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Emergency preparedness in the Netherlands: the official guidance

The Dutch Denk vooruit advice: 72 hours at home, 3 litres of water per person per day, NL-Alert, sirens, iodine and 112, verified 2026-10-20.

Updated 2026-10-20· 12 official sources· Lees in het Nederlands

Netherlands at a glance

updated 2026-10-20
SuppliesThe Dutch government's Denk vooruit campaign asks every household to be able to cope at home for 72 hours without electricity, water or internet, using an emergency kit (noodpakket).sourcedPublic sheltersThe Netherlands publishes no list or locator of public shelters.sourcedAlertsTwo official channels: the WAS air-raid/public warning siren, tested on the first Monday of every month at 12:00 for 1 minute 26 seconds, and NL-Alert, a cell broadcast message sent to almost all phones without registration, tested twice a year (first Monday of June and December, around 12:00; next test 7 December 2026).sourcedIodinePotassium iodide tablets (65 mg) have been pre-distributed by the government to people up to 40 in the first ring (Borssele, Doel: 20 km; Emsland: 25 km; Mol: 20 km) and to children up to 18 and pregnant women up to 100 km.sourcedPrivate shelterNo Dutch law requires, subsidises or specifically licenses a private shelter.sourced
Shelter standardsNo official technical standard or certification for shelters exists in the Netherlands.not published
Emergency numbers112 for police, fire and ambulance (also via the 112NL app).sourced
Crisis bookletThe national Denk vooruit campaign, coordinated by the NCTV, started on 3 November 2025 with three steps: make an emergency kit, make an emergency plan, talk with and help each other.sourced
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Short answer. The Dutch government asks every household to be able to cope at home for 72 hours without electricity, water or internet, using an emergency kit (noodpakket) 1. The kit includes 3 litres of bottled water per person per day 1, and the government advises EUR 70 in cash per adult and EUR 30 per child 2. In an emergency, call 112 3.

Information on this page and the pages below was checked against official Dutch sources on 20 October 2026.

Who is responsible for emergency preparedness in the Netherlands?

The national campaign Denk vooruit ("Think ahead") is coordinated by the NCTV, the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism 4. It started on 3 November 2025 with three steps: make an emergency kit, make an emergency plan, and talk with and help each other 4. Regional crisis management is handled by the 25 safety regions (veiligheidsregio's), and national crisis information is published on Nederland veilig 5.

Did every household receive an emergency booklet?

Yes. The booklet Informatieboekje: bereid je voor op een noodsituatie ("Information booklet: prepare for an emergency") was sent to all households, to be received by 10 January 2026 at the latest, with translations and accessible versions 64.

What does each page cover?

Page What you will find
Emergency supplies The 72-hour target, water, cash and how to store the kit 12
Kit checklist The official noodpakket list, line by line 1
Public shelters No public shelter list or locator; where the government says to shelter 7
Alerts The monthly siren test and NL-Alert on your phone 89
Iodine Pre-distributed 65 mg tablets, zones and over-the-counter sale 10
Building a shelter No shelter-specific rules found; general building permits (to be confirmed)
Emergency contacts 112, non-emergency police and fire numbers 35

The Netherlands has no official technical standard or certification for shelters, so no shelter-standards page is published for the Netherlands.

How long should a Dutch household plan for?

72 hours. The official wording is that with an emergency kit "you are well prepared for the first 72 hours after a disaster or emergency" 1. Water at 3 litres per person per day comes to 9 litres per person over those 72 hours 1. Our guides on the 72-hour kit and water per person compare this with other countries.

How will I be warned?

Two official channels: the public warning siren, tested on the first Monday of every month at 12:00 8, and NL-Alert, a message sent to almost all mobile phones by cell broadcast, without registration 9. When the siren sounds outside a test, go inside, close windows and doors and follow the regional public broadcaster 11. Details are on the alerts page.

Does the Netherlands hand out iodine tablets?

Yes, around nuclear plants. The government has pre-distributed 65 mg potassium iodide tablets to people up to 40 living closest to Borssele, Doel, Emsland and Mol, and to children up to 18 and pregnant women up to 100 km away 10. Take them only when the government says so 10. See the iodine page.

Where to start

A practical order: note the emergency contacts, build the kit, then a household plan (see our family plan guide) and agree where you would shelter at home, as the government advises 7.

Frequently asked questions

What is Denk vooruit?

The Dutch government's preparedness campaign, coordinated by the NCTV, started on 3 November 2025. Its three steps are an emergency kit, an emergency plan, and talking with and helping each other 4.

How much water does the Netherlands recommend?

3 litres per person per day of bottled water, for a 72-hour kit 1.

How much cash should I keep at home?

The government advises EUR 70 per adult and EUR 30 per child for the first 72 hours. This is advice, not an obligation 2.

Does the Netherlands have public bunkers?

The Netherlands publishes no list or locator of public shelters. A national framework for sheltering and evacuation is expected at the end of 2026 12.

What number do I call in an emergency?

112, for police, fire and ambulance 3.

Sources

  1. Denk vooruit (NCTV, Rijksoverheid) — Stel je noodpakket samen — https://www.denkvooruit.nl/bereid-je-voor/stel-je-noodpakket-samen (accessed 2026-10-20)
  2. Rijksoverheid — Wat zit er in een noodpakket? — https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/vraag-en-antwoord/veiligheidsregios-en-crisisbeheersing/wat-zit-er-in-een-noodpakket (accessed 2026-10-20)
  3. Rijksoverheid — Alarmnummer 112 — https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/themas/recht-veiligheid-en-defensie/alarmnummer-112 (accessed 2026-10-20)
  4. Rijksoverheid (Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid) — Overheid start campagne Denk vooruit: voorbereiden op noodsituatie steeds belangrijker — https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2025/11/03/overheid-start-campagne-denk-vooruit-voorbereiden-op-noodsituatie-steeds-belangrijker (accessed 2026-10-20)
  5. Rijksoverheid (Nederland veilig) — Noodnummers | Nederland veilig — https://www.nederlandveilig.nl/noodnummers (accessed 2026-10-20)
  6. Denk vooruit (NCTV) — Informatieboekje: bereid je voor op een noodsituatie — https://www.denkvooruit.nl/informatieboekje (accessed 2026-10-20)
  7. Denk vooruit (NCTV, Rijksoverheid) — Internationale spanningen — https://www.denkvooruit.nl/risicos/risicos-in-nederland/internationale-spanningen (accessed 2026-10-20)
  8. Rijksoverheid — Wanneer wordt de sirene getest? — https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/vraag-en-antwoord/veiligheidsregios-en-crisisbeheersing/wanneer-wordt-de-sirene-getest (accessed 2026-10-20)
  9. NL-Alert (Rijksoverheid) — NL-Alert op jouw mobiel — https://www.nl-alert.nl/zo-werkt-nl-alert/nl-alert-op-jouw-mobiel (accessed 2026-10-20)
  10. Rijksoverheid — Jodiumtabletten — https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/themas/familie-zorg-en-gezondheid/straling/jodiumtabletten (accessed 2026-10-20)
  11. Rijksoverheid — Wat moet ik doen als de sirene gaat? — https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/vraag-en-antwoord/veiligheidsregios-en-crisisbeheersing/wat-moet-ik-doen-als-de-sirene-gaat (accessed 2026-10-20)
  12. Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid / Tweede Kamer — Ontwikkelingen in de brandweerzorg, crisisbeheersing en het meldkamerdomein (Kamerstuk 29 517, nr. 275, 18 mei 2026) — https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/brieven_regering/detail?id=2026Z10157&did=2026D22835 (accessed 2026-10-20)

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Sources

  1. Denk vooruit (NCTV, Rijksoverheid) · Stel je noodpakket samen checked 2026-10-20
  2. Rijksoverheid · Wat zit er in een noodpakket? checked 2026-10-20
  3. Rijksoverheid · Alarmnummer 112 checked 2026-10-20
  4. Rijksoverheid (Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid) · Overheid start campagne Denk vooruit: voorbereiden op noodsituatie steeds belangrijker checked 2026-10-20
  5. Rijksoverheid (Nederland veilig) · Noodnummers | Nederland veilig checked 2026-10-20
  6. Denk vooruit (NCTV) · Informatieboekje: bereid je voor op een noodsituatie checked 2026-10-20
  7. Denk vooruit (NCTV, Rijksoverheid) · Internationale spanningen checked 2026-10-20
  8. Rijksoverheid · Wanneer wordt de sirene getest? checked 2026-10-20
  9. NL-Alert (Rijksoverheid) · NL-Alert op jouw mobiel checked 2026-10-20
  10. Rijksoverheid · Jodiumtabletten checked 2026-10-20
  11. Rijksoverheid · Wat moet ik doen als de sirene gaat? checked 2026-10-20
  12. Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid / Tweede Kamer · Ontwikkelingen in de brandweerzorg, crisisbeheersing en het meldkamerdomein (Kamerstuk 29 517, nr. 275, 18 mei 2026) checked 2026-10-20

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