Benelux, police cooperation, Safety
Training strengthens Benelux cooperation between police services
04 Jun. 2026
On 4 June 2026, 78 officers from the Belgian federal and local police, the Dutch police and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee took part in a Benelux training session on new opportunities for cross-border police cooperation.
During the opening, Ariadne Petridis, Secretary General of the Benelux Union, highlighted the importance of daily cooperation between the police services of the Benelux countries. “The Belgian-Dutch border region is one of the most integrated regions in Europe. That is precisely why it is essential that our police services can cooperate efficiently across borders. The new possibilities under the Benelux Police Treaty support them in doing so.”
The training focused on the exchange of police information. Under certain conditions, Belgium and the Netherlands can share data from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems. This enables both countries to cooperate more effectively in tackling cross-border crime.
Participants also received explanations on how police officers can access each other’s databases during joint patrols and coordinated checks. This allows Belgian and Dutch officers to consult information more quickly and carry out controls more efficiently.
Cooperation through joint police stations was also discussed. Currently, such a station exists in Baarle-Hertog/Baarle-Nassau, where Belgian and Dutch officers work together on a daily basis.
These new possibilities are already being implemented. The exchange of ANPR data has been tested in two pilot projects between Belgium and the Netherlands. In addition, mixed patrols are regularly conducted in the border region, and an increasing number of officers have access to each other’s databases.
With these developments, the Benelux countries are once again taking an important step forward in their cooperation on security. Police services can now work together more quickly and effectively across borders, in the interest of citizens.
