Dutch Justice and Security Minister David van Weel has recommended that all citizens prepare 72-hour emergency kits to help manage in situations where they may need to operate “without the central government” due to potential natural disasters, cyberattacks, or war.
The recommendation, issued on Wednesday, updates previous guidance, which suggested kits to last at least 48 hours.
The emergency kits should include essential items such as cash, canned food, water, and batteries. This advice has been in place for several years, but a recent Ipsos I&O study revealed that a quarter of the Dutch population now owns an emergency kit—an increase from just 15% in 2024. The rising numbers show that efforts by the Dutch government and the Red Cross to promote preparedness are having an impact. Only 17% of people surveyed said they didn’t see the need for an emergency kit, citing concerns such as safety, power outages, and floods.
Van Weel stressed the importance of further raising awareness, drawing a parallel to Cold War-era preparedness. “Back then we knew what to do the moment the air alarm would go off,” he told local newspaper De Telegraaf. He also noted that after the fall of the Berlin Wall, civil defense efforts were “dismantled,” leading to a decline in “the entire civilian resilience.”
