EMERGENCY NUMBERS THE EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR POLICE, FIRE OR AMBULANCE IS 112.
• The pan-European 112 emergency operators will speak English. You will be asked for the address and city where you are calling from and the nature of the emergency. • For information on emergency situations (noodsituaties) in the Netherlands, visit the government site www.denkvooruit.nl. • Residents can also subscribe to the government mobile alert service (www.nl-alert.nl), which will send a text message regarding any emergencies in your area. POLICE • The non-emergency number is 0900 8844. You will be connected to your local police station. • If your passport has been stolen, contact your embassy immediately for instructions as to what to do next. You generally need to make a statement at a police station to start any kind of official procedure (insurance, applying for a new passport etc.). • Visit www.politie.nl for information. FIRE • You can find information on Dutch fire services at www.brandweer.nl.
• In emergency medical situations you can call an ambulance. • You can also visit A&E but if a doctor could have treated the situation, you may be charged for this or refused treatment without a referral. • For non-threatening issues, you should first contact your local doctor or find your closest out-of-hours medical clinic (huisartsenpost).
• If you suspect a gas leak (gaslucht) or have a power problem (stroomstoring) you can call the national line 0800 9009; for serious emergencies posing a public threat, call 112. • See www.gasenstroomstoringen.nl for details.
• Contact your local gemeente for serious (sewage) issues. • If the problem is in the length of pipe between the street and your house, this is the local water board’s responsibility; find yours at www.vewin.nl by typing your postcode in the box under Uw drinkwaterbedrijf. SIREN • Each municipality tests their siren the first Monday of every month at 12pm. • For acute danger, a siren will sound in the affected area(s) and signals for people to head indoors. Information about the disaster or emergency will be published on www.crisis.nl. HELPLINES ACCESS Invaluable resource for all international residents. 0900 222 2377 (20ct/min) • www.access-nl.org • helpdesk@access-nl.org Alcoholics Anonymous www.aa-netherlands.org • National: 020 625 6057
AMBULANCE
GAS AND ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES
WATER EMERGENCY
Animal emergencies Also provides a shelter for animals seeking new homes. www.dierenambulancedenhaag.nl • National: 070 328 2828 Gay & Lesbian Switchboard www.switchboard.nl • National: 020 623 6565 Helpline for children and teenagers www.kindertelefoon.nl • 0800 0432 SOS 24-hour helpline Staffed by Dutch volunteers but many speak English. www.sensoor.nl • 0900 0767 (5ct/min)
SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONALS 2021 • THE NETHERLANDS • WWW.EXPATFAIR.NL
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