Second Flight with Stranded Dutch Nationals Lands at Schiphol
A second flight carrying Dutch nationals stranded abroad has landed at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The arrival follows a first repatriation flight earlier in the day, as efforts continue to bring home citizens affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
According to a KLM spokesperson, 91 Dutch citizens were aboard the flight, which originated in Muscat, Oman. These passengers include both tourists and residents of the region seeking to return to the Netherlands. The flight carried a total of 250 people, including approximately 160 employees of KLM and other airlines. This marks the first repatriation flight to arrive in the Netherlands since the outbreak of the war five days ago.
Despite these initial successes, an estimated several thousand Dutch travelers remain stranded in the region. The repatriation efforts are being complicated by ongoing safety concerns, which led to the postponement of two earlier flights from Oman on Saturday. Details regarding the specific security developments that prompted the delays have not been disclosed.
Some travelers experienced difficulties securing seats on the repatriation flights. Hugo van der Leek, who was vacationing in Oman with his mother, reported being initially told he would be included on the flight but later found his name was not on the passenger list. “I was called by the embassy in the afternoon with the question of whether I wanted to join that flight. So, of course, we immediately said yes. But after that, we never received a confirmation,” Van der Leek said. “I then spent hours on hold trying to reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but without success.” He estimates that around 50 other individuals faced similar issues.
Earlier in the week, a group of Dutch nationals stranded in Oman were transported to Hurghada, Egypt, via a military aircraft operated by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. From Hurghada, they continued their journey to Schiphol on flights operated by Transavia and TUI, as reported by Metro Nieuws. The Defence Ministry has stationed the military aircraft in Hurghada to facilitate potential further repatriation flights.
The ongoing crisis, triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliatory attacks, has prompted a significant response from Dutch authorities to assist its citizens abroad. NH Nieuws details the complex logistical operation to bring stranded nationals home. The Dutch ambassador to Oman, Maartje Peters, indicated that the passengers were en route to the Muscat airport and that the flight to Egypt was expected to proceed as planned.
The repatriation efforts highlight the challenges faced by airlines and governments in responding to geopolitical instability and ensuring the safety of their citizens traveling internationally. Trouw provides live updates on the situation, while NOS News reports on the ongoing difficulties faced by those still awaiting repatriation.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence deployed a military aircraft to Oman to facilitate the return of Dutch citizens, according to NRC. The operation underscores the government’s commitment to assisting its nationals during times of international crisis.
