Preventing and fighting crime

Businesses may face various forms of crime. Several Dutch organisations provide information about the steps you can take in order to prevent this from happening.

Cybercrime

Cybercrime a fast-growing and serious problem both inside the Netherlands and beyond. The magnitude and severity of its consequences should not be underestimated. Therefore the government is pursuing an integral approach, to tackle the problem of digital theft (for example identity theft, data theft), extortion, fraud, cyber attacks on websites and industrial espionage.

• Government.nl provides information about crime prevention and cyber crime (crime in which a computer is the object of the crime or is used as a tool to commit an offense). If you have fallen victim to ransomware, you can use No More Ransom to delete the software.
• The Dutch-language government website Rijksoverheid.nl offers advice on basic measures you can take for safer internet use.
• The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) offers advice for companies on improving your cyber resilience.
• The Dutch Centre for Crime Prevention and Community Safety (CCV) offers information on how to prevent different kinds of crime in your business (in Dutch).
• The 'Protect your company' website (Bescherm Je Bedrijf) offers you a step-by-step plan for information security (in Dutch).

The Digital Trust Center offers a Dutch-language risk assessment tool with which SMEs can check how big the risk is they will become the victim of cyber crime.

Counterfeit money

If you want to check if a banknote is genuine or counterfeit, it is best not to rely on just one feature, but to check a few of them. Feel the note in your hands and look at it closely; if you have any doubts, compare it to one that you know is genuine. You can also use detecting equipment, such as an ultra-violet (UV) lamp. For information on suspect banknotes, check the European Central Bank's website. If you have received a suspected counterfeit, you should contact the Dutch police immediately.

Secure Business Seal of Approval

If you work with the municipality, police or fire service, you can obtain the Secure Business Seal of Approval (Keurmerk Veilig Ondernemen, KVO) for commercial sites and retail areas. KVO helps secure your business against burglary, robberies and fire. As a result, you provide your employees, your customers and yourself with a safe environment.

Submitting a report to the police

If you have been a victim of a crime, such as theft, burglary, robbery, fraud or internal crime, you can report this to the police. You can do this at the police station, by telephone or through their website.

Shop crime and robbery

If you catch a shoplifter in the act, you can claim compensation from the shoplifter for the time spent dealing with the matter. If you participate in the Shoplifters pay (Winkeldieven betalen, in Dutch) scheme of the Service Organisation Direct Liability (SODA) foundation, they will help you to get compensation from the shoplifter. If you are a victim of robbery, Netherlands Victim Support (in Dutch) can provide you with emotional and legal assistance.