A group of Dutch citizens, frustrated with their government’s handling of migration, has taken to conducting impromptu border checks along the frontier with Germany. Wearing high-visibility vests and carrying lamps, the activists—estimated at between 12 and 30 people—have been stopping vehicles near the villages of Ter Apel in the Netherlands and Rütenbrock in Germany, according to local media reports.
Footage shared online shows the group inspecting cars for asylum seekers, though Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that no one was ultimately prevented from entering the country. Authorities have condemned the initiative as illegal and dangerous.
Justice Minister David van Weel acknowledged public frustration over migration but urged citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. "Let the police and military police do their job," he said in a statement. Local officials echoed the sentiment, with Westerwolde municipality—which oversees Ter Apel—warning that such actions were "extremely dangerous" and unlawful.
Police presence was heavy during the weekend incidents, with Dutch and German officers verifying the identities of those involved. Mayor Jaap Velema of Westerwolde criticized the vigilante effort, stating, "This is not the way to express frustrations. We can’t all drive through red lights either."
The move has drawn praise from Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), who called it a "fantastic initiative" that should be replicated "everywhere at the border." Wilders recently triggered the collapse of the Dutch coalition government by withdrawing his party’s support, accusing officials of moving too slowly on stricter asylum policies.
In contrast, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who resigned following the government’s collapse, labeled Wilders’ decision "irresponsible and unnecessary." A snap election has been scheduled for October 29.
Meanwhile, tensions persist within the remaining coalition parties—VVD, NSC, and BBB—over who will assume control of asylum policy. For now, the portfolio falls under Justice Minister Van Weel, who reiterated: "Obey the law. Do not take matters into your own hands."
The incidents highlight deepening divisions in the Netherlands over migration, with Ter Apel residents frequently citing concerns over crime and disorder linked to asylum seekers arriving via Germany. Yet authorities maintain that only law enforcement has the legal authority to conduct border checks.