Germany introduced border checks at some crossings from the Netherlands on Monday, but the expected traffic congestion failed to materialise, motoring organisation ANWB said.

At around midday, the ANWB did register three kilometres of slow-moving traffic on the A1 from Oldenzaal to the border because of the police checkpoint. But few other problems have been reported so far.

Germany said last week it would introduce border checks for at least six months in an effort to reduce cross border crime and terrorism.

The spot checks with five more Western European expand the mobile border controls operating at four other borders. Germany has monitored its borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland more tightly since last year.

The Netherlands shares a 570 kilometre border with Germany on land and at sea, and thousands of people live in one country and work or study in the other.

In the Netherlands too, the far right PVV has called for the reintroduction of more border checks. Temporary border controls are permitted within the EU if Brussels is briefed in advance.