112 is the main emergency number in the Netherlands. It should be used for urgent assistance in life-threatening situations or if you witness a crime.
Calls to this number are free of charge and can be made from a landline, pay phone or a mobile phone, even if your phone is locked or you have no SIM card. If for some reason you cannot use a phone, you can make use of the 112NL app (see below).
In the Netherlands, calls are answered on average after eight seconds. The operator - who can usually be expected to be able to speak English, German or French as well as Dutch - will alert the appropriate emergency service, depending on the nature of your emergency.
112 instructions
- Call 112 and wait until you are connected to an operator. If an operator does not answer your call immediately do not hang up; every repeated call is considered a new one and is put at the end of the queue.
- Introduce yourself and clearly state the incident. Stay calm and make sure your answers are precise, brief and clear.
- Although emergency services should be able to identify where you are physically located, always indicate your location and if possible, briefly explain how to reach you.
- Answer all the questions asked and follow the operator’s advice.
- Do not hang up, until the operator asks you to.
- Try to keep your phone line free after hanging up, as you may receive calls for additional information. You should call again only if there is more to report or the situation changes.
Call 112 in case of:
- Fire, smoke or explosives
- Serious accidents
- Someone is attempting to steal or damage a vehicle or property
- Someone is trapped, injured, unconscious, bleeding or suffocating
- You witnessed a suicide attempt
112 is a single emergency telephone number that allows European citizens and travelers within EU to contact emergency services for assistance in all member states. In order to ensure a quicker and more efficient intervention, 112 operates either alongside the national emergency numbers or as the main emergency number depending on the country.
Do not use 112:
- Just for fun or to check if it actually works (hoax 112 calls are considered to be a criminal offence in most EU countries)
- To report the same accident or emergency again
- To call a taxi or get informed about transportation
- For contact details for doctors, dentists, pharmacies a nd so on.
- For minor accidents or incidents, either contact your regular doctor or dentist, or go to a hospital
Using the 112NL app
The Netherlands also has an alternative option for people who are unable to call the 112 emergency number. If you cannot communicate with an operator as a result of:
- A speech or hearing impairment
- A language barrier
- A life-threatening situation
You can get in touch with the emergency services via the 112NL app. The app is free to download on both the Apple App and Google Play stores and operates in 109 different languages, including English.
Using 112 in other countries
112 is a single emergency telephone number that can be used in all other EU countries, either as the main emergency number or alongside other national emergency numbers. 112 operates in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican and the United Kingdom. 112 is also available worldwide on GSM mobile networks.
Since each member state is responsible for its own national civil protection system, the operator may transfer your call to the appropriate emergency service or deal with your request directly.
