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Dutch emergency phrases

In a Dutch or Belgian emergency, call 112 for police, fire brigade or ambulance; the operator asks Politie, brandweer of ambulance? and then your address, and English is almost always understood. This page gives you the Dutch to answer those questions, the fire-safety and first-aid signs you will see in buildings, the NL-Alert and siren system, and the doctor and pharmacy route for everything that is not a 112 case.

Pronunciation hints are rough English approximations; the hard g is written “kh” (see the Dutch g guide). In a real emergency, speak slowly and repeat the essentials — location first.

Calling 112

The first call-taker’s job is to route you, so the opening question is which service you need — typically Politie, brandweer of ambulance? Say one word, and you are put through to that service’s control room (de meldkamer), whose first question is where: Wat is het adres? and In welke plaats? (“Which town?”). Answer with the service, then your location.

You address the operator with the formal u throughout — but this is the one context where register truly doesn't matter, so don't hesitate over it. Give the adres (address) or nearest landmark before anything else; the dispatcher needs a location above all.

Describing what's wrong

Whether to a 112 operator or a doctor, you need to name the problem. The pattern is Ik heb… (“I have…”) or Er is… (“There is…”).

To point at where it hurts, the body-part words are essential — het hoofd (head), de buik (stomach), de rug (back), de arm, het been (leg). The full head-to-toe set with articles is in body parts in Dutch.

Other emergency and urgent numbers

Belgium also has an official 112 BE app that sends your location to the control room and lets you choose the service and describe the problem with pictograms — useful if you cannot speak freely or cannot manage in Dutch or French.

Fire: instructions and signs in Dutch buildings

Offices, hotels and apartment blocks post a Bij brand (“in case of fire”) instruction card near exits and lifts. The wording varies, but it almost always follows this order:

1. Alarmeer: druk op de brandmelder en bel 112. — Raise the alarm: press the fire alarm call point and call 112.
2. Blus de brand alleen als het veilig is. — Only fight the fire if it is safe.
3. Sluit ramen en deuren. — Close windows and doors.
4. Verlaat het gebouw via de vluchtweg. — Leave the building by the escape route.
5. Gebruik de lift niet. — Do not use the lift.
6. Ga naar de verzamelplaats. — Go to the assembly point.

In a Dutch workplace, the people in yellow or orange vests during an evacuation are the BHV’ers (from bedrijfshulpverlening, “company emergency response”); follow their directions. Their key phrases are Iedereen naar buiten! (“Everyone out!”) and Loop door! (“Keep moving!”).

Medical emergencies: first aid and ambulance words

Public buildings, stations and many sports clubs carry the green EHBO sign — Eerste Hulp Bij Ongelukken, “first aid” — and a defibrillator marked AED. These are the phrases for the minutes before the ambulance arrives:

NL-Alert and the air-raid sirens

For large incidents — a major fire with toxic smoke, flooding, a chemical leak — the Dutch government pushes an NL-Alert text message to every mobile phone in the area, with a loud tone even on silent. The message is in Dutch (often with an English line) and usually tells you to do one thing: Ga naar binnen (“go inside”), sluit ramen en deuren (“close windows and doors”), zet de ventilatie uit (“switch off ventilation”), or verlaat het gebied (“leave the area”). The Netherlands also still has a network of warning sirens, tested at noon on the first Monday of the month; if you hear one at any other time, go inside and check NL-Alert or the news. The government has announced plans to phase the sirens out in favour of NL-Alert, so check the current situation where you live.

The doctor and pharmacy system

For anything not immediately life-threatening, the Dutch system routes you through your huisarts — the GP or family doctor — not straight to a hospital. You register with one huisarts practice; they are the gatekeeper to specialists. Turning up at hospital A&E (de spoedeisende hulp, often shortened to de SEH) without a referral for a minor issue is discouraged and can be costly.

• de huisarts (HOWS-arts) — your GP; call to make an afspraak (appointment).
• de huisartsenpost (HOWS-art-sun-post), or HAP — the out-of-hours GP service for evenings and weekends. Call first; don't just show up.
• de apotheek (ah-poh-TAYK) — the pharmacy, which dispenses prescription medicine (een recept).
• de drogist (droh-KHIST) — a drugstore for over-the-counter items only.

At the doctor or pharmacy

U or je? Getting the register right

With emergency operators, doctors, pharmacists and any official you don't know, use the formal u: Kunt u mij helpen? (“Can you help me?”). A doctor may well address you with u back, or switch to je if you're younger — follow their lead. In a genuine emergency, register is the last thing anyone cares about, so never let uncertainty over u/je slow you down. The system is set out in Dutch pronouns.

Warnings and shouting for help

Frequently asked questions

What is the emergency number in the Netherlands?

112, for police, fire brigade and ambulance. It is free, works from any phone and is also the emergency number in Belgium and the rest of the EU. For non-urgent police matters in the Netherlands, call 0900-8844.

What does the 112 operator ask in Dutch?

First which service you need: Politie, brandweer of ambulance? Then the control room asks for your location: Wat is het adres? and In welke plaats? Most operators also speak English.

How do you say “call an ambulance” in Dutch?

Bel een ambulance! On the phone to 112, say Ik heb een ambulance nodig (“I need an ambulance”) and give the address.

What do Dutch fire instructions say?

A typical Bij brand card says: raise the alarm (brandmelder, 112), fight the fire only if safe, close doors, leave by the vluchtweg, do not use the lift, and go to the verzamelplaats (assembly point).

What does EHBO mean?

EHBO stands for Eerste Hulp Bij Ongelukken, “first aid”. The green EHBO sign marks a first-aid post or kit; AED marks a defibrillator.

Who do I call for a doctor at night in the Netherlands?

Call the regional huisartsenpost, the out-of-hours GP service, for urgent problems that cannot wait until morning. Call first rather than walking in, and use 112 only for life-threatening situations.