Britain is on high alert since the car bombings at Glasgow Airport and in Central London. Is extra vigilance necessary in The Netherlands? How can you help and what can you do as a citizen to counter terrorism? Lesley Thomas writes.

The Netherlands has decided not to take extra measures since the attacks in London and Glasgow. According to Wim Kok, head of the Communications and Information Section NCTb: “We don’t see any connection with the events in the UK and what is happening here in the Netherlands. Why should we turn our airports into forts if there isn’t any cause for alarm at the moment? Together with the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) we remain alert at all times and continually exchange information. If our threat level goes up a level, we inform the public immediately.”

Although the National Terrorist Threat Assessment (DTN) level is set at “limited” (second threat level) at the moment and the Counterterrorism alert system is at the lowest or “standard” level – vigilance remains important.

The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism, NCTb, prepares threat analyses for DTN and for the Counterterrorism alert system. The first is a general assessment of the national and international terrorist threat to the Netherlands and Dutch interests abroad.  The other one, the Counterterrorism alert system, warns operational services and economic sectors in the event of a major threat. As opposed to other government and economic sectors, the Dutch airports’ threat level is never set below the low threat level.

What can you do?

As Expats residing in the Netherlands, you are probably wondering what the Dutch guidelines are. What are you supposed to do when faced with suspicious activities? Here are some of the suggestions by the NCTb:

• Pay extra attention in places where there a lot of people, such as metro and train stations, festivals, concerts and shopping centres.
• Check where the emergency exits or escape routes are in every building you enter.
• You might come across websites that incite hatred or violate the law in some other way. Report this at www.meldpuntcybercrime.nl. You call the police as well at 0900-8844 and if you want to remain anonymous call 0900-7000.
• Never leave your belongings unattended.

Some examples of suspicious behaviour are:

• An unattended case on a train or metro platform might raise your suspicion. The owner probably simply forgot it and there is nothing wrong. Nevertheless, you should alert a public transport employee or call the police immediately. In emergencies you can call 112.
• An unfamiliar delivery van parked in your street for two weeks might or might not be significant. If you are concerned, call the police.
• People who show excessive interest in a building’s security might be planning an attack. Contact the police in such cases.
• You might overhear people talking and think what they’re saying is suspicious. Notify the police.
• If you work in a shop and a customer buys a large quantity of items that you think could be used in an attack, such as fertilizer or hydrogen peroxide, call the police.

You will be happy to know that you can find an English language brochure (“What is being done to counter terrorism? And what can you do?”) on the website www.nederlandtegenterrorisme.nl (click on download publicaties en commercials and then brochures) and that the website of the NCTb (www.nctb.nl) is in English as well. For more information about DTN and the Counterterrorism alert system, please see the website www.nctb.nl.

20 July 2007

Lesley Thomas, writer and editor, is a regular contributor to Expatica.

[Copyright Expatica 2007]