A 35-year-old American national was arrested at Schiphol airport on Monday morning after security guards spotted a gun and ammunition in his hand luggage during the routine checks.

A spokesman for the airport’s military police said it is rare that someone tries to bring a gun through security. ‘We do find weapons from time to time, but that is usually a knuckle duster or a small penknife,’ the spokesman told broadcaster NOS.

The police are now investigating why the man was carrying the gun in his rucksack. He will appear in court on Wednesday, police said.