Dutch emergency services to run training drills at Schiphol Airport next week

The Dutch emergency services will perform an exercise at Schiphol Airport on November 19, training to respond to a “major security incident” at the airport. The drill will take place behind Schiphol’s security fencing, but locals and travelers may still notice a large number of emergency response vehicles, some with their lights and sirens activated, the airport said on Monday.

“The exercise will take place within the airport's secure airside area and will focus on an incident involving an aircraft and its immediate surroundings,” the airport said. Participants include the police, the fire brigade, ambulance services, the Ministry of Defense, Schiphol, KLM, the Koninklijke Marechaussee, and Veiligheidsregio Kennemerland.

“The exercise is designed to enable emergency services and crisis management partners to train realistically for a complex scenario that requires intensive coordination and cooperation,” Schiphol said. “By exercising together on a regular basis, emergency responders, public authorities and crisis organisations remain prepared for major incidents and disasters.”

People around Schiphol may see and hear more emergency service activity than usual on November 19. The airport stressed that this is part of the planned exercise and not an actual incident.

“The exercise has been carefully planned and coordinated with Schiphol, KLM and the participating emergency services. Every effort is being made to minimise any inconvenience to travellers, airport users, local residents and Schiphol's daily operations.”