Protecting critical infrastructure

Without electricity, drinking water, food or money, society would shut down. So public bodies, business enterprises, and emergency and intelligence services are cooperating closely to better protect these essential goods, services and processes. 

Bodies mentioned above are working among others to;

  • increase knowledge about how critical sectors are interdependent: energy, for example, is indispensable for the food supply;
  • improve protection against theft or sabotage: the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV), the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and the police provide training in how to identify suspicious behaviour at an early stage; see http://www.nederlandtegenterrorisme.nl/bedrijven/e-learning-zeker-van-je-zaak.html;
  • prepare for a flu pandemic: continuity plans help critical sectors continue operating;
  • cooperate more closely with current sectors and the police and safety regions.

The policy letter Protecting Critical Infrastructure (2005) and the third progress letter on National Security (2010) include analyses of the quality of protection of critical infrastructure.

Critical infrastructure includes the business enterprises and public bodies that provide the goods and services essential for the day-to-day lives of most people in the Netherlands. Critical infrastructure is divided into 12 critical sectors, with a total of 31 essential goods and services:

  • energy: electricity, natural gas and oil;
  • telecommunications and ICT: land-line and mobile telephony, radio, broadcasting and the internet;
  • drinking water: the water supply;
  • food: the food supply (including in supermarkets) and food safety;
  • health: emergency and hospital care, medicines, vaccines;
  • financial sector: payments and money transfers by public bodies;
  • surface water management: water quality and quantity (control and management);
  • public order and safety;
  • legal order: the courts and prisons; law enforcement;
  • public administration: diplomacy, public information, the armed forces, decision-making;
  • transport: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the port of Rotterdam, highways, waterways, railways;
  • the chemical and nuclear industries: the transport, storage, production and processing of materials.

A list of critical goods, services, sectors and the ministries responsible for them can be found in a factsheet. A detailed description of the critical sectors has been drawn up by the Critical Infrastructure Strategic Consultative Body, whose members represent both the public and business sectors.

Responsible ministry