Central level

The Ministry of Justice and Security

is responsible for:

• Formulating civil security policy at the national level (Safety regions including the police, fire service and the emergency medical services implement policy at the local and regional level);
• Implementing national security policy;
• Overseeing proper functioning of the police, fire service and safety regions;
• Identifying crucial infrastructures that need police protection.

The Police consist of 10 regional units, the National Unity and the Police Service Centre. Force management is supported by its own staff (Staff Corps Leadership).

The National Unity tasks include:

• Monitoring, supporting and coordinating large-scale operations;
• Tackling serious and organized crime;
• Providing specialist support;
• Deploying rangers, search dogs and forensic expertise;
• Protecting members of the royal family or other important people;
• Supporting of the police task on highways, rail, water and air;
• Combating serious violence or terrorism.

The 10 regional units consist of a core team that performs the basic policing in a municipality, a part of a (large) municipality or multiple (smaller) municipalities. They provide reports of the emergency, provide prevention advice, handle traffic problems off, do simple detective work, and share information in their networks.

The Fire Service plays a coordinating role in emergency management and crisis management. They provide advice on the prevention of situations that entail a fire hazard. 

The Inspection Security and Justice supervise the police and the governing bodies in the field of police training, fire, medical emergency services and crisis management. 

 The National Cybersecurity Centre acts to increase the resilience of Dutch society in the digital domain and create a safe, open and stable information. 

 The Dutch Forensic Institute provide reliable forensic information to national and international organisations working for peace, justice and security.

​Responsible ministries/bodies

Inspection Security and Justice

Dutch Forensic Institute

National Cybersecurity Centre

Regional level

Regional authorities are responsible for:

• Providing assistance to the municipalities when big incidents take place;
• Working with the 10 safety regions;

If there are disturbances across multiple municipalities, the King's Commissioner may give instructions to the mayor and assist in the coordination of their actions.

Responsible ministries/bodies

Provinces
 

Local level

Local authorities are responsible for:

• Issuing of emergency ordinances (mayor of the municipality where the crisis occurred is ultimately responsible for the local crisis response, while the chair of the safety region (mayor of the largest city) is ultimately responsible when multiple municipalities are affected);
• Working with safety regions to develop and implement local civil protection policy.

The 25 Water Boards are responsible for flood protection.

Sources

Dutch Forensic Institute (NFI)

Government of the Netherlands, 2012, Flood Risk and Water Management in the Netherlands: a 2012 update

Inspection Security and Justice

Kuipers S. and Boin B, 2013, Country Study: The Netherlands, Utrecht University

Ministry of Justice and Security

National Cyber Security Centre

Politiewet 1993 and 2012

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