Whenever you decide to travel by plane you will be subjected to a number of strict security checks. These security checks are mainly related to what you as a passenger are allowed to take with you on board the aircraft. Both your hand luggage and hold baggage will be checked, either by hand and/or by means of detection equipment, to ensure that you are not carrying any potentially dangerous substances or items that could pose a risk to the passengers and crew or the security/safety of the aircraft.
What is and is not allowed?
To avoid a situation in which you take prohibited items with you on your journey, you can find two lists with all the prohibited items at the bottom of this page. The first two lists were drawn up by the EU and are not applicable to flights to the United States. No rights may be derived from these lists. Security staff at all times reserves the right to refuse items for security/safety reasons.
What happens if I nevertheless want to take some potentially dangerous substances or objects with me?
- Inform the airline that you are going to be travelling with of your desire to do so well before your flight.
- The airline can then transport the substances as dangerous cargo, specially wrapped, labelled and with special transport documents.
Have you accidentally packed something you are not allowed to take with you?
What can you do when you have accidentally packed items that you are not allowed to take with you in your hand luggage or when security staff decides that an item is potentially dangerous?
- Put the item in your hold baggage before you check in
- Hand it in to the security staff
- Go to one of the two service points and pay to have it sent on by post. However it is not possible to do so in the case of security checks at the gate.
More information
- When you are in doubt as to whether or not you can take certain objects on board the aircraft with you, please contact Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on 0900-0141, EUR 0.40 p.m.
- When you are in doubt as to whether or not you can take certain (flammable/chemical) substances on board the aircraft with you, please contact the 'Inspectie Verkeer en Waterstaat' on +31 (0)88 489 0000 during office hours.
