Safety in the Netherlands - XPAT.NL (2024)

Luckily, the Netherlands is a safe country to live in:

• Dutch streets are generally well-lit
• You can safely let your dog out in the evening
• It is not dangerous to nip to the supermarket or walk to your friends’ house a couple of streets awayin the evening

Safety Precautions

However, there is always a chance that you could find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. So the standard ‘big city’ safety precautions still apply:

• Try not to go walking in deserted areas after dark. Avoid wooded areas in particular
• If you have to walk somewhere alone at night, try to stick to well-lit areas
• Do not use the cash dispenser, if there are only a few other people around you. Be especially careful if they look nervous, or are clearly lingering and watching you
• Keep an eye on your children at all times
• No matter where you are, do not leave your mobile phone, computer or other obvious valuablesunattended inyourcar,and visiblefrom outside

In the unfortunate event that you do become the victim of crime, here are the steps you can take to get help:

• If possible, locate the nearest police officer or police station as soon as possible
• Report the crime and make a statement. (The police will ask you for this at the police station)
• Be sure to give a description of the culprit and the location
• If necessary, cancel your credit cards. The police should advise and help you to do this as well
• Write to your insurance company, to inform them of the loss or theft of your items. Include a copy of the police report as well

Recovering stolen goods

Youstand a fairly good chance of finding some of your belongings, if they were stolen in the Netherlands. Good citizens will turn in found wallets or purses to the police. Thieves will remove the cash, bank cards and credit cards from them, but will usually toss away the rest.

Tip

Keep Copies!

• It is always a good idea tokeep copies of your travel documents and/or important papers
• Ideally, you should make thembefore you even come to the Netherlands. Read aboutother ways you can prepare for your move,in our essential checklist
• It can save you a lot of trouble if you have these safely stowed somewhere, in case something unfortunate does happen!
• Always keep your eye on your purse, bags, cameras and other possessions when you are in busy city areas of the Netherlands

If you live in a large city in the Netherlands, it is especially important that you keep your doors locked. In fact, wherever you live in Holland, it is a good idea to take this precaution, just in case. Let’s talk locks:

• Whenever you leave your house, always lock your door. This is especially important if you live in a reasonably ‘well-to-do’ neighborhood. These areas are often targeted
• Make sure you have good locks on your doors and windows
• Doors should be fitted with double locks. Or, for additional protection, use dead bolts
• To make your home even more secure, use a ‘dievenklauw‘. This is a special kind of lock. You can purchase this lock from a hardware, or a do-it-yourself, store. Alternatively, a locksmith can install it for you

A locked door is a goodfirst step towards safe-guarding your house. Still, locks can be broken, so don’t tempt fate! Here are some further precautions you can take:

• It is customary for the Dutch to leave their curtains open. However, it is generally not a good idea to show off too many prized possessions
• Try not to have your expensive television, stereo or computer equipment out in full view
• Leaving a pocketbook, wallet or a piece of jewelry out, viewable from the street, is risky too. Thieves can be opportunists

Going away on holiday

If you are planning to go away for a period of more than a few days, you may not want to leave your house completely vacant. You could:

• Ask whether a friend or a neighbor would be willing to keep an eye on it, and pop round every day
• Find someone via a house-sitter organization
• House-sitters will even take care of your pets, if you want!

Security Systems

Of course, however sparse you make your window display, robbers might still attempt to break in. Here is how you can avoid this:

• There are security systems companies in the Netherlands, called: ‘beveiligingsbedrijven‘
• They employ specialists who can install security systems for you
• They can help you with alarm systems, video cameras, fences, electronic eyes, movement detectors, lighting, etc

Security Certification

• Make sure that you are dealing with a reputable agency. You can do this by checking that they have something called a ‘Preventiecertificaat‘ or a ‘Politiekeurmerk’
• This certificate guarantees that the agency are reliable, that they have efficient personnel and that they deliver quality work
• It is also recognized by insurance companies. This means that you may be entitled to discounts on your ‘personal property and home owners’ insurance. This type of insurance is referred to as: ‘inboedel and opstal verzekering‘ in Dutch
• Always ask if a company has this certification before doing business with them

You should alwayskeep your homeprotected from fire! This is how you can ensure you aresafe from fire in the Netherlands:

• Youmusthave smoke alarms fitted in your house.You can install these quite easily by yourself
• If you are renting, ask your landlord to do it for you
• It is also a good idea tokeep a fire extinguisher in yourhome
• Smoke alarms and small fire extinguishers can be bought at do-it-yourself/ hardware shops, or at a department stores in the Netherlands
• Again, it iscompletely reasonable to ask your landlord to pay for these items
• Fire blankets for kitchens and powder extinguishers are also readily available in the Netherlands, and good to have on hand, in your home

The Occupant Identification Card

• In the Netherlands, you can create an identification card, listing the names of all of the occupants ofyour house (including pets)
• Hang your card up somewhere obvious and easy to find. Your meter closet, hallway of near your telephone are all good options
• If the police or the fire department are called to your house in an emergency, they can see who, and how many people, should be in your home. This means they can be sure that no one has been left behind in the property, if it has to be evacuated
• Cards are available at your local police bureau

Tip

Dutch Emergency Services

• The national number for all emergency services in Holland is: 1-1-2
• Should youhave an emergency and need the police, the fire department or an ambulance, call this number
• We advise you toaffix a 1-1-2 stickerto your phone. Let all your family members, including your children, know that it displays the number to call if a serious emergency arises
• The operator will send the services you need to your address. They will send you all three if required!

Drugs and prostitution are tolerated to a certain extent in some areas of the Netherlands. This can seems a strange characteristic for such a safety conscious nation! Do not worry. It willin no way compromise your own safety.

‘Free drugs’ in NL

• The Dutch government try to assist drug addicts, by promoting their rehabilitation and attempting to improve their physical and mental condition and social circ*mstances
• Under certain circ*mstances, they dohand out free drugs to some addicts
• This isto decrease crime in the streets
• When people are desperate, they are more likely to mug and steal in order to be able to buy drugs
• The drugs are distributed at fixed places in big Dutch cities, away from crowds

Prostitution in NL

• There are areas in Dutch cities where prostitution is condoned
• One of these areas is, of course, the famous ‘red-light district‘ in Amsterdam
• Surprisingly, the red-light district is be considered to be one of the safest areas of Amsterdam!
• This is because it is always well-lit and well-patrolled by police. It is also never deserted, because the prostitution industry operates 24 hours a day. It is particularly busy at night, of course!
• If you wish to visit the area, we recommend that you go during the day-time. Pick pockets are ever-present there, and the police cannotmointor everything
• If you encounter any kind of problem in the red-light district, rest assured that the police have seen and dealt with everything before. So, do not hesitate to enlist their help if you feel unsafe

Useful links
Ifyou have crime-related problemthat is not an emergency:

• Call the Central National Police Information Number:0900 8844

A list of reliable and acredited Dutch security companies can be foundat:

• The ‘Centrum Voor Criminaliteitspreventie Veiligheid’, or ‘CCV’. They area Dutch ‘Center for Crime Prevention and Security‘
• Oryou could try: ‘politiekeurmerk.nl‘

Other reliable house sitting organisations:

• huisoppasser
• Huisoppas