Government launches new campaign urging people to prepare for emergencies
A new "Denk vooruit" campaign starting 12 October asks people to think beyond an emergency kit, as more than half of Dutch people worry about power, water or internet failing.
The national government and partners launched a new Denk vooruit ("Think ahead") campaign on 12 October 2026. It asks people to prepare for emergencies by answering practical questions, such as who looks after the children if bad weather stops you getting home.
The latest Risico- en Crisisbarometer (risk and crisis barometer) from the NCTV, published on the same day, shows that more than half of Dutch people worry about vital services such as electricity, water or internet failing. More than four in ten have taken action to be better prepared for 72 hours without them, for example by buying or assembling an emergency kit or making arrangements with family or neighbours.
The first campaign focused on assembling an emergency kit. This one centres on other matters: whether your power bank is charged in case of a nationwide outage, and who needs help if the lift does not work.
Never before have so many Dutch people prepared for risks and threats.Justice and Security Minister Van Weel
Van Weel said an emergency kit and arrangements are a good basis, but the campaign asks people to think further, about things they may not have considered. He gave withdrawing cash for emergencies and tuning an emergency radio to the right station as examples.
The campaign's three steps
- Put together an emergency kit.
- Make an emergency plan with your family or surroundings.
- Talk about it with family, neighbours, parents or children.
This week Denk vooruit travels through dozens of municipalities, where an activation team talks to passers-by. The campaign also runs on digital billboards, social media, radio and TV. More information is on www.denkvooruit.nl.
NCTV (Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid)
The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security is a Dutch government organisation that falls under the Ministry of Justice and Security. It coordinates national work on counterterrorism, national security and crisis preparedness, and it publishes the Risico- en Crisisbarometer, a survey of how worried people are about risks and how prepared they feel. In this article, the NCTV is the source of that survey, which shows how many people have taken steps to prepare for a crisis.