You have probably seen them at Eindhoven Airport; the military police, or the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (RNLM). What is their task and what do they experience? Pieter, brigade commander of the RNLM for South Brabant, tells us more. He commands around one hundred and eighty military police officers who work at Eindhoven Airport or at other locations between roughly Breda, Vught, Deurne and Budel.

“The men and women of the RNLM check persons crossing the Dutch borders, maintain public order, take action in emergencies and issue emergency documents.”  The brigade commander asserts that this variation in tasks, combined with the dynamics of the airport, means that no day is ever the same. From maintaining law and order when the farmers protest at the airport, conducting explosives screening when a potentially dangerous object is found, to apprehending aggressive passengers or helping people who come to them because their passport is damaged. They've seen it all.

The commander feels comfortable in his post. He enjoys the cooperation and contact with Eindhoven Airport, the Safety Region, police, mayors and military commanders of barracks in his region of responsibility. Moreover, the location appeals to him. “An airport brings with it a certain dynamic and requires additional supervision and enforcement.” That's why he believes it is so important that the staff can quickly recognise odd behaviour, are able to ask the right questions and have good deductive skills. "We respond to signals from security, record information we get from questioning passengers and from observation, and make connections that we share, if necessary, with local authorities such as the police or the Safety Region.” This is also his greatest challenge. He wants to empower his staff more to help them become even more professional, so the RNLM can be more flexible. Another aim is to cooperate even more closely and share information to further reduce the risk of illegal activities. “I want to contribute to preserving a beautiful and safe Netherlands.”