Amsterdam Airport May Search Bags From Israel

Passengers flying from Israel into Amsterdam Schiphol may have their luggage examined for products made in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Dutch rules cover every kind of item, including souvenirs, gifts and belongings intended only for personal use. The restriction has applied since September 2022, and it also covers purchases made before that month.

Travelers must show that goods entering the Netherlands were not produced in settlements on the European Union’s list of unlawful areas. Some Israeli products display their production postcode to help establish that. Items removed from their original packaging may be taken by customs, as could goods that cannot be linked clearly to an eligible source. Food, snacks and Dead Sea cosmetics are among the products that may draw attention. Ahava, an Israeli cosmetics maker, has moved its manufacturing out of the West Bank.

Some passengers arriving on El Al flights from Tel Aviv say they have already noticed customs officers searching travelers from those services, though it is not known whether those inspections were connected to the ban. KLM restored Amsterdam–Tel Aviv flights on August 25, but the service currently includes a crew change in Larnaca, Cyprus, rather than running nonstop throughout. The first crew stays overnight there, while the replacement crew continues to Tel Aviv and brings the aircraft back to Amsterdam without another stop.