Short answer. The Netherlands publishes no list, count or locator of public shelters. The government advises planning in advance where you would shelter at home, at work or at school: underground rooms or the middle of sturdy buildings, such as a basement storage unit or an underground car park 1. A national framework for sheltering and evacuation is expected at the end of 2026 2.
Is there a public shelter network in the Netherlands?
No designated public shelter network is published, and the number of shelters is not published either 1. There is no official shelter locator. The Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that the Ministry of Justice and Security said the country has had no working public shelters since the end of the Cold War 3; that statement comes from the press and was not found in an official text.
Where does the government say to shelter?
On the Denk vooruit page on international tensions, the government says: "You shelter most safely in rooms below ground or in the middle of sturdy buildings. Such as a basement storage unit or an underground car park under your home" 1. It asks you to work out in advance where that would be at home, at work and at school 1.
If you are outdoors, go into a sturdy (public) building; if there is none, a ditch is the fallback, and a vehicle is not a shelter 1.
| Where you are | Official advice 1 |
|---|---|
| At home, work or school | Underground rooms or the middle of a sturdy building (basement storage, underground car park) |
| Outdoors | A sturdy (public) building |
| Outdoors, no building nearby | A ditch, not a vehicle |
What is the government planning?
Parliament asked, through the Eerdmans motion, for a national shelter plan by the end of 2026. In a letter to Parliament dated 18 May 2026, the minister said two pieces of work answer that motion: a national framework for sheltering and evacuation (Landelijk kader schuilen en evacueren), expected at the end of 2026, and a study by TNO on which shelter options improve survival in a military attack, with results then expected in summer 2026 2. NOS reported in May 2025 that the minister pointed to car parks as shelter places 4; no official list of such places has been published.
What should I do now?
Choose your own shelter spot at home and at work, following the advice above 1, and make sure you will hear the warning: the siren and NL-Alert are explained on the alerts page. For nuclear scenarios, our guides on sheltering or evacuating, the 7-10 rule and protection factor explain why distance and mass matter. If you are considering a private shelter, see building a shelter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the nearest public shelter in the Netherlands?
There is no official locator. The government advises identifying your own shelter spot in advance 1.
Is an underground car park a shelter?
The government gives an underground car park under your home as an example of a safer place to shelter 1. It is not part of a designated shelter network.
Should I shelter in my car?
No. The official advice outdoors is a sturdy building, otherwise a ditch, and not a vehicle 1.
When will the national shelter plan be ready?
The national framework for sheltering and evacuation is expected at the end of 2026 2.
Sources
- Denk vooruit (NCTV, Rijksoverheid) — Internationale spanningen — https://www.denkvooruit.nl/risicos/risicos-in-nederland/internationale-spanningen (accessed 2026-10-20)
- 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)
- NOS (press, context only) — Nederland heeft geen schuilkelders en dat blijft voorlopig zo — https://nos.nl/l/2546039 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- NOS (press, context only) — Kabinet wil schuilplekken, zoals parkeergarages, voor crisissituatie — https://nos.nl/l/2568418 (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Netherlands, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Denk vooruit (NCTV, Rijksoverheid) · Internationale spanningen checked 2026-10-20
- 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
- NOS (press, context only) · Nederland heeft geen schuilkelders en dat blijft voorlopig zo checked 2026-10-20
- NOS (press, context only) · Kabinet wil schuilplekken, zoals parkeergarages, voor crisissituatie checked 2026-10-20