Safety advice
Security regulations hand luggage and hold luggage
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 items have been arranged in categories and in alphabetical order. This should make it easier for you to find out whether the items that you are having doubts about appear on the list.
No rights may be derived from these lists. Security staff at all times reserves the right to refuse items for security/safety reasons.
Items that you as a passenger are not allowed to take with you on board the aircraft in person, as part of your hand luggage or as part of your hold luggage. »
Items that you as a passenger are not allowed to take with you on board the aircraft either in person or as part of your hand luggage. »
Liquids in hand luggage »
What happens if I nevertheless want to take some potentially dangerous substances or objects with me?
If you nevertheless want to take some potentially dangerous substances or objects with you, you should 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 your (nail) scissors, your Swiss army knife or some other item 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 the Rotterdam Airport information-servicedesk and pay € 5,- to have it sent on by post.
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 your airline.
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)70 3052444 during office hours.
Items that you as a passenger are not allowed to take with you on board the aircraft in person, as part of your hand luggage or as part of your hold luggage.
The following articles shall not be placed in hold baggage:
Items that you as a passenger are not allowed to take with you on board the aircraft either in person or as part of your hand luggage.
This list contains those items that you as a passenger are not allowed to take with you on board the aircraft either in person or as part of your hand luggage. You are allowed to take these items with you in your hold luggage provided you are in possession of any documents that may be required.
a) Guns, Firearms & Weapons
Any object capable, or appearing capable, of discharging a projectile or causing injury, including:
Air pistols, rifles and pellet guns All firearms (Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles, Shotguns etc) Animal Humane Killers Ball Bearing Guns Catapults Component parts of firearms,(excluding telescopic sighting devices & sights) Cross bows Harpoon & Spear Guns Industrial Bolt and Nail Guns Lighters shaped like a firearm. Replica and imitation firearms Signal flare pistols Starter pistols Stun or shocking devices e.g cattle prods, ballistic conducted energy weapons (taser) Toy guns of all typesb) Pointed/edged Weapons & Sharp Objects
Pointed or bladed articles capable of causing injury, including:
Axes & hatchets Arrows & darts Crampons Harpoons & spears Ice axes & ice picks Ice skates Knives, including ceremonial knives, with blades of more than 6 cm, made of metal or any other material strong enough to be used as a potential weapon. Lockable or flick knives with blades of any length Meat cleavers Machetes Open razors and blades (excluding safety or disposable razors with blades enclosed in cartridge) Sabres, Swords & swordsticks Scalpels Scissors with blades more than 6 cm in length Ski and Walking/Hiking poles Throwing stars Tradesman's tools that have the potential to be used as a pointed or edged weapon e.g. drills and drill bits, box cutters, utility knives, all saws, screwdrivers, crowbars, hammers, pliers, wrenches/spanners, blow torches.c) Blunt instruments
Any blunt instrument capable of causing injury, including:
Baseball and softball bats Billiard, snooker and pool cues Clubs or batons - rigid or flexible - e.g. Billy clubs, blackjacks, night sticks & batons Cricket Bats Fishing rods Golf Clubs Hockey sticks Kayak and Canoe paddles Lacrosse sticks Martial arts equipment e.g. knuckle dusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails, num chucks, kubatons, kubasaunts Skateboardsd) Explosives and flammable Substances
Any explosive or highly combustible substances which poses a risk to the health of passengers and crew or the security / safety of aircraft or property, including:
Aerosol spray paint Alcoholic beverages exceeding 70% by volume (140% proof) Ammunition Blasting caps Detonators & fuses Explosives and explosive devices Fireworks, flares in any form and other pyrotechnics (including party poppers and toy caps) Flammable liquid fuel e.g. Petrol / gasoline, diesel, lighter fluid, alcohol, ethanol. Grenades of all types Gas & gas containers e.g. Butane, propane, acetylene, oxygen - in large volume. Mines & other explosive military stores Non safety matches Replica or imitation explosive material or devices Smoke generating canisters or cartridges Turpentine & paint thinnere) Chemical and Toxic substances
Any chemical or toxic substances which poses a risk to the health of passengers and crew or the security / safety of aircraft or property, including:
Acids and Alkalis e.g. spillable 'wet' batteries Corrosive or Bleaching Substances - e.g. mercury, chlorine Disabling or incapacitating sprays - e.g. mace, pepper spray , tear gas Fire extinguishers Infectious or biological hazardous material. - e.g. infected blood, bacteria and viruses Material capable of spontaneous ignition or combustion. Poisons Radioactive material. - e.g. Medicinal or commercial isotopesNo rights may be derived from this list. Members of the security staff at all times reserve the right to refuse an item on the grounds of security.
Liquids in hand luggage
New rules on what is permitted in hand luggage will take effect on 6 November 2006. Liquids, gels and aerosols are only allowed in hand luggage in small quantities (no more than 100 ml per item) and if correctly packaged. These rules will apply to all passengers departing from or changing planes at EU airports.
The new rules cover liquids such as water and other beverages, gels, pastes, lotions and the contents of aerosol cans. Toiletries such as toothpaste, shaving cream, hair gel, lip gloss and creams also fall under the rules.
These are the rules for liquids in your hand luggage:
1. You can only take liquids and gels in containers of no more than 100 millilitres on board the aircraft.
2. These containers must be carried in transparent plastic bags.
3. There is a limit of one transparent plastic bag per person.
4. The volume of the transparent plastic bag may not be greater than 1 litre.
5. The transparent plastic bag must be re-sealable.
6. Don't take thermos flasks with you on the flight.
You may bring a suitable plastic bag from home. During the introductory period, free transparent plastic bags will also be given out at all Dutch airports.
There are two exceptions to the above rules:
- Baby food needed during the flight;
Fluid baby food in quantities larger than 100 millilitres is permitted if one is traveling with a baby. (eg. Soya products).
Boiled water (to mix with powdered milk) in quantities larger than 100 millilitres is not permitted in hand luggage. Please check your airline for possibilities for boiled water on board.
- Medicines needed during the flight.
- Don't take thermos flasks with you on the flight.
Shopping at airports and on board the flight
You can still make purchases, including duty-free purchases, after ticket and/or passport control and on board European airline flights. Liquids and gels that you buy after ticket and/or passport control or on board will be packed and sealed for you as necessary by the shop or cabin personnel. The seal is valid for one day. If you must change planes, you may not break the seal until you reach your final destination.
Keep your liquids separate
When passing through the security check for hand luggage, you must place your liquids separately in the bin for X-ray screening. Your containers of liquids must fit comfortably in the transparent plastic bag, and the bag must be closed. Coats, jackets and large electrical appliances such as laptops must also be handed in separately to be checked.
Q & A
Why are these rules necessary?
The new rules for hand luggage were introduced after the arrest of suspected terrorists in Britain in August 2006. The suspects were thought to be involved in a plot to destroy aircraft using liquid explosives. Liquids in hand luggage are now subjected to greater restrictions and stricter controls to reduce the chances of such an attack.
Why liquids?
Extensive research on the subject has shown that large amounts of liquid explosives are needed to cause an explosion. For this reason, passengers may no longer carry large amounts of liquids in their hand luggage. Liquids and gels sold at airports are subject to extra checks, and liquids and gels brought from home may only be brought on board in small quantities.
What can I expect at airport checkpoints?
At the security checkpoints, all hand luggage goes through a scanner on a conveyer belt. At this point your hand luggage is also checked for liquids. According to the new rules, if you want to take liquids in your hand luggage, you have to pack them separately before departure, either at home or at the airport.
If, in spite of this, you pack loose containers of liquids and gels in your hand luggage, you should allow for the possibility that they will be confiscated at the security checkpoint.
Before the checkpoints, there are specially equipped locations where you can obtain a plastic bag and repack your liquids and gels.
You must present all liquids separately when your hand luggage is checked. Your transparent plastic bag must be closed, and your containers of liquids must fit in it comfortably. Coats, jackets and large electrical appliances such as laptops must also be presented separately for inspection.
Where can I get a plastic bag?
Transparent plastic bags that meet the European requirements are still hard to obtain in shops. During the introductory period, free transparent plastic bags will be given out at all Dutch airports.
Can I still shop after passport control? Is there still duty-free shopping?
Yes, you can still do your shopping, including duty-free shopping, at EU airports after passport control and on European airline flights. Liquids and gels that you buy after the ticket and/or passport control or on board will be packed and sealed for you as necessary by the shop or on board. The seal is valid for one day. If you must change to another plane, you may not break the seal until you reach your final destination.
Shopping at non-European airports and on board non-European airlines
If you buy liquids or gels (duty-free or not) at a non-European airport and change planes at a European airport, you should allow for the possibility that your purchases will be confiscated at the security checkpoint. This can happen with purchases you make on board an aircraft operated by an airline from a non-EU country.
Why do I need a plastic bag?
The transparent plastic bag is needed for the airport security check. If all the containers are together in the transparent plastic bag, security personnel can see at a glance if the rules have been followed. Ensuring that the bag is closed and packing it so that the containers fit in it comfortably will make security checks go faster.
If, in spite of this, you pack loose containers of liquids and gels in your hand luggage, you should allow for the possibility that they will be confiscated at the security checkpoint.
Do these rules apply everywhere?
The same rules apply at all airports in all 25 EU countries. These rules will therefore apply whenever you are departing from or changing planes in the EU. Similar rules for hand luggage apply in the US and Canada. Bear in mind that different rules may apply in other non-EU countries.
