Netherlands

Sirens: The Netherlands has a public warning siren system. The sirens are tested nationwide on the first Monday of every month at 12:00 noon.

If the siren sounds outside an announced test, go indoors immediately, close doors and windows, switch off ventilation and air conditioning, and follow official information via NL-Alert, radio, municipality or safety region.

Country: Netherlands

• Country code: NL
• Official language: Dutch
• Currency: euro (EUR)
• Time zone: Central European Time, Central European Summer Time in summer
• Power supply: normally 230 V / 50 Hz, plug types C and F

The Netherlands generally has very well-developed infrastructure. During a prolonged power outage, communication, transport, card payments, heating, cooling, lifts, petrol stations, supermarkets and parts of the water supply may still be disrupted.

Specific risks may come from storm surges, flooding, severe storms, industrial incidents, heat waves and disruption to public transport.

The most important emergency numbers in the Netherlands should be saved offline and also kept on paper.

• 112: general emergency number for urgent emergencies, ambulance, fire service and police
• 0900 8844: police when it is not urgent
• 0800 7000: anonymous crime reporting
• GP / Huisartsenpost: medical help outside immediate life-threatening situations, depending on location

Use emergency numbers only for real emergencies. During a large blackout, lines should not be blocked by general enquiries.

The Netherlands uses several information and warning channels. These include NL-Alert via cell broadcast, public sirens, radio, television, municipal information and safety regions.

• NL-Alert: alerts sent directly to compatible mobile phones in affected areas.
• Sirens: public warning. Monthly test on the first Monday at 12:00 noon.
• Radio: during a power outage, a battery, crank or car radio is important.
• Municipality / Veiligheidsregio: local instructions may differ depending on the incident.

Mobile data and apps may fail during a blackout. Important information should therefore not be stored only digitally.

For the Netherlands, private preparedness for several days up to about two weeks is sensible. Supplies should be usable without electricity.

• Plan drinking water and beverages for everyone in the household.
• Store long-life food that can be eaten cold or prepared easily.
• Keep medicines, first-aid supplies and personal long-term medication available.
• Prepare a battery or crank radio, torches, spare batteries and power banks.
• Keep cash in small notes, as card payments and cash machines may fail.
• Keep important documents, phone numbers and addresses also on paper.
• With alternative cooking or heating, watch for fire and carbon monoxide risks.

In case of power outages, the first responsible contact is usually the local grid operator or energy supplier. General crisis information in the Netherlands is communicated by the municipality, safety region, police, fire service and national authorities.

For Dominican citizens, there is an Embassy and a Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in The Hague.

Travellers should save important contacts offline before travelling and not keep them only on a mobile phone.