What can you not bring in a carry on

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Items that may be brought on-board: Hand baggage

There are rules for what items can travel with you in your hand baggage and what items must be left behind. To help you prepare, this page outlines what can be brought with you on to the plane in your hand baggage, including liquids, medicines and baby food.

Prepare your bags

Most items are permitted on-board except those that appear on the list of dangerous and prohibited items below. Small scissors, nail files or tweezers may be taken on-board if the sharp part is no longer than 6-cm.

Permitted

• Liquids, gels, creams and pastes
  • Up to 100ml containers each
  • Placed in a transparent zip-lock bag, up to a maximum of 1 litre
  • One bag per person
• Medicines and dietary supplements with a doctor’s certificate
• Baby food
• Liquids bought after security if sealed and accompanied by a receipt
• Small file, tweezers or scissors to a max of 6cm
• Cameras, tablets and laptops
• Cheese and other food items. Please note: Liquid and spreadable cheese or food products fall under the liquids rules!

Not permitted

• Firearms and other objects that fire or resemble firearms – like toy guns that look authentic
• Anaesthetic devices
• Objects with a sharp tip or edge that may cause serious injury
• Blunt instruments that can be used as a weapon
• Explosive and flammable substances
• Also check this list of prohibited items

Liquids and gels in containers in excess of 100ml are only permitted if they have been cleared by the hand baggage scan and a member of staff at security.

Always follow the instructions given by security staff. They can still refuse an item for safety reasons.

Liquids permitted in your hand baggage

You can take a 1 litre of liquids in your hand luggage in containers of 100ml each. The liquid content of each container must not exceed 100ml. Please put the liquids, gels, creams, pastes and aerosols in a re-sealable, transparent 1-litre bag.

At Schiphol, larger containers are only permitted if they are cleared by the scan and by a member of security staff. If you want to be sure that you won’t have to hand something over, you should pack it in your hold baggage. That way, it will also be allowed on the return journey and when making a transfer at another airport. Not all airports have innovative CT scans that are able to check liquids. Don’t forget to check if custom rules apply.

Tip

For faster security clearance, we recommend keeping your liquids and electronic items within reach at the top of your hand baggage.

Medicines and baby food

You may put medication and dietary supplements in your hand baggage. You can carry packages that contain more than 100ml. If you are travelling with a baby of up to 1.5 years old, baby food may also be included in your hand baggage.

Customs and hand baggage

Customs has its own set of rules, just like security. Some restricted items may be permitted in limited supply or forbidden outright, when travelling to or from the Netherlands. Restricted items include drinks, tobacco, medicines, meat, fish, (products made of) protected animal and plant species, as well as large sums of cash.

Frequently Asked Questions

The rules about size and weight of your hand baggage varies by airline. Please contact the airline you are flying with to check the maximum dimensions and weight of your hand baggage. Please also contact your airline for rates for (extra) hold baggage.

You can take a pair of tweezers or pocket knife into the plane if the sharp part (the blade) is no longer than 6cm. A razor blade is only allowed if it is a safety razor blade or disposable razor in a fixed holder. Loose or open blades are not allowed in your hand baggage.

Here too, security staff can refuse an item for safety reasons.

Small pets are permitted in the flight cabin on a number of airlines. It depends on your pet’s weight and size, as well as the dimensions of your pet carrier. Please check the rules with your airline.

Read more about pets at Schiphol

It’s better not to pack a bottle of alcohol when packing your hand baggage at home. Bottles of alcohol usually contain more than 100ml and therefore may not be allowed through the security check. You can buy alcoholic beverages after security and take these with you in your hand baggage. Be aware that your purchase should be sealed if you have a stopover at another airport, otherwise you may encounter problems at security. The cashier will ask if you have a stopover, so you can avoid any issues.

Leave your alcohol at home or in a closed or sealed bottle, because it is not allowed to consume the alcohol you brought on the plane.

Are you planning on buying liquids or gels in containers of more than 100ml at Schiphol? Or have you bought something that you would prefer not to take with you? If you are flying to an EU destination, you can use our free Shop and Collect Service.

Yes, you can carry bulbs of tulips and other flowers in your hand luggage from Schiphol. However, please ensure that you check the import rules for your destination country to see whether you’re allowed to bring them with you by visiting IATA Travel Centre.

Prepare for your flight

• Current page: Hand baggage

  What items you can and can’t travel with on the plane

• Hold and odd-sized baggage

  Hold baggage rules and what constitutes an ‘odd-sized’ item

• Travel to Schiphol

  Schiphol is easy to reach by train, bus, taxi and car

• Check-in

  You can check in online or at Schiphol. What works for you?

• Passports and travel documents

  Check your passport’s validity and any visa requirements

• Security check

  Be well-prepared and clear security with ease

Convenient hand baggage services

• A day trip to Amsterdam without heavy luggage.