The Netherlands is preparing citizens for Russia's attack on NATO. “There is no time to lose”

Dutch municipalities intensified preparations for possible crises, including Russia's attack on NATO or long -term current failure. The Association of the Municipalities of the Netherlands (VNG) calls for creating emergency plans – collecting food supplies or organizing support points for residents.

VNG recommends preparing food and drinking water, power generators and batteries, as well as plans to strengthen roads, bridges and flood embankments. Particular attention is paid to the organization of “Noodsteunpunten” – local support points to which residents could go in the event of a disaster. They can be sports halls or social centers equipped with appropriate infrastructure.

“There is no time to lose,” believes Ton Heerts, Mayor of the City of Apeldoorn and a member of the VNG board. In his opinion, preparations must include not only infrastructure, but also exercises are necessary. “We need to know what will happen when there is a lack of electricity, how long the battery radio works, who is responsible for sanitary facilities or organization of burials” Heerts said.

According to VNG, municipalities are part of a wider strategy for strengthening the state's resistance. The government admits that the prospect of the Netherlands's direct involvement in a serious international conflict is real. Added to this is the growing risk of natural and infrastructure disasters.

Examples of recent years show that even on a smaller scale, the lack of preparation leads to chaos. In 2024, in Apeldoorn, in the Central Netherlands, water contamination caused panic and mass purchase of products. In turn, the heat of the heaths around the city of EDE, in the east of the country, exposed the limited possibilities of the fire brigade.

In addition to local governments, other entities are also involved in preparation. The army conducts talks with carriers about the protection of transport, and the supermarkets – together with the government – develop a food distribution plan during the crisis. At the same time, the number of households supplying the so -called Crisis packages, although there are still too few – according to the authorities.

Even before the holidays, the government was to present a report on the state of preparation, but the document will not be published only in autumn. Meanwhile, VNG calls for speeding up, emphasizing that providing basic needs such as food, water and energy is a fundamental matter. “It's not a matter of choice but survival,” said the mayor of Heerts.

From Amsterdam Patryk Kulpok (PAP)

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