Can I also call 112 from abroad?
You can call 112 from any country in the European Union (EU), and a number of other countries as well.
Countries that use 112 as their emergency number
112 can be accessed from all 28 EU member states (only in Dutch) and in:
- Albania;
- Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Iceland;
- Kosovo;
- Liechtenstein;
- Moldova;
- Montenegro;
- North Macedonia;
- Norway;
- Serbia;
- Switzerland;
- Türkiye.
One emergency number for the whole of Europe
If you call 112 outside the Netherlands, the call is connected to the nearest emergency call centre. In the border region between the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, your call may end up in a different country than the one you are calling from. The operator can put you through to the German or Belgian emergency call centre. It should be noted that this only works for mobile telephones with a SIM card. Emergency call centres outside the Netherlands block ‘SIM-less’ calls.
In most countries of the EU you can speak with the local emergency call centre in English. French or German are widely understood as well. As in the Netherlands, this emergency number is toll free and can be reached from both landlines and mobiles.
Only when every second counts
The international emergency number is only intended for situations in which every second counts, such as a fire, a person having a heart attack or a car accident in which people are injured. You should also ring if you are witnessing a crime, so the police have a chance of catching the culprits in the act.
Other emergency numbers abroad
Other countries have emergency numbers in addition to 112 for situations that are not life-threatening. Make a point of finding out what emergency numbers are used in the country you are visiting and save them in your mobile phone.