Chinese president Xi Jinping arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport on Saturday for an official state visit ahead of next week’s Nuclear Security Summit.

Xi Jinping is accompanied by some 20 ministers and a heavyweight business delegation – the Dutch visit is part of a broader European tour and economic mission.

On Saturday night, he and his wife Peng Liyuan will be guests of honour at a banquet for some 250 people hosted by king Willem-Alexander and queen Máxima.

Xi Jinping is the first of the high-profile guests due in the Netherlands for the two-day summit.

Plane spotters

Three plane spotters have each been fined €360 and had their cameras confiscated for taking pictures of planes arriving at Schiphol, according to website vliegtuigenspotter.nl.

Dozens of spotters had gone to Schiphol airport to watch the plane carrying Chinese president Xi arriving as well as four US transport planes carrying president Barack Obama’s special car and other equipment, the website said.

The Haarlemmermeer region has banned the use of cameras ‘in order to head off nuisance and traffic safety issues caused by plane spotters,’ Nos television said.

The summit is being held on March 24 and 25 in The Hague and dozens of world leaders are set to attend.

Obama in Amsterdam

Obama will pay a short visit to Amsterdam on Monday morning and a large part of the Museumplein has been sealed off. Locals have also been told not to use their balconies or roof terraces during the visit.

According to the AD, the president is bringing two planes, three helicopters, 200 security guards, three limousines and six chefs with him to the Netherlands, as well as a fully equipped field hospital and x-ray machine.

Benefits

Dutch development aid minister Lilianne Ploumen told website nu.nl hosting the summit will be good for the Netherlands.

‘Although nuclear safety will be central in the coming days, there is also a large economic programme,’ she said. ‘This summit will highlight the Netherlands as an open economy and trading nation,’ she said.

But shopkeepers and restaurant owners are angry they are not being compensated for loss of trade. Many have been ordered to close during the two-day period.

Security

The conference involves the biggest security operation ever mounted in the Netherlands. Dozens of roads are being closed, three navy vessels are stationed off the coast and two F16 jet fights will be airborne at all times, the Volkskrant said on Saturday.

So many police and other security officials are needed that several Eredivise football matches have been cancelled.

Experts have put the cost of the security operation at between €150m and €250m.

Road closures

More road closures in The Hague will take place on Saturday and on Sunday afternoon, and on Sunday motorways between Schiphol and The Hague will also be closed as part of the security preparations.

The A5 will be shut between the junction with the A9 and A4. There will be fewer lanes open on the A4 in the direction of The Hague and the A44 and N44 will also be closed, direction The Hague.

Disruption

The ANWB motoring organisation is warning of severe disruption to rush hour traffic on Monday and Tuesday and people are being urged to work at home if possible. Extra trains are also being laid on to ensure travellers can reach Schiphol airport.

Dutch design

The Volkskrant has a list of 11 things everyone should know about the summit and points out that delegates will sit on chairs designed by Dutch furniture maker Atelier Van Lieshout. Even the wine that will be served during the event is Dutch, the NSS project leader Marc Gerritsen told the paper.

The lunch menu will be be both organic and halal. Spinach has been banned because of the risk it could get stuck between people’s teeth and spoil the photo, the Volkskrant said.

However, the AD reports that only men over the age of 25 will be allowed to serve the guests. The inclusion of ‘three blonde women’ would distort the unified image, Hans van der Linde of catering company Van der Linde Catering told the AD.