Transport news portal Trans.info reported on 13 November 2025 that the Netherlands has notified the EU of a further six-month extension of its temporary border checks, prompting renewed debate over the future of passport-free travel.
The article’s annexed table—a compilation of fresh EU Commission data—confirms that Germany’s own controls, reintroduced for ‘migration and security’ reasons in September 2024, are scheduled to run at least until 15 March 2026. Business-travel associations warn the rolling extensions are chipping away at one of the single market’s core freedoms, adding costs and unpredictability for cross-border commuters and logistics firms.
![Netherlands move shines spotlight on Europe-wide internal border checks—Germany’s controls remain in force until March 2026]()
For companies with pan-EU footprints, the practical impact is twofold. First, road freight between Germany and neighbours such as Poland, Czechia and Austria continues to face random stops that can add 30–60 minutes per crossing; drivers must carry passports or national ID. Second, employees using rail or coach services need to factor in potential spot checks, even on routes marketed as ‘Schengen-internal’. HR policies should spell out documentation requirements and travel-time buffers to prevent missed meetings or work-time claims.
Politically, Berlin insists the controls are temporary and proportionate. Yet the Federal Police recorded 18,598 refusals of entry between May and October, fuelling calls from the governing coalition’s conservative wing to make the checks permanent. Mobility managers should monitor the next EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in December, where ministers will revisit the Schengen Borders Code reform that could formalise such “targeted inspections.”
The article’s annexed table—a compilation of fresh EU Commission data—confirms that Germany’s own controls, reintroduced for ‘migration and security’ reasons in September 2024, are scheduled to run at least until 15 March 2026. Business-travel associations warn the rolling extensions are chipping away at one of the single market’s core freedoms, adding costs and unpredictability for cross-border commuters and logistics firms.
For companies with pan-EU footprints, the practical impact is twofold. First, road freight between Germany and neighbours such as Poland, Czechia and Austria continues to face random stops that can add 30–60 minutes per crossing; drivers must carry passports or national ID. Second, employees using rail or coach services need to factor in potential spot checks, even on routes marketed as ‘Schengen-internal’. HR policies should spell out documentation requirements and travel-time buffers to prevent missed meetings or work-time claims.
Politically, Berlin insists the controls are temporary and proportionate. Yet the Federal Police recorded 18,598 refusals of entry between May and October, fuelling calls from the governing coalition’s conservative wing to make the checks permanent. Mobility managers should monitor the next EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in December, where ministers will revisit the Schengen Borders Code reform that could formalise such “targeted inspections.”
