We can all face an emergency situation. That is why outgoing Minister Van Oosten (JenV), on behalf of the cabinet, presented the information booklet Prepare for an emergency. As part of the Think Ahead campaign, over 8.5 million households will receive the booklet between November 25 and January 10, 2026. With practical tips and examples, the booklet helps ensure people can manage the first 72 hours of an emergency. The booklet is published by the NCTV. The information was collected by the NCTV in cooperation with other governments and organizations in the Netherlands.
An emergency is an unexpected event that disrupts daily life. Think of a major power outage, digital attack, or flooding due to heavy rain. In an emergency, things suddenly dont work as usual. For example, there may be no electricity, no water from the tap, or no internet.
Prepare for the first 72 hours
An emergency often comes unexpectedly and can take a long time to resolve. We saw this earlier this year during a major power outage in Spain and Portugal. In supermarkets, people immediately started hoarding. “This situation shows how vulnerable we can be and how important good preparation is, so you dont have to panic or hoard,” says outgoing Minister Van Oosten of Justice and Security. “I urge everyone: think ahead. With this information booklet, we want to ensure all Dutch people can prepare well for an emergency. Know what to do, where to go, how to get information. Use this brochure to prepare and keep it in a handy place at home for when its ever needed.”
The booklet is part of the multi-year Think Ahead campaign, which helps people prepare as well as possible for 72 hours without water, electricity, or internet. Because during the first 72 hours of an emergency, the government and emergency services are at the places where they are most needed. They do this to quickly get the crisis under control and bring people to safety. They cannot be everywhere at once. Therefore, most people are on their own for the first 72 hours. The booklet helps people prepare. It focuses on the following three steps.
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Step 1: Assemble an emergency kit
With an emergency kit, you are well prepared to endure the first 72 hours of an emergency at home. Assembling an emergency kit is easier than you think. You may already have some items at home: candles, non-perishable food, a flashlight with batteries, a power bank, a small first aid kit, or a blanket. But is it enough for 72 hours? Look carefully at your own situation and what extra you need: think of baby food, medicines, or food for your pet. With the list in the booklet, you can easily assemble an emergency kit. Cant gather an emergency kit alone? Then you can also assemble one together with family, neighbors, or people in your area.
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Step 2: Make an emergency plan
An emergency is hard to predict. That is why it is good to have thought in advance about what to do in an emergency. This can be done with an emergency plan. It contains clear agreements with the people around you about what you will do. For example, how to reach each other, where to meet, who picks up the children from school, and who needs extra help. The booklet includes a separate card on which you can fill in the agreements from your emergency plan. It also contains an example of what you can do if you are without electricity for 72 hours.
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Step 3: Talk to each other and help each other
People can feel uncertain or worried about the thought of an emergency. Or someone may need help preparing. By talking to each other, you hear how others deal with it and can help each other. Maybe someone hasnt thought about what to do yet and you help them get started. Or maybe you dont know where to begin and it helps if someone thinks along with you. The booklet contains questions you can use to start conversations with others. Such as what have you prepared for? Do you need help? And what worries you?
The information booklet prepares you for an emergency
The information booklet Prepare for an emergency can be found on the website at www.denkvooruit.nl/informatieboekje. If you have questions about the content of the booklet, please visit www.denkvooruit.nl/vraag-en-antwoord.
