Published: January 27, 2026
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Netherlands Travel Advisory and Netherlands International Travel Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy in The Hague
John Adams Park 1
2244 BZ Wassenaar
+ 31 70 310-2209
Emergencies: + 31 (0) 70 310-2209 and 3. Hours. Monday to Friday 8:15 AM–5 PM
U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam
Museumplein 19, 1071
DJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
+ (31)(0) 70 310-2209
Emergencies: + 31 (0) 70 310-2209 and 3. Hours. Monday to Friday 8 AM–4 PM
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
The Netherlands hosts the oldest continuously active OSAC chapter in the world. For more information, contact TheHagueOSAC@state.gov.
Contact OSAC’s Europe team with any questions.
Netherlands Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise increased caution in the Netherlands due to terrorism.
Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed The Hague and Amsterdam as being LOW-threat locations for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Netherlands.
The crime emergency line in Netherlands is 112. Review the U.S. Department of State’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.
Crime: General Threat
While the rate of violent crime in the Netherlands is low, tourists are often targeted by pickpockets, bag snatchers, and other petty thieves that are active in and around train, tram, and metro stations in city centers and aboard public transportation, especially to and from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) and neighboring countries.
Statistics Netherlands’ (CBS) Safety Monitor report concluded that traditional crime, such as violence, theft and burglary, and vandalism, has increased year-over-year since 2023. In 2024, 20% of people over the age of 15 reported being the victim of crime, up from 17% in 2023. The number of crimes registered by the police also increased from 2023, returning to levels not registered since before the pandemic. In Amsterdam, the police registered 61,000 cases of theft and burglary, violence, or vandalism in 2023, the highest in the country. Violent crimes against U.S. nationals are infrequent.
Visitors and temporary residents of the major cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Utrecht are vulnerable to targeting due to their unfamiliarity with their surroundings and the tactics of local criminals. Thieves often work in pairs: one distracts you, often by asking for directions, while the other moves in on your unguarded property. City centers and commonly visited areas are generally safe, but visitors should remain vigilant. Use your hotel safe and keep baggage locked or secured when you are away. Avoid leaving valuables in automobiles, especially electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets, GPS devices, and mobile phones. Never leave your personal items or baggage unattended, including on trains, trams, or other public transportation.
Most residential crimes involve surveillance of a targeted residence with eventual entry when the residence is unoccupied. Access is often attempted through second-floor windows/balconies. Most thieves target small, easy-to-carry valuables, while more sophisticated thieves aim for higher-end goods including vehicles – mainly, expensive European vehicles, which are usually targets for their navigation systems and/or airbags. Valuables left in plain view in any vehicle are an attractive target for petty criminals. Criminals can manipulate wireless key systems with sophisticated readers for opening and stealing vehicles.
Crime: Areas of Concern
The U.S. Embassy does not have any off-limits areas for its personnel due to the crime threat, but visitors and tourists are advised to exercise extra caution in the areas around Red Light Districts, Dam Square in Amsterdam, and near coffee shops. These areas experience an elevated rate of muggings, phone thefts, and gang-related crimes. Perpetrators use different tactics to steal in these areas, ranging from distraction thefts to violence.
Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, Taking Credit, and Our Two Cents: Petty Crime Basics and How to Minimize the Risk.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Netherlands.
Netherlands experiences a relatively low rate of kidnappings but has frequent issues with international child abductions cases where one parent takes a child into a neighboring country. Netherlands is taking steps to address these cases and the rates dropped 14.5% from 2023 to 2024.
Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed The Hague and Amsterdam as being a MEDIUM-threat locations for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Netherlands, indicating that terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist.
Terrorism continues to be a considerable concern in the Netherlands. The Government of the Netherlands assesses the threat to be substantial (Level 4 of 5) on its national threat level, indicating there is a realistic possibility that an attack will place in the Netherlands. The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) publishes the Terrorist Threat Assessment Netherlands (DTN) twice a year, and includes a general assessment of radicalization, extremism, and the national and international terrorist threat to the Netherlands and Dutch interests abroad. NCTV announced in June 2024 that the terrorist threat has increased due to factors stemming from the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, recent public desecrations of the Quran in Europe, and the threat posed from jihadist networks. NCTV had previously raised the threat level from Level 3 to 4 in December 2023.
NCTV assesses that the primary threat to the Netherlands is from Islamist extremism, with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and desecrations of the Quran in Europe mobilizing supporters to violence. In January 2024, there was extensive coverage of an attempted Quran burning in Arnhem, which the Dutch assessed highlighted the Netherlands as a target for ISIS and al-Qa’ida. In addition to lone actors who are radicalized online, terrorist networks with a presence in Europe continue to pose a threat to the Netherlands. Some of these networks operate autonomously, while others have contacts with ISIS groups, such as ISIS-Khorasan.
The Dutch government is vigilant for radical Islamist groups and their surrogates, who have demonstrated continued intent and aspiration to operate on Dutch soil. The last terrorist attack in the Netherlands was in March 2019, when an attacker inspired by a terrorist group killed four passengers in a shooting on a tram in the city of Utrecht. Prior to that, a terrorist attack at Amsterdam’s Central Station in August 2018 resulted in two injured U.S. nationals. The attacker was mobilized to violence after a cartoon competition of the Prophet Mohammad was organized.
The Dutch government is also concerned with the rise of right-wing terrorism becoming less predictable and harder to detect, due to ideological blurring, fragmentation of online groups, and efforts by those involved to hide their identities. Though these groups are still limited in size, they can have a large online presence, and Dutch security services are concerned that wider acceptance of their ideas could lead to an increase in violence against the government, minorities, and political opponents. A member of the right-wing youth group Geuzenbond was arrested in 2025 for allegedly planning a terrorist attack and possession of firearms. While the terrorism charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence, the arrest prompted concern over the rise of Geuzenbond and the popularity of the terrorist group in the Netherlands.
The Dutch National Counterterrorism Strategy, which covers 2022-2026, gives priority to detecting and combating “violent extremist and terrorist content” online and gives attention to ensuring the safe reintegration of individuals to society after detention. The strategy highlights the detection of terrorist travel movements, through improvement in interoperability between border and detection systems such as the Schengen Information System and the European Travel Information and Authorization System. It also highlights further development and strengthening of the Netherlands’ Passenger Information Unit, which requires airline companies to provide passenger information for the purposes of combatting serious crime and terrorism.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed The Hague and Amsterdam as being LOW-threat locations for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Netherlands. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Netherlands is considered among the most politically stable countries in the world, although it has experienced a recent uptick in political division led by the Dutch population’s perception of a high cost of living, environmental issues, and a failure to manage the asylum system.
The latest parliamentary elections took place in October 2025, after the government collapsed following an asylum policy disagreement between governing coalition parties. The progressive party Democrats 66 (D66) won the largest share of seats but will need to form a coalition to govern. Negotiations were ongoing as of the date of this report’s publication.
Protests & Demonstrations
The Netherlands boasts a very high level of democratic engagement, and with it, equally high levels of protest and demonstration activity. Protests are typically announced in advance; organizers generally obtain all required permits and make proper notifications with the authorities. Most protests are peaceful, although occasional violence and property damage occurs.
Demonstrations can take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events. Amsterdam temporarily banned protests in November 2024 following violence stemming from a soccer match between Dutch and Israeli teams. Dutch authorities detained protesters who demonstrated despite the ban. There were reports of police violence against protestors.
There were several large-scale protests in the Netherlands in 2025. One September anti-immigration protest in Amsterdam turned violent when protestors began to throw rocks and bottles at police and damaged buildings associated with the D66 party. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons. There were four demonstration alerts released by the U.S. Embassy in 2025. Review alerts on the U.S. Embassy website.
Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Demonstrations at or near the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate General have occurred. Protest topics have included economic policy, U.S. military action in Venezuela, U.S. support for Israel, and unrest in Iran. These protests have remained peaceful and have not directly targeted U.S. travelers, government employees, or U.S. organizations.
Law Enforcement
The emergency line in the Netherlands is 112. Operators answer in Dutch, but most speak English. The telephone number for non-emergencies or police assistance is 0900-8844. For local first responders, refer to the Embassy’s Emergency Assistance page.
The national police maintain internal security in the Netherlands and report to the Ministry of Justice and Security, which oversees law enforcement organizations. The kingdom’s armed forces report to the Defense Ministry and are responsible for external security, but also have some domestic security responsibilities. The military police (Marechaussee) is responsible for border control. Civilian authorities maintain effective control over the security forces. Members of the security forces have committed few abuses.
The Dutch national police force operates as a unified organization with ten regional units, a central national unit, and a police service center. The headquarters for the national police is located in The Hague. In the event of a crisis, fire brigades and ambulance services work together as well as with other government services.
The ten regional units perform all operational police tasks, except tasks that require special expertise and tasks that can be performed more effectively nationally. These tasks fall under the National Unit. Regional Units consists of Districts, while Districts in turn consists of Basic Teams.
The National Unit consists of a National Operational Center (DLOC), National Investigation (DLR), National Information Organization (DLIO), National Operational Cooperation (DLOS), Diplomatic Police, Special Interventions Service (DSI), and a National Unit Operations Service (DBV LE).
The DLIO includes the Special Witnesses Team (TSG), the National Intelligence Team (TNI) and the National Information Service (WIW).
The Diplomatic Police is divided into two branches:
- Protection and Security Department (ABB). This unit is responsible for providing security for international institutions in The Hague, including embassies.
- Royal and Diplomatic Security Service (DKDB). This unit protects persons against whom there is a possible threat. The royal unit protects the members of the Royal House and their guests. The diplomatic unit takes care of heads of state, government leaders and diplomats, but also witnesses in court cases, lawyers, journalists, and columnists.
Police Response
Police response and capabilities are comparable to other Western European countries. Dutch police are professional and have low tolerance for corruption. Smaller police stations close to the public during evening hours. The police strive to arrive on the scene of an emergency within 15 minutes for at least 90% of calls. Generally, police will not respond to traffic accidents unless there are injuries or a crime reported, such as a hit-and-run or driving under the influence.
Victims can file a police report at any police station in Dutch. In most cases, police request that victims file reports online.
As in all major cities in The Netherlands, the Haaglanden police force has limited personnel resources; only four police stations in the region remain open to the public on a 24/7 basis. These police stations are located on Jan Hendrikstraat (City Center), Zuiderparklaan (South of The Hague), and in nearby towns of Zoetermeer and Delft. For routine matters such as filing police reports, you must make an appointment.
Transportation Security
Road Safety
The Netherlands ranks among the safest countries in the world in terms of deaths per vehicle-distance driven as well as overall motor vehicle deaths per year. However, it experiences a relatively high rate of non-lethal road injuries, with cyclists accounting for roughly half of those seriously injured.
Driving in major cities, including Amsterdam and The Hague, can be a challenge for visitors and new residents due to the vast number of cyclists and the extensive tram networks that run throughout these cities. Additionally, city centers include environmental zones that apply to older vehicle models and mopeds. A valid driver’s license issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles in the United States is valid for use in the Netherlands while in tourist or visitor status.
The Netherlands has strict laws regarding drinking and driving, allowing a maximum blood-alcohol content of 0.05 percent, or 0.02 percent for those who have had a driver’s license for less than five years. Anyone convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol twice within 5 years must surrender their license. The same applies to driving under the influence of drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs. Police also have the authority to confiscate a vehicle if the driver is driving at excessive speeds or while over the alcohol limit. It is also illegal to ride a bicycle when over these limits.
Authorities enforce speed limits strictly via radar and through a nationwide network of traffic cameras/radar units. The default speed limits in the Netherlands are 50 km/hr (31 mph) inside built-up areas (with 30 km/hr zones in smaller residential areas), 80 km/hr (50 mph) outside built-up areas, 100 km/hr (62 mph) on expressways (autowegen), and 100 km/hr from 0600 to 1900 and 130 km/h from 1900 to 0600 on motorways (autosnelwegen). On some sections of the motorway, speed is measured and averaged over a longer stretch of road. These areas are usually indicated by boards that say Trajectcontrole or by extended stretches with a lower speed limit (often 80 km/hr) than is normally allowed on the motorway.
Exceeding the maximum speed by more 30 km falls under criminal law. It is possible to receive a ticket for driving even 2-5 km/h over the speed limit. Police use fixed and mobile radar systems and fully automated highway distance tracking controls. Police can use automated camera systems to check on driver cell phone use. The driver can receive a ticket simply for holding a cell phone while driving; this also applies to cyclists. In areas where road construction is taking place, the maximum speed limit is generally 70km/hr. Police randomly monitor vehicular speeds in these areas to reduce the threat of serious accidents involving road workers. Drivers should obey the electronic road signs with a red X often seen above certain lanes indicating that the lane is closed for all traffic. During rush hours, the shoulder lane on highways is open for use when the green arrow sign is lighted.
Cycling is a common mode of transport in the Netherlands, with 36% of Dutch people listing the bicycle as their most frequent way of getting around on a typical day, as opposed to the car (45%) and public transportation. In the Dutch traffic law, bicyclists are an important category and have certain benefits over other road users. There are some special regulations that are different from those for motor traffic and may be quite different from those in other countries. Right-of-way rules do not distinguish between slow traffic (e.g., bicycles, mopeds) and fast traffic (e.g., motorcycles, cars, trucks). Drivers must yield the right-of-way to vehicles and bicyclists coming from the right at intersections or traffic circles unless otherwise posted. Cyclists should wear helmets. Helmets are mandatory for those on motorcycles and scooters that can go 20/km per hour or more. This requirement also applies to high-speed E-bikes.
If a driver has committed a minor traffic offence in the Netherlands, the Ministry of Justice and Security will send them a letter with a letter M in the top right-hand corner about the type of offence and the fine. The fine should be paid within eight weeks. Two reminders will be sent. The amount of the fine in the second reminder will be three times the original amount.
Amsterdam has banned the use of scooters and mopeds on bike paths. The new traffic rules stipulate that all scooter users, including those riding slower vehicles with blue license plates, will have to wear a helmet and drive on the street.
Pedestrians should not walk along bicycle paths, which are often adjacent to the sidewalk and usually designated by red pavement. Cyclists and pedestrians should be particularly cautious during the winter months, when paths, roads, and especially bridges can be icy and extremely slippery. Accidents involving cyclists and vehicles, or bicycles alone, are common and can result in serious injury.
Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.
Public Transportation Safety
Rail is often a convenient alternative to driving, particularly in areas around Amsterdam, the Hague, and Rotterdam, where road congestion is frequent. Rail network information is available at http://www.ns.nl/en. It is relatively safe to travel by rail from city to city, compared to some other European countries but be aware of pickpockets. Taxi service in the Netherlands is safe but expensive. Trams and buses are both convenient and economical but are often frequented by pickpockets.
Nearly all public transportation stations and lines are equipped with CCTV monitoring, there is a larger staff presence on lines and times that have been identified as higher risk, and police and transit operators are well-equipped to enforce rules against nuisance passengers.
Overall, public transportation in Netherlands is very safe. Pickpocketing and phone thefts are the most likely risks; violent crimes are more rare. Nonetheless, all riders should exercise caution and maintain awareness of their surroundings while using public transportation.
Aviation Concerns
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of the Netherlands’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of the Netherland’s air carrier operations.
The Netherlands plays an active role in international aviation safety organizations, including the ICAO and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Since flight MH17 crashed in 2015, more attention has been paid to the risks of flying over conflict areas. Through the Aviation Incidents Analysis Bureau (ABL) and the Dutch Safety Board, Netherlands has a robust system to ensure flights to and from its airports are operating at the highest international standards for aviation safety and investigate any incidents that may arise.
Review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.
Maritime Security
The Dutch government and maritime sector work together on areas of safety, sustainability, accessibility, and security. Dutch ports, including the Port of Rotterdam, play a significant economic role both in the Netherlands and the European Union. Because of good connections to waterways, rail, and roads, Dutch ports receive an outsized portion of sea freight bound for Europe. Their major role in the economy also brings with it heightened needs for strong security and screenings of goods.
The largest security concern in the maritime sector is drug trafficking into Dutch ports. Dozens of tons of drugs are seized every year at the Port of Rotterdam. The large volume of drugs entering through the ports is tied to organized crime and has raised security concerns due to the corruption and threats tied to organized crime. Heightened enforcement measures in Rotterdam have pushed drug traffickers to other ports, and as a result drug interdiction in the Netherlands has decreased this year to 16 metric tons as of October 2024, down from 28 metric ton in 2023. While drugs are the primary maritime security concern, organized crime networks have also engaged in weapons trafficking and the movement of other contraband.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in the Netherlands, review the local laws and circumstances on the U.S. Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Netherlands.
Civilian authorities maintain effective control over security forces. The constitution and law prohibit torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. The law provides for an independent judiciary and the government generally respects judicial independence and impartiality. The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial throughout the country, and an independent judiciary generally enforces this right.
A prosecutor or senior police officer must order the arrest of any person, unless the person is apprehended at the site of an alleged crime. Arrested persons have the right to appear, usually within a day, before a judge. Authorities informed detainees promptly of charges against them. The law also allows persons to be detained on a court order pending investigation.
There is no bail system. Detainees can request to be released claiming there are no grounds to detain them. Authorities frequently grant such requests. The law provides suspects the right to consult an attorney. The Netherlands’ law grants all criminal suspects the right to have their lawyers present at police interrogation.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials. There are isolated reports of corruption which the government identified, investigated, prosecuted, and punished officials who commit abuses.
Health Concerns
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Health “H” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Netherlands. Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) country-specific Travel Health Notices for current health issues that impact traveler health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters.
Modern medical services and facilities are widely available, albeit with extended timelines to see medical practitioners for routine appointments. For emergency medical treatment (categorized as a loss of life, limb, or eyesight), call 112 from a cell phone or landline. For urgent medical care (e.g., broken bone, stitches, high fever, etc.) seek assistance from a hospital. Hospitals are staffed and equipped to deal with emergencies.
For non-emergency medical assistance, consult a general practitioner (huisarts) before attempting to obtain non-emergency medical treatment from a specialist. Medical specialists will generally only see patients referred to them by a huisarts. If staying in a hotel, the reception desk will direct you to the doctor assigned to that hotel. If staying with friends/family, contact their huisarts.
The national poison hotline is +31 (0) 30-274-8888.
The Hague area has its own after-hours medical service (SMASH) available for non-emergency medical situations. Make SMASH medical appointments by calling +31 (0) 70-346-9669. Schiphol Airport (AMS) has its own 24-hour medical services office, located on the upper floor near check-in counter 16 of Terminal 2; call +31 (0) 20-649-2566. The huisarts phone number for Amsterdam is +31 (0) 88-003-0600 and for Rotterdam is +31 (0) 90-513-8039; each provides equivalent after-hour urgent care as SMASH. Pharmacies (apotheek) are widely available and can assist with emergency prescription needs. Some common medications are not available in the Netherlands without a prescription.
Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Review the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on health insurance overseas.
See OSAC’s Guide to U.S. Government-Assisted Evacuations; review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad; and visit the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on Your Health Abroad for more information.
Vaccinations
Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Review the CDC Travelers’ Health site for country-specific vaccine recommendations.
Issues Traveling with Medications
If you are traveling to a Schengen country with medicines that fall under the Opium Act, you will need a Schengen certificate. The certificate, which must be signed by your doctor, states that the medicine is required for your own medical use. The Schengen certificate is valid for 30 days. If you are going away for more than 30 days, you must have multiple, successive Schengen certificates. A Schengen certificate is valid for travel in up to four Schengen countries.
The certificate is then checked and declared legally valid by the Central Administrative Office (CAK). If you take any of these medicines with you without going through the necessary procedures, you may be in violation of local law and risk a severe penalty. Examples of medicines that fall under the Opium Act are:
- strong painkillers;
- sleeping pills and drugs to reduce anxiety, such as Valium or Seresta;
- medication for ADHD, such as Ritalin or Concerta;
- medicinal cannabis.
Ask your pharmacist if your medicine falls under the Opium Act, or consult lists I and II of the Opium Act yourself. These only list the active ingredients, or international non-proprietary name (INN).
If you are going to be passing through Schengen countries to a destination outside the Schengen area, you will only need a medical certificate, written in English. The medical certificate is also valid in the Schengen countries.
When you are traveling, it can be useful to have a medication passport stating what medicines you use and other key medical information such as drug allergies. This is useful information if you need new medicines or visit a doctor abroad. However, the medication passport is not a travel document. It does not replace the Schengen certificate or the legalized, English-language medical certificate.
You can get a medication passport from your family doctor, pharmacy, consultant, or other medical service provider. Medication passports are also provided by patients’ associations. The medication passport is sometimes referred to as the European Medical Passport.
Keep your medicines in their original packaging. This makes it clear to foreign officials that the drugs are medicines, not illegal drugs.
Review OSAC’s report, Traveling with Medication.
Water Quality
Drinking water in the Netherlands meets international standards for health and contamination. It is clean and safe to drink. Public water systems undertake constant testing and monitoring of drinking water to ensure that tap water continues to meet safety standards. Drinking water in the Netherlands almost always meets the quality standards set in the Drinking Water Decree.
In rare cases, water utilities determine that the drinking water contains a larger amount of a substance than is permitted. This is called an exceeding of the norm. Exceeding a standard does not pose a direct danger to public health and steps are taken to resolve the problem.
Review OSAC’s report, I’m Drinking What in My Water?
Natural Disasters
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Natural Disaster “N” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Netherlands.
The Netherlands does not experience natural disasters with marked frequency. However, the government does warn the public about extreme weather changes like heavy rainfall causing flooding, infrequent wildfires, and mild earthquakes.
Review OSAC’s report, Earthquake Preparedness Toolkit.
Cybersecurity
The 2025 Cybersecurity Assessment Netherlands assesses that cyber threats primarily originate from state and criminal actors, with state actors intensifying their activities and expanding their capabilities. In contrast, criminal actors carry out large-scale attacks and act opportunistically. In the July and August of 2024, two large-scale outage incidents occurred due to a software issue, and affected hospital care, aviation, and government services in the country.
The Dutch government views cybercrime in all forms as a serious threat to national security and public safety. The government is committed to preventing disruptive attacks and enhancing digital resiliency. As part of this effort, the Dutch government operates the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) within its Ministry of Justice and Security. The NCSC is charged with forming public-private partnerships to identify threats, mitigate risks, and counter criminal activities in the cyber sector.
Nonetheless, several major cybersecurity incidents occurred in the Netherlands in recent years. Dutch intelligence services alleged that Russia conducted a cyber-attack on an unnamed public facility in 2024 amidst a pattern of escalating cyber and hybrid attacks on the country. Dutch national police have deemed it “very likely” that a state-sponsored threat actor was behind a large-scale data breach discovered in September 2024, where unidentified hackers stole “work-related contact details,” from some of the agency’s 65,000 officers. June 2024, as EU vote kicks off, pro-Russian hacker group called HackNeT claims responsibility for cyberattacks on Dutch party websites. In January 2024, hackers carried out cyberattacks on Dutch telecom and media companies to target the personal data of specific groups of Dutch nationals. According to the Dutch DPA, there were at least 178 ransomware attacks in the Netherlands in 2023, though the number of victims of attacks is probably much larger.
Europol is headquartered in The Hague and hosts the European Cyber Crime Center (EC3), which serves as the European information hub on cybercrime. The EC3 develops digital forensic capabilities to support investigations in the EU and builds capacity to combat cybercrime through training, raising awareness, and delivering best practices for investigations. In addition, the EC3 has built a community of experts from all sectors of society to combat and prevent cybercrime and online child sexual abuse.
In the Netherlands, one out of every ten internet users were victims of an online crime in 2023. Victims of internet fraud are offered the opportunity to check information regarding suspicious websites and to report their experience to a special fraud information desk.
Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling Abroad with Mobile Devices, and Guide for Overseas Satellite Phone Usage.
Counterintelligence Issues
The Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) in 2023 uncovered Russian intelligence service attempts to access the supply industry information systems of the Dutch Ministry of Defense. Russian intelligence services continue to be interested in the Dutch defense industry, information relating to the international organizations based in the Netherlands (e.g., NATO, the International Criminal Court), and the Dutch high-tech sector. It also warned that Russia had a role in inciting demonstrations in the Netherlands against Western support for Ukraine. AIVD also warned that China has tried to get a hold of Dutch technological and trade secrets that could help it develop its own knowledge of the industry.
Reports indicate that both governmental organizations and private businesses should be aware of foreign interest in the fields of technology, energy, maritime and life science and health. Attempts are aimed at obtaining specific technical information and business models by using specialized computer software and systems, or by direct contact with key personnel to gather and/or manipulate information. Dutch legislation dictates the reporting and monitoring of cyber security incidents vital to Dutch society fall under the jurisdiction of the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) of the Ministry of Justice & Security.
Import/Export Restrictions
The Ministry of Finance, through its Dutch Customs Service, oversees the orderly shipment of goods by private individuals and trading firms and ensures compliance of trade flows with EU and Dutch guidelines. The Customs Service website lists what goods are licensed, prohibited and otherwise restricted from crossing the border. Topics vary from parallel imports that skirt commercial import licenses, to straightforward prohibition of arms trade or the transport of opiates, to compliance with the EU guidelines for import and export of common products.
There are no restrictions on the import and use of satellite phones or other satellite devices in the Netherlands.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
