German officials have slammed Dutch authorities for failing to address vigilante groups operating in the north of the Netherlands. The criticism, from the leaders of Germany’s Ministry of the Interior and from its Federal Police Union, follows reports by RTV Noord, detailing unsanctioned groups of citizens carrying out vehicle stops to search for asylum seekers.
German Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, told Reuters in a 10 June email that the vehicle checks were being performed without any legal authority and implied that Germany could step in if action were not taken to stop the vigilantes, though he expressed confidence that the Dutch would handle the situation.
“I believe we will indeed take another look at this if this phenomenon continues,” Dobrindt said, adding: “I also assume that the authorities will end such measures.” It is not clear why Dobrindt saw fit to comment on Dutch law enforcement but it could be a bid to appeal to German voters by highlighting his own measures on border control and asylum policies.
🇳🇱🇩🇪 Residents of the Netherlands have begun to check cars on the border with Germany themselves in search of migrants, Bild reports.
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 9, 2025
They say that the police are doing nothing, "so we will just do it ourselves."
More than 10 men in vests and with flashlights began to stop cars… pic.twitter.com/DoKuUlhZBH
Dobrindt is not the only German to have waded into commentary on the issue. The head of Germany’s Federal Police Union, Andreas Rosskopf, criticised the Dutch for doing “too little” and failing to delineate where citizen power ends and policing begins. “It must be clear that citizens without legal authority have no right to intervene, to monitor, and ultimately to carry out the tasks of the security authorities, the police authorities,” Rosskopf told journalists.
Immigration to the Netherlands has dropped to below the European average, and, as in other developed northern European countries, birth rates and population growth are slowing, raising economic and demographic concerns. However, the issue remains high on the public agenda due to the way it is kept in the news by frequent commentary from Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders. Wilders recently left the leading coalition, complaining that his proposals on immigration were not being accepted, causing the government to collapse.
In response to the reports of vigilante groups operating in the northern Dutch town of Ter Apel on Saturday evening, Interim Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel warned on Sunday on social media site X, that citizens must not take the law into their own hands and should “Let the police and military police do their job.”
De asielinstroom móét omlaag. Daarom zetten we in op strengere asielwetten en betere grensbewaking. Frustratie is begrijpelijk, maar neem het recht niet in eigen hand. Laat politie en marechaussee hun werk doen. Houd je aan de wet.https://t.co/3GtKoAdlJ8
— David van Weel (@ministerjenv) June 8, 2025
The Netherlands is not the only country to experience unauthorised responses to immigration and asylum seekers. In the UK, 61-year-old former investment banker and populist politician, Nigel Farage, has filmed himself complaining at hotels where asylum seekers were said to be housed, as well as along the coast where refugees arrive. His social media activity was said to be under investigation by the police for potential incitement to violence, by the former Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police.
