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 (https://crisis.nl/nl-alert/), which will send a text message regarding any emergencies in your area.

WATER EMERGENCY

• Contact your local gemeente for serious (sewage) issues.

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. • 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. | 085 4000 338 (20ct/min) | www.access-nl.org | helpdesk@access-nl.org

FIRE

• You can find information on Dutch fire services at www.brandweer.nl

AMBULANCE

• 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.

Alcoholics Anonymous

• www.aa-netherlands.org | National: 020 625 6057

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

• For non-threatening issues, you should first contact your local doctor or find your closest out-of-hours medical clinic (huisartsenpost).

SOS 24-hour helpline

• Staffed by Dutch volunteers but many speak English. www.sensoor.nl | 088 0767 000 (costs provider)

GAS AND ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES

• 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.