Half of Dutch households now have an emergency kit at home or are in the process of putting one together, according to research by broadcaster RTL. This is a sharp rise compared with 2024, when only 15% said they were doing so.

At the end of last year the government launched a campaign to raise awareness of the need to have emergency supplies at home – ranging from a radio to cash.

Members of the RTL Nieuws panel said conflicts abroad and the war in Ukraine, as well as heavy snowfall earlier this year, had made them think more seriously about being prepared for a crisis.

While the government campaign – which included a leaflet put through everyone’s front door – was not seen as the main trigger, 56% said it helped them organise their thoughts, and 54% said it prompted them to think more carefully about their preparations.

The 33-page brochure, which is available in multiple languages, sets out practical steps for the first 72 hours of a major incident.

For example, the booklet says, a successful attack on the power grid could leave people unable to contact family, petrol stations would close, supermarkets could empty and the supply of fresh water may halt.

A few hours later, the brochure says, you may find yourself under a blanket, a candle burning on the table and a wind-up radio playing the latest emergency updates.