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. 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. For non-threatening issues, you should first contact your local doctor or find your closest out-of-hours medical clinic (huisartsenpost). 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. See www.gasenstroomstoringen.nl for details. WATER EMERGENCY 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. For other situations that are your responsibility, search the yellow pages (gouden gids) for a loodgieter (plumber). SIREN 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. However, it should be noted that each municipality tests their siren the first Monday of every month at 12pm.
HELPLINES
SOS 24-HOUR HELPLINE
• ACCESS: Invaluable resource for all international residents. +31 (0)900 222 2377 (20 ct/min) | www.access-nl.org
Staffed by Dutch volunteers but many speak English. www.sensoor.nl | +31 (0)900 0767 (5ct/min)
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS www.aa-netherlands.org | National: +31(0)20 625 6057
LOST AND STOLEN:
• ANIMAL EMERGENCES Also provides a shelter for animals seeking new homes. www.dierenambulancedenhaag.nl | National: +31(0)70 328 2828
• MasterCard: +31 (0)800 022 5821
• GAY & LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD www.switchboard.nl | National: +31(0)20 623 6565
• Schiphol lost property: +31(0)900 0141 (40ct/min)
HELPLINE FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
• GVB (bus and tram) lost property: +31(0)900 8011 (2.76ct/min)
• American Express: +31 (0)20 504 800 • VISA: +31 (0)800 02203110 • NS (rail) lost property: +31(0)900 321 2100
www.kindertelefoon.nl | +31(0)800 0432
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