Police Information

Police: (www.politie.nl)
0900 8844 is the non-emergency number. You will be connected to your local police station. If your passport has been stolen, contact your embassy immediately for instructions as to what to do next. You generally need to make a statement at a police station to start any kind of official procedure (insurance, applying for a new passport etc.).
Amsterdam region (website also in English) www.politie-amsterdam-amstelland.nl

Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)

You are required to visit one of the IND Desks (www.ind.nl/): to apply for a temporary residence permit, to collect your residence document,to collect a residence sticker,to obtain information about residence in the Netherlands.

You can contact the IND by telephone if you have any general questions or questions with regard to your file. If you wish to make an enquiry regarding your file, please make sure that you have your file number or V-number to hand. 

The IND can be contacted by telephone on weekdays between 09.00 and 17:00 on 0900-1234561  (€ 0.10 per minute, plus any additional costs charged by your operator if you are calling from a mobile phone). If you are calling from a country other than the Netherlands, please dial +31 20 8893045.

Helplines

ACCESS: (www.access-nl.org)
Invaluable resource for all international residents.
Amsterdam: 020 423 3217
The Hague: 070 346 2525
You can also call 0900 2 222 377 at the local rate of 20c per minute

Alcoholics Anonymous:
(www.aa-netherlands.org)
National: 020 625 6057

Gay & Lesbian Switchboard: (www.switchboard.nl)
National: 020 623 6565

Kindertelefoon: (www.kindertelefoon.nl)
0800 0432

SOS 24-hour helpline: (www.sensoor.nl)
Staffed by Dutch volunteers but many speak English.
0900 0767

Gas and electricity emergencies

If you suspect a gas leak (gaslucht) or have a power problem (stroomstoring) the national line is 0800 9009 or, for serious emergencies posing a public threat, call 112. (www.gasenstroomstoringen.nl)

Water emergency

Contact your local gemeente for serious (sewage) issues. Otherwise search the yellow pages (gouden gids) for a loodgieter (plumber). Note: if the problem is in the length of pipe between the street and your house, this is the local water board's responsibility. For instance Water Net, which serves the City of Amsterdam and much of the provinces of Utrecht and Noord-Holland, can be reached on working days between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm on 0900 93 94. However, this is difficult to spot when water is spouting out and threatening to flood your house! The plumber may simply come and charge you EUR 60 (around) for telling you to call Water Net as this isn't the part of the pipe the individual householder is responsible for.

Lost and stolen
American Express 020 504 8666;
Diners Club 020 557 3407;
VISA 0800 022 3110;
MasterCard/EuroCard 0800 022 5821

Lost property Schiphol: 0900 0141

Lost & Found GVB (bus and tram) click here to access an online form to fill in with your details and description of lost property.
Lost & Found NS (train) click here to access an online form to fill in with your details and description of lost property.

Amsterdam and surrounding region
General lost & Found Department (Mon-Fri 12:00 am-4:00 pm): +31 (0)20 - 251 02 22.    This depot receives lost and found property brought into the police. They hold it for six weeks.

Services and utilities

For cities, or companies, not listed, look in the telephone book under the name of your power company. 24-hour emergency numbers are listed under the heading Spoeddienst (quick service), Calamiteiten (calamities), or Storingen (problems). If a pubic danger or fire hazard, such as a major gas leak, call 112. 

Public Health

Amsterdam

(020) 555 5600 (Public Health Dept, GGD)

If no number is listed, call your local city hall (gemeente) or
borough/district council (stadsdeelkantoor).

Public transport

Information lines

National transport (local and city to city information)
0900 9292 (EUR 0.70p/m)
0900 555 9292 (EUR 0.70 pm) Text telephone
www.9292ov.nl (includes a travel planner, Dutch)

OV-chipkaart
0900 0980 (EUR 0.10 p/m)
www.ov-chipkaart.nl (English)

OV-fietspass
www.ov-fiets.nl (Dutch)

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (trains)
0900 9296 (EUR 0.35 p/m).
www.ns.nl  (English section)
030 235 7822 (to book assistance 07.00 – 23.00)
030 235 3033 (fax for the hearing impaired)
OV-Begeleiderskaart (Carers Travel pass, you will be asked to enter your phone number after the beep, including area code)
0900 1462 (EUR 0.10 p/m)

Schiphol Airport
0900 72 44 7465 (EUR 0.40 p/m, general information)
0900 0141 for arrivals and departures (EUR 0.40 per minute)
www.schiphol.nl (English section)
020 316 1417 International Help to the Disabled

Schiphol Travel Taxi
020 653 1000

National Treintaxi
0900 8734682 (0.35 euro p.m.).

Valys (Regional Assisted transport)
0900 9630 (local rates)
(if you do not make a menu choice, you will be automatically connected to an operator)
www.valys.nl (Dutch)

Main taxi numbers

Amsterdam:    020 677 7777 (read our article on taxis in Amsterdam)
The Hague:    070 383 0830
Rotterdam:    010 462 6333
Utrecht:      030 230 0400
Het Gooi:     035 691 8888