The Netherlands is internationally renowned for the effective cooperation between the business community and Customs. In order to maintain and further strengthen this advantage, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Maastricht Aachen Airport, Customs Schiphol and Eindhoven and Air Cargo Netherlands conducted a joint survey in August and September on the perception of customs processes at both airports.
The results are encouraging. Two-thirds of respondents rated the customs processes as good to very good. A majority view the Netherlands as more effective than its European counterparts. Respondents described the processes as efficient and praised Customs for its reliability and professionalism. Dutch Customs also stands out for its market-oriented approach and close cooperation with the sector.
At the same time, the study offers concrete points for improvement. Air freight is a time-critical sector, and some companies are experiencing bottlenecks in their processes. Customs and the business community will discuss and address the identified bottlenecks. It also appears that continued investment in knowledge and expertise – both at Customs and among logistics parties – is essential to guarantee the quality of the processes.
The insights gained from the study form a valuable basis for further optimisation of customs processes. Customs and the business community will continue to work closely together on this, with respect for legislation and regulations and everyone's responsibilities. Together, we are taking steps towards concrete improvement initiatives that contribute to an efficient, reliable and future-proof air freight chain.