Schiphol to hold a major security exercise on 19 November, with more emergency vehicles around the airport

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will host a large-scale exercise on Thursday 19 November 2026 that simulates a major security incident involving an aircraft and its immediate surroundings, the airport announced on 9 November 2026. Schiphol stresses that it is not a real incident.

The exercise takes place in the secure airside area behind the perimeter fence, although some of the activity may be visible from public roads. Taking part are the police and the Special Interventions Unit, the fire service, ambulance services, the Ministry of Defence, Schiphol, KLM, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the Kennemerland Safety Region and several other partner organisations.

Residents and road users around the airport may notice a higher number of emergency vehicles during the day, including specialised police vehicles travelling between locations with blue lights and sirens. Schiphol says the exercise has been planned and coordinated with KLM and the emergency services, and that every effort is being made to keep inconvenience for travellers, airport users, residents and daily operations to a minimum.

The announcement gives no start or end times and does not mention flight delays or cancellations. Passengers flying through Schiphol on 19 November should check their flight status with their airline and allow for possible extra emergency-service activity on the roads around the airport.