If you’re new to The Netherlands, at midday on the first Monday of the month you might wonder what that siren sound is! In Dutch, it is called a Waarschuwingsstelsel.
It sounds each month, and should be able to be heard no matter where you are located in The Netherlands. There is a network of the sirens of about 4200 located around the country and they look like this:
They can be operated separately from the regional fire departments and are owned by the Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties. (Ministry of Internal Affairs)
If you hear this sound and it’s NOT midday on the first Monday of the month, it’s a warning to go inside, shut all doors and windows and turn on your tv or radio for updates. Of course these are likely to be in Dutch. You can also check the website www.crisis.nl to see if there are current warnings or www.nederlandveilig.nl/noodsituaties/ about how to prepare for an emergency – and they do have an english section here: www.nederlandveilig.nl/noodsituaties/english There is also a handy english downloadable PDF with handy information on what to do in various kinds of emergencies. Click on the english site link above to download a copy. (unfortunately they seem to have discontinued this link and English information.)
2018 Update:
Today 03-12-18 I received this message:
CONTROLEBERICHT. U hoeft niets to doen. Meer informatie op www.nl-alert.nl
English translation:
TEST MESSAGE: You don’t need to do anything. More information at www.nl-alert.nl
There are several videos on YouTube if you want to preview the siren sound, here’s one:
There is a Wikipedia entry if you’d like to read more about warning sirens around the world.
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It’s always funny to see the worried look on the faces of new people at the office who know nothing about it.
Yes I’m sure! Freaked me out the first time too!
I am in Holland since 2002 and I still feel a creepy feeling on my spine when I heard it. Was really weird on the first times.
Yup, my first Monday 12:00 in the Netherlands i ran outside to look for the tornado.
Yes Justin it can be a little unsettling that first time! You’re brave running outside though, I was just peeking through the windows to see what was going on. Renee
We have really, really, really small tornados in the provinces Limburg and Noord-Brabant. On rare occasions though 😀
First time I heard it I was looking up in the sky for the Luftwaffe. Only time I ever heard that sound was from air raid sirens from WW2 movies. Yikes!
Just heard it earlier today in the main square in Amsterdam after the effects of some mushrooms we had taken earlier had just fully kicked in. We were petrified and lost, definitely very lost. Despite being in the main square.
Hope you have now found your way Nick and Elle! Renee
First time I heard it I thought it was a sunamy warning… In such case going home would not be a good idea.. My home is 4m below sea level :’D
But what exactly are they for ? Floods wind or war ? OK go inside an listen for reports. But what happens if there is a power failure? Do they have bomb shelters? Do they have evacuation signs for higher ground which is above Sea level?
Yes we do if you hear a syren it means you should listen to a battery powered radio. It’s all on the pictures before the recommended section
Thank you for this. It was very scary to hear my first one!