Netherlands
The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland) the main constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a member of the European Union since 1 January 1958. It is in Western Europe bordered by Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest, sharing maritime borders with Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
Country Information
- Amsterdam
- 41,526 km2
- 16.5 million
Law Enforcement Agencies
Dutch Police
The Netherlands has one national police force that is comprised of ten regional units, and one central unit tasked with specialised duties. The Netherlands Police has 65 000 employees; 51 000 police officers and 14 000 employees who fulfil other roles which support police work. On this page you can read what we stand for and see how you can recognise us.
Our motto
The police are always there, for a safer Netherlands.
The police protect democracy, enforce the law and are the authority on the streets.
Where necessary, the police lend a helping hand. In emergency situations, they take enforcement action. Where others take a step back, police officers take a step forward, if necessary with use of force, and if necessary at risk of their own lives.
The police actively work with citizens and partners. They are the eyes and ears of what is happening in society. The police are there for everyone.
The police serve with vigilance.
Our core values
- Courageous
- Reliable
- Unifying
- Honest
Contact Details
Phone
- 0900-8844
Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment's Information and Investigation Service (VROM-IOD)
The special investigation services perform the following tasks:
- maintaining the legal order in policy areas falling under a specific minister;
- maintaining the legal order, on request, in policy areas falling under a different minister;
- investigating criminal acts that come to light during performance of the first two tasks. The public prosecutor may also request that a special investigative service investigate other criminal acts.
Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie)
The Public Prosecution Service is responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal offences, and is the only body that may bring suspects before the criminal courts. The Service works closely with the police and other investigative services. Each investigation is led by a public prosecutor, as its representative. Not only does the Service have final responsibility for investigations, it also monitors the proper execution of court judgments. Like judges, public prosecutors are members of the judiciary.
Special Investigation Services (Bijzondere Opsporingsdiensten)
There are a number of special investigation services in the Netherlands, with specific responsibilities. These include:
- General Inspection Services Investigation Department (AID-DO);
- Fiscal Information and Investigation Service and Economic Investigation Service (FIOD-ECD);
- Social Security Information and Investigation Service (SIOD).
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee)
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee falls under the Minister of Justice (civil and military law enforcement duties), the Minister of the Interior (public order duties), and the Minister of Defence (specific military duties). The tasks of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee include:
- carrying out policing and security duties at Schiphol and other airports;
- providing assistance to the civil police forces in maintaining public order and enforcing criminal law, including assistance in combating cross-border crime;
- enforcing immigration legislation at the external borders of the Schengen area and carrying out mobile surveillance within the Netherlands;
- assisting with the reception of asylum-seekers and the deportation of undesirable aliens and asylum-seekers who have been turned down;
- guarding (the premises of) members of the Royal Family and the prime minister;
- carrying out policing duties for the Dutch armed forces, for foreign military personnel stationed in the Netherlands, and for international military headquarters;
- carrying out policing duties at sites under the control of the Ministry of Defence.
Contact Details
Phone
- +31 (0)77 465 67 67