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Emergency numbers for Expats in Netherlands

If you're living in the Netherlands, it's important to jot down the vital Dutch emergency numbers before you land in an accident, have your passport stolen or require emergency services. Here is a list of important and emergency numbers in the Netherlands.

Emergencies in the Netherlands

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, or you can register your presence after a diaster or an emergency.

Helplines and emergency numbers in the Netherlands

ACCESS: publishes several online information guides for international residents and provides support. | 0900 222 2377 (20ct/min) | www.access-nl.org | helpdesk@access-nl.org
Alcoholics Anonymous: 020 625 6057 (national) | www.aa-netherlands.org
Animal ambulance (Dierenambulance): 0900 0245 | www.dierenambulance.nl | Also provides shelter for animals seeking new homes.
Gay & Lesbian Switchboard: 020 623 6565 (national) | www.switchboard.nl
Helpline for children and teenagers: 0800 0432 | www.kindertelefoon.nl
SOS 24-hour helpline: Staffed by Dutch volunteers but many speak English | 0900 0767 (5ct/min) | www.sensoor.nl
Gas or electricity emergencies and outages: 0800 9009 | www.gasenstroomstoringen.nl
Coast guard (Kustwacht): 0900 0111 | www.kustwacht.nl
Roadside breakdown service: ANWB 088 269 2222
A list of all emergency contacts in The Hague.


Police in the Netherlands

The non-emergency number is 0900 8844. You will be connected to your local police station. You can also visit www.politie.nl for information and more emergency contact details.

To leave an anonymous tip (to report a crime) you can call 0800 7000 or visit the website.

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.).


Fire in the Netherlands

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


Health emergencies in the Netherlands

Calling an 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). Read about how to use Dutch healthcare services.

Emergency doctor's services (Centrale Huisartsenpost)

To find the nearest emergency doctor or out-of-hours clinic near you, you can call a helpline for information; fees may apply.

National line for information on all medical services: 0900 1515 (24/7)
Amsterdam region (Stichting Huisartsen Dienstenposten Amsterdam, SHDA): 088 003 0600
The Hague (Huisartsendienst SMASH): 070 346 9669
Rotterdam (Huisartsenposten Rijnmond): 010 290 9888 (south), 010 466 9573 (north-centre)
, 010 279 9262 (east)
Utrecht (Primair Huisartsenposten): 0900 450 1450
Eindhoven, Geldrop and Helmond (CHP Zuidoost-Brabant Huisartsenposten): 0900 8861
Tourist medical service: touristdoctor.nl
Yellow pages: www.detelefoongids.nl

An out-of-hours doctor should be used for emergency situations for which you would normally call your doctor during surgery hours, such as tightness of chest, a home accident, cronic abdominal pain or a very sick child. In the event of an emergency that requires immediate, specialised medical attention, you should consider A&E instead.

Finding a doctor

Don’t wait for an emergency before registering with a family doctor. Find one at www.zorgkaartnederland.nl by typing in your postcode and clicking zoek.

Hospitals

A hospital is a ziekenhuis and a complete list of hospitals and medical centres for the Netherlands can be found at www.ziekenhuis.nl or read our guide to the main hospitals in the Netherlands.

Pharmacies

To locate an apotheek, visit www.apotheek.nl.

Useful phrases for emergencies

Call an ambulance: Bel een ambulance
Call the police: Bel de politie
Call the fire brigade: Bel de brandweer
Get/call a doctor: Haal/bel een dokter
I am ill: Ik ben ziek

Dental emergencies in the Netherlands

You can call one of the helplines below to find an out-of-hours dentist (tandarts centrale), or call your own dentist and a recorded message will inform you what to do. Many dentists provide their own emergency services.

Find a dentist at www.tandarts.nl or read more about dental care in the Netherlands. Fees or health insurance typically apply. An internet search will show many urgent dental clinics (spoed tandartsen) providing 24/7 or emergency dental care in Amsterdam or around the Netherlands.


Amsterdam: 0900 821 2230 | Dental365 emergency and walk-in dentist: Amsterdam – 020 555 8282; also located in The Hague – 070 204 0010 (emergency walk-ins 8am–11pm seven days a week).
The Hague: Tandartsspoedgevallendienst – 070 311 0305 |
Rotterdam emergency dentists (Tandartsenpost010): 010 455 2155
Services and utility emergencies

For cities or companies not listed, look in the telephone book under the name of your power company.

You can find 24-hour emergency numbers listed under the heading Spoeddienst (quick service), Calamiteiten (calamities), or Storingen (problems).


If there is a pubic danger or fire hazard, such as a major gas leak, call 112.


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 emergencies in the Netherlands

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).

However, this is difficult to spot when water is spouting out and threatening to flood your house. A plumber may simply come and charge you around EUR 60 to tell you to call your local water board, as this isn't the part of the pipe the individual householder is responsible for.

Sirens

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. You do not need to do anything.

In the event of a real emergency, if you hear the sirens check for news on the television or radio first and remain calm.


Lost and stolen
American Express: 020 504 8000 (national)
MasterCard: 0800 022 5821
VISA: 0800 022 3110
Schiphol lost property: 0900 0141 (40ct/min) or visit their website or online form.
NS (rail) lost property: 0900 321 2100 (80ct/min) or click here to access an online form (in Dutch) to fill in with your details and description of lost property.
GVB (bus and tram) lost property: 0900 8011 (20ct/call) or visit their website.
National lost and found website in the Netherlands.

Dutch public transport: information and helplines

National transport (local and city to city travel information): 0900 9292 (EUR 0.70p/m) | www.9292.nl (includes a travel planner)

Travel cards (OV-chipkaart): 0900 0980 (EUR 0.50 per call) | www.ov-chipkaart.nl

Bike share rental (OV-fietspass): www.ov-fiets.nl

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (trains): 030 751 51 55 (local fees) | www.ns.nl | contact details | Forget to check in or out? | OV-Begeleiderskaart (Carer's Travel pass)

Schiphol Airport | 0900 0141 (fees apply) | Schiphol Travel Taxi | contact details | www.schiphol.nl

Valys (Regional Assisted transport): 0900 9630 (local rates) | www.valys.nl | When calling, if you do not make a menu choice, you will be automatically connected to an operator.


Insurance in the Netherlands

For more information about your specific situation, you can contact the following:

College for Health Insurances (020 797 8227) for health insurance questions.
Sociale Verzekeringsbank (www.svb.nl) for questions regarding social security. Under contact, type your postcode and get the phone number for your area and specific situation .

Read about how to access health insurance in the Netherlands.

Public Health

Visit the GGD GHOR (www.ggd.nl) for a listing of the number for your city/ town. If no number is listed, call your local city hall (gemeente) or borough/district council (stadsdeelkantoor).

Other health contacts:

Doulas: www.doula.nl (hired help for new mothers).

Homecare (thuiszorg): www.thuiszorg.startpagina.nl

Midwives: www.knov.nl

The Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG): www.knmg.nl

Reporting discrimination

If you're unsure about submitting a complaint, you can seek advice from the antidiscrimination service that can be found in all municipalities in the Netherlands, or call the national discrimination helpline on 0900 235 4354 (EUR 0.10 per minute).

If you find discriminatory statements anywhere online, you can report them to the internet discrimination hotline (MiND Nederland).

You can also report discrimination to the police; if you wish to remain anonymous, you can report your case by calling 0800 7000 without needing to leave personal details.

Read the Dutch government's guide to reporting discrimination.

Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)

For any residency issues, you can contact the IND by telephone to ask any general or specific questions. If you wish to make an enquiry regarding a permit or existing file, make sure you have your file number or V-number ready. Contact the IND by phone Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm on 088 0430 430 from within the Netherlands or +31 88 0430 430 from abroad. You can also see the IND website for more information and to find your nearest IND desk. The IND's twitter account @IND_NL is also for general queries between Monday to Friday 9am–5pm.

Main taxi numbers

Amsterdam: 020 677 7777 (read our article on taxis in Amsterdam)

The Hague: 070 383 0830

Rotterdam: 010 462 6333

Utrecht: 030 230 0400

Het Gooi: 035 691 8888


I came across this article in Expatica and thought of sharing the same with you. It includes numbers of the police, hospitals, helpdesks, utility services and lots more.


http://www.expatica.com/nl/essentials_moving_to/essentials/essential-dutch-numbers-for-expats-6824_9071.html

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