Immigration Checkpoints at the Border Provoking Frustration Among Dutch Vacationers
Dutch Holiday Delays: A Hectic Whitsun Weekend Awaits
Gear up for bumper-to-bumper traffic on the highways connecting North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the Netherlands this Whitsun weekend. Pissed-off tourists are on the hunt for alternatives, all thanks to the tireless efforts of those combating human traffickers.
The seasoned border police officers of Germany are basking in a smidgen of Dutch holiday vibes. Settled on a quiet Thursday afternoon, they're parked at the "Landesgrenze" bus stop, their blue police transporter nestled by the roadside. The customs officers are tucked inside the "Backus aan de Grens" fish snack bar, munching on some Kibbeling and fries for 10.99 euros - enjoying a break from the craze that's about to unfold. The tranquility is just a prelude to the upcoming short holiday storm.
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On Friday (6th June), the travel hurricane of the year soars. School vacations in NRW stretch until Tuesday, predicting chaos towards the North Sea. The ADAC has warned about hefty traffic jams on the highways, with crowded roads expected on the Cologne area, the Ruhr region, and naturally, the Dutch border zone. The afternoon rush between 13 and 18 o'clock could be an intense squeeze - tourists and commuters will hit the roads simultaneously.
But that's not the sole concern: reinforced border controls, initiated at the beginning of May, have been causing escalating wait times. Weary travelers craving a smoother ride might find refuge in the detour past the "Backus aan de Grens".
Holiday drivers Go Crazy Over Mysterious Roadblocks
Over a dozen highways unite NRW and the Netherlands, transforming into nerve-racking tests over the past few weeks. For instance, traffic controls post-Ascension Day cost many returning travelers a good 30 minutes. Jens Floeren, spokesman for the Federal Police in NRW, acknowledges that despite the primary mission of combating human trafficking, wait times of 20 to 30 minutes are inevitable[1].
Sun-kissed holiday drivers gripe about the "ghost checkpoints". Highways with single-file traffic flow through car parks, only to reveal no officers to wave suspicious vehicles. A recent example is the A3 at Emmerich-Elten.
Why do the border controls continue to pulse warning barriers even during off-duty hours? Floeren explains, "We don't dismantle the traffic funnels in between to prevent increased inconvenience for traffic." He further elucidates how the officers work: "We aim to remain unpredictable for human traffickers. Sometimes we control for extended periods at a particular point, other times with a large personnel. Sometimes on the highway, sometimes on the detours." If they needed to set up the warning barriers every time, the human traffickers would be warned.
NRW Greens' Complaints Concerning Border Controls
Frustrated vacation drivers find solace in Tim Achtermeyer, co-chair of the NRW Greens. "Border controls can spoil the beginning of many families' holidays - illegally and without any tangible benefits," the 31-year-old born in Mönchengladbach critiques. Whether they contribute to security or not is a matter of perspective: in the last four weeks, the federal police have denied entry to 160 asylum seekers, as announced on Thursday[2]. For Achtermeyer, these detentions symbolize meaningless politics. "What human trafficking route goes through Venlo?"
Especially Unbearable on the A3 and A4
Holland supporters need to prepare themselves for a lengthy return journey - particularly via the A3 or A4, where long-term border control points have been established at crossings. However, the A40, A52, A57, or A61 seem traffic-free at the moment. But how stringent will the controls be? "The holiday traffic during Whitsun," promises police spokesman Floeren, "is on our radar. We will deploy our resources to ensure controls are swiftly conducted."
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[1] Interview with Jens Floeren, Federal Police spokesman for NRW, by our website.[2] Press release by the federal police, outlining border control results from May 8 to June 4, 2022.
- The border police's efforts in combating human trafficking, while necessary, have led to increased wait times at the Dutch border, causing concern for holiday drivers this Whitsun weekend.
- Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, the sudden announcement of new elections following Geert Wilders' exit has become a hot topic in general news, adding another layer of intrigue to the politics of the neighboring country.
