How to file a police report in the Netherlands

You can file a police report (aangifte) in the Netherlands online with DigiD for some offences, such as theft, vandalism and internet fraud, or at a police station by appointment through 0900-8844 (+31 34 357 8844 from abroad). If someone is in danger or a crime is happening right now, always call 112.

The online forms are only available in Dutch and require DigiD, which in turn requires a Dutch citizen service number (BSN). Tourists and anyone who cannot use the Dutch forms therefore report at a police station. Below we explain which route fits your situation, what to bring, what happens after you report and what you can do if the police or the Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie, OM) take no action.

Is it an emergency, a crime report or a tip?

Call 112 when lives are at risk or a crime is in progress. For everything else, decide whether you want to file a formal crime report or only pass on information.

A crime report (aangifte) is a formal statement to the police that a criminal offence has been committed, usually by the victim. The police record it in an official report, which can serve as evidence and which insurers often require. Filing a report does not oblige the OM to prosecute, but it is usually the start of any investigation. Making a report that you know to be false is itself a criminal offence (Article 188 of the Dutch Criminal Code, Sr).

A notification or tip (melding) is information that the police can use but that does not start a formal case in your name, for example about suspicious behaviour in your street. If you want to share information about a crime without giving your name, you can call Meld Misdaad Anoniem on 0800-7000. For animal cruelty, the number is 144.

Some offences are only prosecuted if the victim files a complaint (klacht), for example insult and stalking (belaging, Article 285b Sr). For those offences, a report that includes an explicit request for prosecution is required, and a deadline of three months applies from the moment you became aware of the offence (Article 66 Sr). Simple assault, by contrast, can be prosecuted without a complaint.

What should you bring or prepare?

Bring a valid identity document, a written timeline of what happened and any evidence you have. The better prepared you are, the more accurate and useful your statement will be.

Write down the date, time and exact location, what happened step by step, and a description of the suspect: height, clothing, distinguishing features and, if relevant, a licence plate. Keep evidence in its original form and make copies: photos of damage or injuries, camera footage, screenshots of chats, emails and advertisements, and bank statements showing fraudulent payments. For digital evidence, keep the original files, because they contain information such as dates and times.

If there were witnesses, ask for their name and contact details. The police can then approach them while their memory is still fresh.

Which reporting channel should you use?

Use the online form for simple offences if you have DigiD and can read Dutch. For all other crimes, make an appointment at a police station through 0900-8844.

Reporting online with DigiD

According to the Dutch police, some types of crime can be reported online, such as destruction of property, theft and internet fraud. You log in with DigiD, preferably with the DigiD app or SMS verification. You need a BSN to apply for DigiD, so this route is generally only open to residents. The forms are in Dutch only. If you cannot complete them yourself and cannot find anyone to help, go to a police station instead.

Online reporting is not suitable for violent or sexual offences or for more complex cases. Those require a conversation with a police officer, who can ask follow-up questions and record your statement properly.

Reporting at a police station

Call 0900-8844 to book an appointment, or check the police website for the options at your local station. Bring your passport or other identity document and your evidence. An officer records your statement, reads it back to you, and you then sign it. Check it carefully and ask for corrections before you sign: this is the account on which the case will be built.

If you do not speak Dutch, you can ask for an interpreter. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure (Wetboek van Strafvordering, Sv), victims who do not speak or understand Dutch are entitled to free assistance from an interpreter when filing a report.

Tourists and foreign residents

If you are visiting the Netherlands, the police ask you to report the crime at the nearest police station and to bring your passport or other identity document. Report before you leave the country: filing a report from abroad afterwards is considerably more difficult, and your insurer will usually want the official report.

Lost documents follow their own route. If you lose a Dutch passport or identity card, you report this to your municipality when you apply for a new one. If you lose a foreign passport, contact your embassy or consulate; it will tell you whether it needs a police report. If you lose your Dutch residence document, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) requires a copy of your police report with your application for a replacement, so report it before you start that application.

What happens after you file a report?

After your report, the police assess whether there are leads for an investigation and how serious the case is. Not every report leads to an investigation: with limited capacity, the police and the OM set priorities.

Keep the case number (registration number) you receive. You need it for every contact about the case, for your insurer and for any claim for compensation. You are entitled to a copy of your report; ask for it at the station or download it if you reported online.

As a victim you have the right to be informed about the progress of your case, including a decision not to investigate further or not to prosecute. Tell the police at the time of your report that you want to receive this information. If you later find new evidence, such as additional camera footage or the name of a witness, pass it on quoting the case number. The earlier new information reaches the police, the more useful it is.

Support for victims

The police can refer you to Victim Support Netherlands (Slachtofferhulp Nederland), which offers free practical, emotional and legal support. Victims of a violent crime who have suffered serious physical or psychological injury may be able to apply to the Violent Offences Compensation Fund (Schadefonds Geweldsmisdrijven) for a one-off payment.

What can you do if there is no prosecution?

If the OM decides not to prosecute, you can file a complaint with the court of appeal (gerechtshof) under Article 12 Sv. The court can order the OM to prosecute after all.

You must file this complaint within three months of the day you were informed of the decision not to prosecute. The court of appeal then examines whether prosecution should have taken place. It usually asks the Advocate General for a report and may hear you. In practice, the court only orders prosecution in a minority of cases, so a well-reasoned complaint with concrete evidence is important.

How long do you have to report a crime?

There is no fixed deadline for filing a report, but the right to prosecute lapses after a period that depends on the maximum sentence for the offence (Article 70 Sr). For offences punishable by more than three years in prison, such as theft, that period is twelve years. Offences with a maximum sentence of eight years or more, such as manslaughter, are subject to a twenty-year period, and for the most serious crimes, with a maximum sentence of twelve years or more, there is no limitation period at all.

Filing a report does not stop that clock. More importantly, evidence disappears quickly: camera footage is often overwritten within days, and witnesses forget details. For complaint offences, the three-month deadline for the complaint also applies.

Can you claim compensation?

Yes. As a victim you can join the criminal case as an injured party (benadeelde partij) and claim compensation there (Article 51f Sv), or you can bring a separate civil claim against the offender.

Joining the criminal case is usually simpler and cheaper, because you do not need to start separate proceedings. The criminal court can only award a claim that is sufficiently simple, however. A complex claim, such as one involving large business losses, may be declared inadmissible in the criminal case, after which you can still bring it before the civil court. If the court awards your claim and imposes a compensation order (schadevergoedingsmaatregel), the State collects the amount from the offender.

When should you involve a lawyer?

A lawyer can help when the case involves large financial losses, when the suspect is a business partner or former employee, when you want to claim compensation, or when the OM decides not to prosecute. A criminal lawyer can draft a supplementary statement, prepare your claim as an injured party and file a complaint under Article 12 Sv.

Victims of serious violent and sexual offences may be eligible for free legal assistance regardless of their income. Others with a lower income may qualify for subsidised legal aid through the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand). Law & More does not work on the basis of subsidised legal aid.

Are you not the victim but the person the report is about? Then different rules apply. Read what to do if you have been arrested for a criminal offence.

In summary

• Call 112 in an emergency; otherwise use the online form (DigiD, Dutch only) for simple offences or book an appointment through 0900-8844.
• Bring valid identification, a written timeline and your evidence; you are entitled to an interpreter.
• Keep your case number and a copy of your report for your insurer and any claim.
• If the OM does not prosecute, you can complain to the court of appeal within three months under Article 12 Sv.
• You can claim compensation by joining the criminal case as an injured party.

Frequently asked questions

Looking for something else? Our index of Dutch criminal law guides lists everything we have written on this subject, ordered by topic.

Law & More assists victims and suspects in criminal cases, including claims for compensation and complaints about non-prosecution.

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