Dirk van Duijvenbode's airport scare: How a simple salad led to a security incident

Dirk van Duijvenbode is known for his composed and confident demeanor on television. The 32-year-old Dutchman often exudes a certain toughness in front of the cameras and rarely seems rattled. However, even he once found himself in a nerve-wracking situation at Schiphol Airport, where an innocent package unexpectedly caused quite a stir. Due to a bizarre sequence of events, Van Duijvenbode was held up by airport security for an extended period.

This week, Van Duijvenbode was a guest on the Sportnieuws.nl podcast Darts Draait Door. During the popular segment Kroegpraat ("Pub Talk"), he was asked to share a remarkable experience. It didn’t take him long to recall a particularly tense moment.

"Then there was that bomb incident, right? Stop the check," he said, referring to the ordeal himself. "Stop the check is when certain substances are detected, or if there's suspicion of an explosive at an airport."

Read also

Hilarious anecdote about furious Adrian Lewis in a pizzeria: “He stormed out in anger"

A Simple Lunch Turns Into a Security Alert

Unaware of any wrongdoing, Van Duijvenbode's hand luggage triggered serious concern among airport security. "On travel days, I always bring a salad in one of those takeaway containers, covered with aluminum foil. My iPad was right behind it, and my chargers were at the front of my bag," he explained.

Former professional darts player Vincent van der Voort, who witnessed the entire scene, couldn’t help but laugh as he added: "They thought it was a bomb."

Security officers immediately began questioning Van Duijvenbode, including whether he had packed his bag himself. The situation escalated further when the head of airport security was called in. Van der Voort, sensing trouble, chose to play it safe. "They asked if I was with him, but I quickly said ‘no’—you never know what’s in there, do you?"

Suspicion Grows Over Darts

After a tense half-hour wait, security finally asked the pair what they were doing at the airport. Their response—"playing darts"—only seemed to raise more eyebrows. Van Duijvenbode attempted to clarify that the suspicious item was just a salad, but the security team continued their investigation.

"Then it suddenly hit me—my iPad was in there too. Of course, that’s what they went straight for," he continued.

In the end, the situation was resolved thanks to an unexpected twist. The head of security recognized Van der Voort, which ultimately smoothed things over. "After that, everything was fine," Van Duijvenbode concluded.

A nerve-wracking experience at the time, but now a story he can share with a chuckle.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate darts experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe