NL-Alert

Updated on 8 November 2026

On Monday 7 December 2026, around 12:00, many phones in the Netherlands will sound a loud alarm at the same time. This is the national NL-Alert test. You do not need to do anything. This page explains what NL-Alert is, what to do in a real alert, and how to use the test day to check your emergency kit.

Some official pages below are in Dutch. Where an English version exists, we link to it.

What is NL-Alert?

NL-Alert is the Dutch public warning system (NL-Alert). It is used for situations such as a major fire, a terrorist attack or sudden severe weather, and never to promote or sell anything (NL-Alert, in Dutch).

How it works (NL-Alert; NL-Alert, in Dutch):

• The message is broadcast from phone masts to all phones in the area at risk. This is called cell broadcast. It keeps working when the mobile network is congested.
• The safety region decides which area receives the alert. The joint control room of police, fire service and ambulance sends it.
• You do not need to sign up or install an app. NL-Alert is free and anonymous: your phone number stays unknown.
• Your phone makes a loud, penetrating alarm sound and vibrates.

An NL-Alert also appears on digital signs at train, bus, tram and metro stops, and on a growing number of digital advertising screens (NL-Alert).

The national test on 7 December 2026

The government sends a test message twice a year, on the first Monday of June and of December (NL-Alert). The next test is on Monday 7 December 2026, around 12:00 (NL-Alert, in Dutch).

• The message starts with “NL-Alert” and the date, followed by “TESTBERICHT” (test message). It ends with an English line that includes “No action required” (NL-Alert).
• Some phones receive it twice, because it goes out on two channels: one for older phones and one for newer phones (NL-Alert).
• The warning sirens are also tested on the first Monday of every month at 12:00 (Rijksoverheid, in Dutch).

Did not get the test message?

Possible reasons (NL-Alert):

• your phone was off or in airplane mode;
• you briefly had no coverage;
• your phone was connected to a German or Belgian mast;
• your phone was on an old 2G or 3G network.

If your phone is on silent, the alarm does not sound. This differs by brand (NL-Alert, in Dutch). Almost all phones sold in the Netherlands receive NL-Alert. Do you have an older phone without a touchscreen? Search the menu for “Cell Broadcast” and subscribe to channel 919. If you do not receive NL-Alert, report it to the supplier of your phone (NL-Alert).

You can switch NL-Alert off on your phone. But then you will not get a warning in a real emergency near you either (NL-Alert).

The NL-Alert app is meant for people who live near the border and do not always receive NL-Alerts, and for people for whom an NL-Alert is not always clear (NL-Alert, in Dutch), such as deaf and hard-of-hearing people (Rijksoverheid, in Dutch).

What to do in a real NL-Alert

Read the message immediately, take action and help others (NL-Alert). The message tells you what is happening, what to do and where to find more information (NL-Alert).

• Do what it says. Sometimes the advice is to stay inside, sometimes to leave. Always follow the authorities’ instructions (Rijksoverheid). If you have to leave, see the Evacuation guide.
• Is the siren sounding too? Go inside as quickly as possible, close windows and doors and switch off mechanical ventilation. Turn on the radio and listen to the regional broadcaster (Rijksoverheid).
• Help others, for example neighbours who may not have seen the message.
• Got an alert but you are not near the emergency? Masts sometimes reach areas just outside the danger zone. Check your safety region’s website (NL-Alert).
• Want to read it again? Go to actueel.nl-alert.nl or look in the app, up to seven days back (NL-Alert).
• Questions? About a specific alert: contact your safety region or municipality. General questions: call Informatie Rijksoverheid on 1400 (NL-Alert).

In an emergency, central government usually communicates in Dutch and English (Denk vooruit).

Do not rely on one channel

NL-Alert only works when your phone is on and has coverage (NL-Alert). During a long outage of phone and internet networks, NL-Alert and the emergency channels on TV will probably not work. So also keep an emergency radio that runs on batteries or can be charged or wound up (Denk vooruit, in Dutch). Look up your regional broadcaster’s frequency now (Denk vooruit).

Test day = check your emergency kit

The government advises checking your emergency supplies every six months: is everything still there and still in date (Denk vooruit)? The NL-Alert test also comes twice a year, so use it as a reminder:

• Are your water and food still good? Replace tap water you bottled yourself every six months (Denk vooruit, in Dutch).
• Do your torch and radio still work, and do you have spare batteries?
• Is your power bank charged?
• Do you still have enough cash and medicines?

You do not need to buy an expensive ready-made kit. Build your own, mostly from things you already have (Denk vooruit). Check in the wizard what your household still needs, or see an example such as a family with 2 children.

Sources

• NL-Alert (English)
• NL-Alert: Testbericht (test message), in Dutch
• NL-Alert: Zo werkt NL-Alert (how it works), in Dutch
• NL-Alert: Vragen en antwoorden (Q&A), in Dutch
• NL-Alert: NL-Alert op jouw mobiel (on your phone), in Dutch
• NL-Alert: NL-Alert app, in Dutch
• Rijksoverheid: Wat moet ik doen bij een ramp?, in Dutch
• Rijksoverheid: Wat moet ik doen als de sirene gaat?, in Dutch
• Denk vooruit (English): Putting together an emergency kit
• Denk vooruit (English): Questions and answers
• Denk vooruit (English): Radio
• Denk vooruit: Uitval telecommunicatie (telecom outage), in Dutch
• Denk vooruit: Drinkwater, in Dutch