Over half of Dutch homes lack emergency kits
Research commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and Security found that more than half of Dutch households still do not keep an emergency kit at home, despite a national preparedness campaign. The finding was reported as part of an assessment of household readiness for civil contingencies (nltimes.nl).
More than half of households in the Netherlands still do not keep an emergency kit at home, even after a national preparedness campaign pushed people to get ready for 72 hours without basic services. (rijksoverheid.nl) The Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security said on April 13 that 44 percent of people now have an emergency kit, up from 35 percent before the “Denk vooruit” campaign began. The same research found the number of people with an emergency plan doubled, and nearly half now talk with housemates about what to do in a crisis. (rijksoverheid.nl) The government launched the multi-year campaign in November 2025 on television, radio and online. It told residents to prepare for a situation in which water, electricity or internet could fail for 72 hours. (rijksoverheid.nl) Dutch officials tied that message to climate change and geopolitical developments, saying both have increased the chance of a serious disruption. In December 2024, the government also said it was working to strengthen resilience against military and hybrid threats. (rijksoverheid.nl) (government.nl) An emergency kit is the basic set of supplies a household would need if normal services stopped. The Dutch government says most people already have many of the items at home and only need to gather them in one place. (government.nl) Government guidance says the kit should include bottled water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first aid kit, cash, copies of identity documents and a charged power bank. The Netherlands Red Cross says households should keep enough water and food for the first 72 hours after a disaster or emergency. (government.nl) (rodekruis.nl) The campaign also reached homes by mail. Justice and Security Minister Ingrid Coenradie’s ministry said in November that more than 8.5 million households would receive an information booklet between November 25, 2025 and January 10, 2026. (rijksoverheid.nl) Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that the new findings came from research among 1,026 people, with the follow-up analysis carried out after the campaign. The government said the campaign will continue in the coming years, with local and regional authorities helping to carry it out. (nos.nl) (nctv.nl)
