A lot of them are no better than the TSA and some -- including a man I've seen stick his hands down men's pants a few times -- actually do far worse at AMS.

And then there are some of those "security" contractors that NW has asking questions prior to boarding NW flights to the US -- they are a class of clowns in their own way too.

I've taken empty small and big bottles of water -- all well over 100ml -- on NW flights from AMS to the US. I did so at least four times this month all without issue. Always I had the cap removed/off (just in case they wanted to make an issue of it*).

-----
* an empty, open upside down bottle is a container in the same way a water-tight open sealable plastic bag or empty cup can be made to be with an improvised lid.