Alert systems and emergency communication in Amsterdam
Machine translation from Dutch, not yet checked by a clinician.
Know which channels carry official crisis information and how to stay reachable during a major crisis in Amsterdam.
What to do
• Check that NL-Alert is switched on in your phone (Settings > Notifications)
• Save: 112 (emergency), 0900-8844 (non-urgent police), 14 020 (City of Amsterdam)
• In a crisis, tune in to NPO Radio 1 (93.4 FM)
• Follow official sources: amsterdam.nl, rijksoverheid.nl and @AmsterdamNL on social media
• Share your location with two contacts outside Amsterdam at the start of a major crisis
Do not do
• Do NOT spread unconfirmed information on social media — this disrupts the emergency response
• Do NOT call 112 for information — keep the line free for real emergencies
• Do NOT trust messages that do not come from official government sources
Warning signs
• No phone signal — find an FM radio (NPO Radio 1) or go to a municipal information point
Get help if
• You have no access to information and do not know what to do — go to the nearest municipal information point
• A family member is unreachable after a crisis — contact the Red Cross on 070-4455 888
Why this matters
During a crisis, social media can be flooded with disinformation. NPO Radio 1 keeps working during power cuts through emergency generators. NL-Alert uses cell broadcast and needs no internet connection.
Source: Rijksoverheid NL-Alert; Gemeente Amsterdam; NPO Radio 1 · reviewed 2025-01-01