In U.S. airports one must go through security immediately upon entering the departure area, before getting to the gates. You cannot take water through the security points, but can buy it after you exit security, before you get to the gate.

Last fall in Amsterdam, however, we could wander through all the departure concourses and only entered security at the gate for our flight. Once you got through security and into the gate area, you could not exit. However, you could buy bottled water at an airport shop before you got to the gate, and they would put it in a sealed plastic bag that you could then take through security.

I'm curious as to how security checks work at other major European airports, such as CDG, FRA, FCO, etc. Do they follow the "American model," or the "Dutch model," or do they each have their own unique system?

Thanks in advance.

Different countries, different strokes. No one system anywhere in Europe. Also depends on the design of the airport or terminal and how they mix domestic & international passengers - if they even allow it.

AMS is slightly unusual though not totally unique. TXL has a somewhat similar system (but is a small airport by size).

FRA has seperate security checkpoints for each pier/concourse but not for each gate. You can't take liquids except the known limits thru security. After security, you will find only a few snack bars, lounges, tax free shopping, some smaller stores for electronic goods, souvenirs, or foodstuff. But the majority of shopping is landside before security.

FCO and CDG are more like the American system.

ZRH has one security for a cluster of gates. Similar to Singapore (SIN).

And not all US airports have central security. Kansas City (MCI) has a security for each one or two gate, due to its design.