5 years. Schiphol’s Badge Center will send instructions 10 weeks prior to the expiry date of the e-learning module. 
•    The CD vehicle(s) must have a Schiphol vehicle pass. This pass can be requested via the eVesta account of the diplomatic mission or consular post. 
•    A visual inspection of the CD vehicle must be carried out before each trip to Schiphol Airport (this inspection for prohibited items, e.g. knives, guns and explosives, must cover the interior and exterior of the vehicle).
•    The authorities at Schiphol are entitled to visually inspect cars and refuse entry at any time. 
Only if all of the above conditions are met will access to the Service Lane be (or continue to be) granted. For questions regarding the additional security measures for parking in front of the terminal, please contact Schiphol Security at bekendtransporteur@schiphol.nl.  

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