Police, Safety
Belgian and Dutch Limburg strengthen cross-border security
11 Jun. 2025
Belgian and Dutch Limburg are working more closely together to tackle cross-border crime. During a roundtable at the House of the Benelux in Brussels, both provinces emphasized the importance of cooperation on security issues.
Governors Roemer (NL) and Lantmeeters (BE), mayors, police chiefs, and judicial representatives attended the meeting. Participants also included EURIEC, ARIEC, Maastricht University, and officials from the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security and the Belgian Federal Public Service of the Interior.
Benelux Police Treaty boosts effective cooperation
Since October 2023, the renewed Benelux Police Treaty has given border regions more power to act. Police officers can now pursue suspects across the border and patrol together in a single vehicle. The Maasland Police Zone and the Echt Basic Team already apply these new powers on a regular basis. This cooperation paid off immediately: on the first day, they arrested two wanted individuals.
Data sharing and smart technology enhance enforcement
New steps are planned for after the summer. Police officers will gain direct access to each other’s databases during joint inspections. Authorities will also expand the use of ANPR cameras to exchange data—essential for detecting drug smuggling, human trafficking, and home burglaries.
The treaty will also enable future cross-border investigations and give law enforcement access to population registers in both countries. With these advances, the Benelux region leads the way in European police and judicial cooperation.
Limburg as a testing ground for cross-border security
The two provinces want to turn Limburg into a pilot region for cross-border safety initiatives. Under the Integrated Strengthening Agenda, they aim to deploy staff, resources, and technology flexibly. Both sides of the border support and share this vision.
Frans Weekers, Secretary-General of the Benelux Union, noted: “With open borders and the international nature of crime, it makes perfect sense for Limburg to take a cross-border approach. The Benelux Police Treaty is a useful instrument that enables this cooperation both legally and operationally.”
Toward a joint expertise center
Participants proposed merging existing cooperation structures into a single cross-border Security Expertise Center. This new center would offer a shared view of crime trends and support a coordinated, intelligence-led response in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion.
They agreed to meet again before the end of the year to finalize concrete plans and further implement the Benelux Police Treaty.
