In Belgium the Air Raid Warning sirens go off every first Thursday of the month. Or at least, they did when I was a kid in the sixties. My dad explained to me what it was. He was from 1921 and had lived through the second world war, so, he knew what he was talking about. He sat through twelve hours of allied bombing when escaping from a German work camp in 1943. First in the surroundings of Bremerhaven and then at Hamburg port. He got shell-shock from it. In my village, the siren was sitting atop the roof of the municipal building and was the wailing kind, not the submarine-diving kind like in your video.
A few years ago we were renovating our first home and we had taken out at least about 8 windowpanels out of the windows to paint them when the alarm went off. I think it was mid summer, not on the first Monday of the month. And the advise accompanying that alarm is: close all windows and put on the radio. I pretty panicked, because I was alone in the house and couldn't put the freshly painted windowpanels back in the windows! 😱😱😱 And the radio didn't say anything about a disaster happening! It turned out to be a false alarm. I didn't think that was funny! 😱😱😱
Born 1964 in Denmark; growing up they tested the sirenes EVERY Wednesday at noon. Now they only test once a year. I causes confusion! I think I'd prefer the Dutch version, as I live very close to two chemical factories, and they've been in use because there was a fire on one. The sirenes mean: "go indoors, close all doors and windows, and turn on the news" NOW!
Those sirens started out as an airraid warning during the Cold War. They were operated by the BB, Bescherming Bevolking (1952 - 1981), a non-military organization tasked with the practical protection of the civilian population in case of war. After 1981 the sirens remained as a general alarm in case of emergencies. In the '50ies and 60ies it was usualy the parents that explained the meaning of the alarm and what to do. I never experienced (can't remember) any drills in school except the occasional fire-drill. In those days there were several public bomb-shelters all over the city, even in Metro station Beurs was a nuke-proof shelter. After the Cold war ended all those facilities were closed down.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, my father’s brother( survived the holocaust) emigrated after WW2 to the USA , so I grew up listening to the sirens, l knew what they had meant during WW2,so it always reminds me of my parents , ❤ by the way love your videos 😊
If the siren goes of, not on the 1st the month, in our region Rijnmond (=Rotterdam and suburbs) you'll have to close your windows and turn on the radio (preferably one with a battery in case of a power failure) and tune in on the local radio/tv broadcaster RTV Rijnmond. Channel 30 on Ziggo TV or 93,4 FM radio and wait for instructions.
We have such tests every week in Finland and I currently sit above an bomb shelter as everybody who lives in an apartment building does in Finland. We hold 3 month reserves of critical medicines and food stuff etc. We have underground water reserves and our military headquarters have been dug into the granite. The capital area has underground shelters for way above the inhabitant numbers (I think we are hopeful foreigners would come to our assistance the next time). All our underground car-parks etc. are linked and can covert into wartime facilities. Even the smallest critical bridges and traffic points have systems that take dynamite-bundles to stop the advance of foreign troops. My 70-year-old godmother is still included in civil reserve protection plans, because she has a catering business and would be drafted to cook for the defence forces. My male friends upper in the ranks used to go for military re-rehearsals every 4-5 years until their early 40s to learn all the knew stuff to be able to command troops. The military has lists of equipment it will confiscate to the military the first day of martial law and they even rehearse the quickest roots to take in order to collect the equipment. Some countries have been invaded and they have not unlearned the lesson. We are prepared for total war in Finland. The siren reminds us of it. I think the Netherlands lives in a similar reality still today.
Since you are living in Hilversum, I would advise you to bike to Laren and eat poffertjes in the poffertjes kraam on the Brink in the centre of town. Best poffertjes in the Netherlands. Only there during spring and summerseason. Enjoy, EvB
If the siren goes off outside the usuel first monday of the month. People should warn others who may not have heard it, and immediately go inside and lock windows and doors and listen to the radio for further information.
This video is what you call making a mountain out of a mole hill. My parents explained that it is a test alarm, so we know it will work when it's really needed. And I explained it in the same way to my kids. Simple. When it goes off at any other time than the first Monday of the month, you go inside, close all doors and windows and turn on Radio 1 for information. Also explained that to my children. Simple
If the Sirens go off at an unusual time or stay on longer, the instructions are: close the windows (Inlcuding airflow hatch thingies above them) and doors, turn on the television or radio and put it on the channel 1, to hear what it's about. I will tell my children after doing those things try to call me asap. Only happened once that I had to act on them. A chemical fire a couple miles away produced smoke clouds that could've been poisoness.
Native Dutchy here... I think I only hear it subconsciously. I know it happens, but I truely can't remember when I heard it last. I remember hearing it.... but when?
1. In the Netherlands we too have fire drills at schools and work places. the BHV and ARBO departments take care of the work related safety in general. 2. The siren isn't 80 years old. it wasn't a thing when I grew up and I'm 38 haven't heard a siren when i lived in Heerlen nor in dordrecht back in the day. Think it came into being about 15 or so years ago. It was introduced as a warning system for terrorist attacks which was a big thing around the world at that time. I remember there being a marketing campaign to raise awareness of it. So I suppose that dates the introduction to about 2010-2011 that this Siren became a thing. On top of that it was also said to be used for possible flood warning and other big threats that might occur at some point or another. These days when it goes of my mind is like "ugh must be first of the month again". I'm more annoyed by it then anything else. I haven't really told my 4 year old daughter all that much beyond the basic. Haven't spoken with her about any plans in case of a hypothetical situation that most likely will never happen in our country. As she gets older she'll learn more about it on her own I guess. If something really goes wrong I'll come get her myself so an alarm is rather pointless for her.
In schools the same rules apply; go inside, close doors and window, turn on the emergency broadcast. Then take appropriate measure for what is happening - follow further instructions. We don't do this with the tests. We pause the lesson for a 1 1/2 minute if it is too loud, the school is close to the siren, and the lesson continues as usual. The will say; its the first of the month, its the test. It is testing if the sirens still work in case for a real emergency.
And the enemy knows to launch on the first Monday of the month at noon. Anyway, the sirens go off to test them. Not for the citizens to engage in a drill of some sort. Back in the 50s, 60s and 70s nothing happened when the sirens went off. Not at school, not at your workplace.
This had to do with world wor II. There was a discussion to abolish the siren but the war between Ukraine and Russia has removed the doubts. That's what I heard. Please go to Netherlands American Cemetery in Magraten here in the Netherlands. Every American grave has been adopted by a Dutch family out of gratitude also gratitude to the Canedians etc.
Not surprising this came out today, guess you had to wait for Monday. 😂 Oh, in this day and age you also get a message on your phone... As for the historical context, yes, it gets explained at length in schools. It evolved from radio warnings nation wide, that became region wide, and today even within cities alarms can be triggered. PS New glasses Eric?
I remember how my daughter freaked out when she heard the air alarm as a toddler. But when she was a bit older, she wanted to dress up as an air alarm, and join them by standing on the roof to scream her lungs out.
I think these monthly tests are useful. I understand that they're primarily meant to check if the sirens are still working. If there is an actual disaster, you'd want them to work. The combination of the sirens and the NL Alert app is very effective. Also it's always fun to see tourists looking for clean underwear. I myself don't have a plan, but all municipalities have a "rampenplan", a disasterplan, where the towns, emergency services etc know exactly who has to do what and where and how etc, who is in charge, which buildings will serve as shelters, etc., all this in a regional cooperation. The cities and services regularly "dry exercise" these plans, without troubling the public. When I was a child, there were elderly people who had lived through WWII and some were still traumatized. I remember one time, I was walking our dog when the alarm went off and an elderly woman panicked, looking for a place to hide and urged me to seek cover, 'cause the bombs were coming. That was sad.
Not quite -- for reliability testing, once a year is enough. In fact, several years ago, they switched to that. But they noticed people started forgetting what to do if the sirens went off. So they had a re-education campaign with ads on TV and went back to monthly testing.
Not for testing the function of the system but to keep the people aware of the system and the meaning of the sound. So people are aware that if they hear the system and it isn't the first monday of the month at noon they know there is something wrong and they need to get shelter.
My parents never really told me what the siren exactly was. I never asked. The siren is just there. I wasn't scared because I saw that everyone's at ease, reacting calmly to the alarm. When I went to elementary school the teacher told us the history and what's the siren exactly for and what the plan is if it goes off at another time. I just thought, ohh that's what it's for. The teacher was not suprised by the reaction because she reacted the same when she was young. For most dutch people the siren has always been there. We are so used to it.
Growing up in the sixties and seventies, and actually throughout most of the eighties, these were still roundly referred to as 'air raid sirens'. We're talking an era when WWII was a not too distant memory and the threats of the Cold War were still very vivid and real. During those years, there were still leaflets in the house describing how to shield yourself against radiation, and you had access to emergency iodine tablets, which were dispensed regularly. Very, very real threats. Later on, there was much more emphasis on these being tests for a general emergency system. If the sirens went off (esp. in Rotterdam, with the port and the petrochemical industry nearby) during another time of the day, you were supposed to get inside (anywhere), close windows and doors, close ventilation systems, and tune into the emergency broadcaster (in Rotterdam: Radio/TV Rijnmond) immediately. Basically: hide and wait for instructions. I remember only one such event, which was in the seventies. Two ships collided in the Maas (roughly where the Erasmus Bridge is now; my parents lived there before the bridge was there, on the actual river) and there was a huge fuel spill. Lighting a cigarette anywhere in that area would have been disastrous. Not much has changed in that respect (hide and wait), but the feeling is very different nowadays. Also, in Rotterdam, it is not uncommon to hear a police car with a roof-mounted megaphone driving around in a neighborhood to warn about a very local problem; like around the river areas when the water is expected to be extremely high. You get told, loudly, that it's best to move your car and sandbag your doors. They don't use the sirens for that. Still startling..
I don't remember exactly what the criteria are, but I know I still got iodine tablets (send to me for free) because I have a young child, and live within a certain distance to a nuclear facility (think it's 100km or something like that). So in a way, that hasn't changed, just the reason has (no longer fear of nuclear attacks, but in case of an accident)
The alarm has gone off in Vlaardingen. Being so close to Europort we have had issues with air quality. Turn on the tv to tv Rijnmond for further instructions. Close windows, stay inside etc. Shops, schools, etc have closed. Another time the water system was contaminated, road construction cut into a sewerline contaminating drinking water. Everyone living in Nederland should have the Emergency alert on their telephone. When a situation arises you are notified by a loud alarm on your telephone with a link for further instructions
Ok seriously when it goes off when it is not the normal time for it keep an eye on your cellphone you will get a NL-ALert with instructions or turn on the news
The Russians are coming! De Russen komen! To me, it reminds me of the Cold War. The alarms during the Second World War sounded different. My mother who was a teenager during the war told me the alarm had a different sound.
The plan is to go inside, close your doors and windows and listen to the local radio to know what to do next. The government also advices to have a survival package at home with first necessities and water. It happens when there is a disaster or a war brakes out.
Local radio is a bit outdated now, but you should definitely check the local media. Usually you will find online reports on regional newspapers' websites.
@@jeffafa3096 yes you can that as well but you forget that a lot of older people have nothing comes computers and smartphones It is the same reason the siren still goes of. They are talking for years to only use amber alert. One I had dinner at a restaurant on the beach with my family. Sudden all phones went of with an amber alert telling is not go into the water anymore because of strong under current The other people where totally in shock and did not understand what was happening I'm older as well but I work with computers since the first one came out that you could use at home . Under babyboomer that is not common and for people born before the war for sure not. So these people have to die of first before you can scrap that.
it is not outdated, was on the news recently, when a big power fail happens for several days you’re best chance on information is you’re local radio, every province has a dedicated station that should give out advice what to do. Government advises to always make sure you gave a battery operated radio for emergencies
@@jeffafa3096 no advise is to listen to radio rijnmond in Rotterdam. They have a generator so they can produce electricity in case of a power outage. Internet will be gone soon because the 4g masts can only last 24 hours without electricity before it goes black
As a teacher I always forget about the alarm testing until it’s disrupting my quiet class. There is always a smart kid saying: what if they attack us on the first Monday at 12:00 and everyone thinks it’s a test?
i was once walking past a playground with children from various backgrounds when the testalarm went off. the dutch kids kept playing but other kids were lying on the ground covering their heads and it broke my heart cuz they had lived thru a war and were traumatised for the rest of their lives. Its important that refugees are told about the alarm and what it is for .
Yes they should but at the same time, very fast, they learn that there are safe countries where alarms go off and it doesn't mean havoc or misery. Not everything needs to be spoon fed or hands need to be held. People, and specially children, are very resilient and not everything that is out of the ordinary causes a trauma, needs counselling or you need to pop a pill.
I’m 70, born and raised in Rotterdam. My parents were both 21 when WW2 started. During the bombardment my dad was enlisted in the army, but my mom was in Rotterdam. She did her best not to engrain hér fears in my tiny soul, but I’ll never forget her fear, also when planes flew over our house, at a relatively low altitude. Between 1990 en 2000 I was with the municipal / city hall team of press officers, and we were trained for situations in which the alarm might be needed. In my lifetime it was only used locally, like for a chemical fire in Rotterdam-West. And hopefully we will never know what it’s like, if all of the city is ‘under alarm’.
In Belgium they test the sirens every first Thursday of the month. There are sirens in towns who can have an impact from for example toxic fumes from some factory in the region (Seveso risk factories). I live in an industrial area in the port of Ghent, so I hear the testing every month at noon. The sirens have been supplemented now by a text message system on your portable phone, that is if you subscribe to it. 2 years ago the sirens went off on an other day than first Thursday because of a fire in a chemical plant not far away and I received a message describing the issue and potential danger and the advice to go inside and close all windows, which I did after warning my elderly neigbours to do the same. After a few hours I received an all clear message.
We have one that goes off once a month (1st Saturday at noon) in Michigan, it is for tornadoes. If it goes off any other time I head for the basement because one has been sighted. I enjoy your videos immensely. 😊
Well at least with a tornado there is less risk it will plan to come to Michigan exactly at 1th saturday noon so people will think it's just the testing of the alarm.
When I first immigrated to the NL my man, then partner, forgot to tell me about the alarms. What flashed through my mind when I first heard them was 'The War of the Worlds'. They are jarring still but useful, particularly as we're a 'sleutelland', strategically placed as a key country to trade with and pass through be it air, land or water transport and travel. And with the current unrest in the Middle East and Ukraine I'm glad we have such sirens in place. As far as where to seek shelter if war would break out on our soil the best place is home. Tammy's also right about the NL phone alerts. They're both efficient to reach a large group of people and handy to grab one's immediate attention.
I lived right next to the old model warning siren. That thing was even louder. My parents just told me that it was a warning in case of war and that the best place to hide was under the stairs. They saw a lot of bombed houses in WW2 (my father was a foced laborer in Berlin) and apparently the stairs were the most sturdy, I guess. I told my son the same and that it is now also for disasters in the neighbourhood. I don't have a disaster plan. I cannot plan for something that I don't know what it would look like. I only plan for flooding (I live at - 6 meters NAP). At schools there are fire drills like in any other company, maybe once a year.
Now that you ask that it.. I feel like 'huh, never really thought of that.' We know from school age ( or they should) to go inside somewhere if you are able to, call home. or go home, lock doors and windows and listen to the radio or turn the tv on for the next instructions. I guess our parents also figured we would be smart enough/independent to find somewhere to seek shelter if we couldn't get home fast enough. I never heard any plan beyond get inside close doors and windows and wait for news what to do from my parents.
You seem under the impression that the sirens sounding off at 12 on the first Monday of each month is some kind of remembrance ritual, but it is only purely done to make sure the system and each single siren is working the way it is supposed to. It's a test.
On the 5 januari of 2011 on 14:30 the alarm was going of. There was a big fire in Chemiepack in Moerdijk en we liffed at that time in Dordrecht. We went in side the house amd close al the doors and windows and turn on the television in the local channel. And thats wat everybody learns on school.
Come on, you are in the Netherlands. We have apps for everything as you must know. When the sirens go off at any other time we check our apps. If this is not possible you stay indoors with everything closed and wait for death or rescue. Or till the sirens stop. Good luck and pray to the gods who can save you.
Yes, we test things so it is ready. You should count yourself lucky you don't get Amber alerts all the time or warning there is another shooting. If this is the worst every first Monday of the month at noon, you will get over it pretty easily. Welcome to The Netherlands! 🤪
A few years ago we had an alarm at night! There was a fire a few miles from here. and the wind was in our direction! There were toxins in the smoke!! That's why we were warned! Close windows and stay indoors. Until it was safe. It wasn't too bad afterwards. Quite a strange sensation!!
My mother lived through WWII and every time that sirene went off she ducked but stood up right away and try to be brave and tell me and my sister that she hoped that we would never experience the same fear she had through out WWII.
the alarm will go off when there is a bigg disaster in the area of that district they can go off not all together butt only on the place it needs to warn also. sow if the alarm goes off not on 12:00 then you need to go inside close your windows and put on the news. that is what we learn on a early age on school. the kids who dont know this just did not pay attention on school or dont remember it because there parents did nothing with it later on in life. its more then a bom alarm and there is a drill that goes with that to . we have had many disasters with water and treats of other things sow this is our alarm prevention of letting people know what is what. if the alarm is not on 12:00 uur its not a drill to check if the alarms are doing oke and you need to get inside close your windows and put on you local news.
The first alarm tones of the sirenes means alert. Than the silence and the next tones, means no alert. I was told they go off every month to make sure they work.
Can't remember as a kid that it had to be explained to me. You just grow up getting used to it and then find out later on what it's all about? There used to be ads on tv and we'd receive leaflets (and stickers?) in the mail that you could hang up indoors; some sort of checklist: When the sirene goes go indoors (at home or at a shop, school etc.), close windows, doors and switch off ventilation systems, tune in to regional radio (and tv?). Yours would be Radio Rijnmond. Living near the Rotterdam Botlek (industrial) area this has happened before, though I get the impression that now they prefer to give these warnings by phone (the NL-alert). At least that's what it's been like with recent big fires and industrial accidents. Never been used in drills at schools and such as far as I know, and we don't really associate it with war, but rather 'calamities'.
My parents never talked about the war. They went through it and continued their life when the war was over. As to the sirens; they said that when we heard them on any other time than on the first Monday of the month, we had to come home as quickly as possible. No reasons why, no explanation. Just "Come home." And since this was in the 1960's, we would obey, because we knew that if we didn't, we'd suffer a fate much worse than death.
I was a militair from 1986 till 1989 in the Dutch airforce stationed in Germany, Blomberg, HAWK system 3GGW as a radarspecialist! So at a age of 18 we where so used to alarms, cold war etc. I come from West Friesland but as soon the militairy starts you could be sended to Germany, Libanon or at the borders of the Netherlands. We lived in fear to be attacked by Russia in that time. Same as Ukraine today...Russia never learns and will always do the same tactic...Nothing to do with your upload but thats the way we think about a alarm system whene you both show to me something I am so used to.
I don't know anymore when, maybe around the 90's or beginning of the century, there was decided that the sirenes could be tested without sounding. They tried that for a year or so and found out that wasn't working: they tried after a year or so to do a real test, a lot of the sirenes seemed to be dead/not working anymore. Then was decided to continue testing with sound, after repairing a lot of the sirenes. When the sirenes sound on a normal day, you go in your house, listen to local radio, TV, or check your phone fot the NL Alert, to hear what to do next. It's common knowledge, although I doubt about a lot of people...
My parents explained to me why the alarm went of. I grew up during the Cold War. I already was interested in WW2 so I immediately understood. No drills at school. Not then, not now. Be sure you have food and water for a few days at home. Things in cans I mean like corned beef and a few bottles of water.
It was different when we grew up because we grew up hearing all the stories of our grandparents that lived through WW2 and we were continuously reminded of the Soviet threat. We even had to watch 'The day after' in school.
I think standard advised procedure in case of the sirens is go inside and put on radio or tv for further information what to do. I got the emergency text once because there was a fire close by with toxic fumes, so I closed the windows and the ventilation and UI went over to the neighbours who were still much more fluent in Chinese than Dutch back then to tell them what to do. The Dutch neighbour with his doors wide open I just shouted at.
After WW2 we had an organization called 'Bescherming Bevolking' BB for short. It translates to Civilian Protection. They were responsible for the sirens. Sirens are still important in case of floods, big fires and the likes. I remember back in my youth there was a fire going on in the Amsterdam harbor. Silos filled with grains were on fire and were kind of launched like rockets. That was a serious danger and the sirens were used then. Back in the days we were told to stay or go into the house and turn the radio on and follow the instructions of the government or other officials. And that's what we told our children. I believe NLAlert is a more general alarm system. The sirens are more for disaster situations.
Dane here. We have same type of public alarm system. Here we though test it once a year. I do not how how it are in the Netherlands but would guess it also have different signals for different situations. One thing are its original use as air warnings for bombings during war. Here it also have a generic signal that means go inside, close doors and windows and listen to Program 3 (most listened to) radio, turn on TV for information. We also have a website and a certain TEXT TV page with information about actual cause for it going of. Another signal means evacuate. The signal today, besides the yearly test, will be in use typically if there are floods or fires developing potential dangerous smoke. Then signal will go off in affected area only. It were in use in Denmark locally only last month where we had a sea level rise some places over 2 metres above normal. Some cities had to put up temporary flood barriers and in one city these were breached around midnight and signals were used to warn (and wake up) people to either evacuate immediately or seek higher ground. Parts of the city DID get flooded and signals DID warn people and no one died. Some areas had higher waterlevels than had been recorded in 125 years. Since it are tested regularly you naturally tell your children in advance when very small and put on more and more information as they grow. Before the internet all telephone books, were distributed to entire population for free with some years between, had around 10 dedicated pages with description of the different signals and what they meant, including basic ways to respond if subjected to chemical attacks, nuclear attacks etc etc. Also information about what mandates different kinds of nationwide states of emergency meant etc. Most European nations have some kind of civil defence force and these have absolutely no powers in peacetime but that can change in a state of emergency.
As a kid, we were living close to the Europoort/Botlek, so we were told that if the alarm sounded on an irregular time, most likely a chemical plant had blown up, then go inside and listen to Radio Rijnmond. (there wasn't local TV at the time). That was it. At school, because the alarm was at noon, it was usually at the beginning of the lunch break, we didn't have to dive under the desk or so. Only place where I ever had a proper drill with going to an underground shelter and a headcount was with a previous employer in Dallas, Tx because of tornado risk.
Goes to show how much people live out of fear in the US and other countries. We are lucky here in the Netherlands we were not brought up to think the worst immediately. Times are changing though. We were just told they need to be tested every month in case they ever need it for a war or other disaster. For me it also meant we were off for lunchbreak and I could walk home!😊. (12 - 13 in the old primary school system)
Not from the sirens, but my mom (aged 91 now - she was 8 when the war started) still ducks a little whenever she hears a propeller plane. In the war we had a military basis on the edge of town - the biggest German airbase outside Germany.
about 2 years ago did hear the alarm but from alarms farther away, i phoned the city emergency number and 1.5 hourde later an engineer rang my bell to thank me for the alarm had actually broke down and he had to reset it and test again and it worked. is a nice feeling if i hear it on the not usual time i try to get indoor asap and when im at home i close my windows and door. i cant remember how it was taught to me for its so normal that you dont think about it (at least i dont)
The very first time I have heard it, I was alarmed. Luckily enough, it happened during the introduction session at the local university,and our professor gave us an explanation about the purpose of it, so we quickly got accustomed to them periodical "luchtalarm" tests. Now (15 years later, in my case) it takes simply a couple of seconds to make sure it's "this time of the month" (pun unintended) to figure out that you do not need to run for your life. In my humble opinion, this sound is fairly bearable. I cannot say the same thing about our dear NL-Alert. Oh, this fellow makes you go "duck and cover". :) Greetings from the North.
My parents told me it was a test and that is all. They witnessed the bombing of Rotterdam and knew what the background was. I took it for granted, so did everybody. I used to work in an elementary school with a lot of refugees from Syria. We prepared the children before the test and told them that it was a test because they had witnessed themselves what the sirens mean. The next time the children were used to the sirens and told newcomers what was going on.
You have now made me think hard about how it was explained to me as a child (I am now 64). And I can't remember it. The question Did I explained it to my own children...don't think so but I'm not sure. Quetion how the children are told now: and I don't know the answer to that either. I'm going to ask my grandchildren (7,6 and 4 years old) that tomorrow when I see them. I'm very curious now! In the past, there have been government commercials on TV telling what to do if the siren goes off outside the normal time you would expect it. That is: close windows and doors and turn on the TV or radio to hear what is going on and to receive further instructions. I'm actually amazed that I never ask these questions myself.
update:I asked my grandkids today and they had no idea what I was talking about. I think when they hear the siren they don't find it threatening because all the people around them just remain calm. Even the dogs and cats don't flinch
In the Cold War days there were a range of early warning devices in the UK. One was placed in every school canteen, colliery, hospital, vital factories etc. They were tested regularly. One I saw had a note attached. “If the 4-minute alarm sounds, bend down and kiss your butt goodbye”.
As a kid I just got the explanation: this us a test of the alarm system. Now you know the sound, and they now know the thing works. No drill, not much of a history lesson. Probably briefly mentioned during history classes on WWII. My mother (lived through WWII Rotterdam) would add: find a radio set it on NPO1 and listen out. I teach my kids just the test-part.
The only drills at school I am aware of are fire drills, like you said you have as well. Luckily, no “active shooter” drills either like I hear you have in the US. Sirens are sometimes used. I already read some examples in other reactions, but you can also think of a train accident with a freight train carrying toxic chemicals. These trains sometimes pass through cities and towns, and if something were to happen with one carrying, say, chloride (there used to be one very frequently carrying that) you really want to be able to warn a lot of people very quickly. The sirens will do that trick.
The siren thing is a monthly test to make sure each and every one is working as they should, in case of a actual emergency. And yes they are by law placed after WW2 if ever something like that would happen again, however more and more they are used for disasters too. And yes even Dutch people tend to look around or jump up when those things go off. Specially if you are right underneath one. My dad just told me it was just a test, don't pay attention to it unless it's either going off for longer then 1 minute or on a different day entirely. yet to be honest, I still feel uneasy to this day and i'm almost 41. And the lessons about what those things are and why they are there, I learned that in school. But no sooner then age 11. When I was learning about it the school invited the local fire department to send someone over that would explain about this together with someone from the local government's office. Problem is, they didn't make it easier to understand just harder haha. I can't say about kids these days or parents, but I learned to get my rear end home asap if that thing goes off. If that is impossible, get inside anywhere and hide there until the all clear has been given. These days ALL PHONES in the Netherlands, regardless of your country of origin or whoever you might be, will get a text message with instructions. This is forced by default, but you can turn it off (although clearly a stupid move to do) In the US it would be similar to AMBER Alert. The sirens need to continue, it makes sense to keep making sure, specially these days, to get that running and giving it attention. Specially keep testing the system. For people who wish to learn more about it, here the government page regarding this (sorry, it's in Dutch): www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/veiligheidsregios-en-crisisbeheersing/vraag-en-antwoord/wat-is-nl-alert
7:52": good question! I am "first generation past WWII" bu parents being adults during that, and the (old more "howling" air sirens) were just that: "remembrance of times past by". This days and world (not 'age') we need to re-think. Unfortunately. So, yeah, good question! Alas
I was taught to get inside quickly, close windows and doors and check the TV or radio. In reality growing up with the siren is just one kid in school yelling "THE GERMANS ARE COMING" every month. I'd like them to remain, because I don't always have a (charged) phone on me and I'm probably not alone in that. It's also a good reminder for monthly tasks I think.
what to do when the alarm goes off halfway july at 2 in the afternoon? GO INSIDE, CLOSE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS, TURN ON RADIO/TV AND WAIT FOR FURTHER NEWS/INSTRUCTIONS
What to do when de sirens start: Get inside, close all doors and windows and tune in a local tv or radio station. The old air-raid sirens had a very eerie sound compared to ones we are using today. Somewhere between 2025 and 2035 the sirenes will become silent. They will be replaced by the NL alerting network. Duck and cover!
OK. The answer is to let go of your American background and embrace being Dutch. Take Dutch lessons. Speak Dutch. Stop compari😅ng. I have a Dutch passport, lived in UK most of my adult life, lived in China, Pacific, Belgium, now in France. Just accept local culture and learn local language. Accept things you think you are stupid, like no being able to get paracetamol on a Sunday - happened to me on a Sunday in France, I asked a neighbour, stock up!. Now we have an all-night chemist in central Montpellier. I am sure that there is one in Rotterdam.
i'm from 1967, it's simple, it's there to make sure it still works. That's how it was explained and how I explained it to my kids. You just don't do anything except think; is it monday 12h00? yes, okidoki then. When it will go off on any other day, just run and call your beloved.
No, no drills like in the US - they can be for many reasons. If the dykes break they will go off. Probably not in Limburg.... But they will go off, for things like that... So: 1. go inside, 2. close the doors and windows, and 3. check the emergency broadcast. At times they gave it some extra attention; like the drill what I said. 1 - 2 - 3 steps "rules". Once you know what is happening and what the instructions are, you might have to do other things.
I grew up with Americans, military (LDS - religion) also been a American boy scout. I got more and different safety things from there then from the Dutch schools/systems. Land of the brave? LOL. Even an emergency first aid kit in the US has different things they need to have - in comparison to the Dutch. Or with the car, and safety we in the NL have things like that red triangle, and warming blankets, etc. Things you kinda must have in your car if not mistaken. But I am also drilled about emergency plans the American way. What to do with fire, and escape at home etc. In public buildings we have the emergency exit signs, and at work places you can have these drills and tests. Also in correspondence and the test for the BHV's bedrijfs hulp verleners. We got safety drills/explanations in airplanes - stuff like that.
1. You go inside, in the store, school, public building place, what ever is nearest. You don't go back to your home unless it is right around the corner so to speak. 5 -10 minutes if you play outside. If you are out in nature - .... good luck. Check what is happening on the emergency broadcast. 2. lock/close the doors and windows (it can be for smoke with fires, it can be chemical stuff, etc.) 3. and turn on the emergency broadcast signal, and check what is going on. TV or Radio, or computer... But now days we also have these "Amber" alerts with the mobile phones that give these kinds of informations.
These sirens actually are part of a relatively new system. Originally they were part of the BB, bescherming burgerbevolking or civil defence. But after the cold war ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the BB was cancelled and with them the old mechanical sirens went over the decade of the 1990s. But it was decided that some sort of public warning in case of large emergencies would still be needed. In 1998 the current system WAS with the electronic sirens was introduced, they are part of the emergency response system controlled from the emergency dispatch room, the sirens can be triggered in a certain affected area only. Back then, with internet in its infancy, the sirens would prompt people to switch onto local radio or television stations and await the instructions which would be given and repeated there. In 2003 it was decided to reintroduce the monthly test siren as well, to give people the awareness of the existence of these sirens. Not too long ago the NL alert app was added, giving people direct access to the instructions regardless of where they are. Schools, work places and other institutions all have an emergency plan what to do in case of an alert, depending on instructions given by the authorities. Is there, for instance, a large factory fire with poisonous gasses escaping the instructions will probably be to go indoors, keep doors and windows closed and switch off mechanical ventilation. Is the danger level really high, an evacuation could be prompted. In this case also the police will patrol the area concerned and make sure everyone leaves to a safe place. The sirens will be used in any case of calamities either by human or natural cause which creates an large and eminent risk to public safety.
As an emergency photographer I get the NL alert quite often, as I am quite often in the reach of a place where they use it. It makes a hell of a lot of noice, but I barely read it as I already know what it's saying. Most of the things I already know, hear/see at the emergency or read on social media. The main advice is always the same. Though there has been moments when it went of, not as a test, I really asked why. And then I did feel some panic getting in me, though luckily it were just errors in the system. But basically when I am near a zone, I am already following the rules, as it's for my own safety and to do my work the right way. So I don't worry that it will go wrong once I am not there and it goes off. I think I will be fine. I do wanna help others though with getting the information they want/need. As I have noticed that if you give people that, they will become a lot more calm/obedient/careful.
The national system has nothing to do with World War 2. Big cities may have had air raid warning sirens but most villages just rang the church bells. Most places would have have alarm systems (the aforementioned church bells) in place via their water boards. The national system was created for the cold war. After the cold war it fell in disuse for a few years before it got reinstated for it's current use. Polder kids like me were told the warning had more to with flooding's than anything war related because we were near Den Helder and that would be a prime target for the Russians anyway. No hiding under desks for us unless you can breath water and mud. A sturdy roof where you can wait for the helicopters is what you want.
The sirens. I live in Emmen in Drenthe, up north-east. I've always heard the sirens, even when I lived way more rural. My parent explained it thus: the sirens are there to warn us of danger. That can be any danger that you need to pay attention to. Every first monday of the month we test them to hear if they are all working right. But if you hear them any other time: Go inside, close doors and windows, and turn on the radio. (yeah, I'm that old.) So, now, same thing, just turn on the tv, or any other social media, and one will find out what's going on. Occasionally they're used near big fires, when people have to close doors and windows and turn off ventilations as to not inhale the smoke that may be coming their way. etc. And recently, here in Emmen we had a - what we call - "sore-throat-chicken" ,...the siren coughed and spluttered and missed a lot of sound... Next test, perfect alarm. It makes me feel safe these alarms. Like, "K, everything's working". It gives a great feeling of continuity. The DRILL you talk about, happened with STER commercials on tv between programs. You know, "info the government wants you to know". The "go inside close doors and windows and turn on the radio" was the STER commercial that explained this alarm on tv regularly on family times too.
Want to inform the population about an upcoming catastrophe? Scream it out loud until nobody can say "jeez, I didn't hear" anymore. You can also use it as a PA so spoken words can also be used. (Think MASH) We always kinda like to know what we're running for before we start to panic, you see.
Growing up in a garrison city, the sirens were deadly serious business. We were surrounded by targets, 3 army bases, 2 air bases, several large storage sites for war supplies, a major command center, all within the blast radius of the expected nuclear weapons the Soviets were thought to be using against us when (not if, when) they were to attack. Everyone knew where the nearest basement entrance was in any building they spent a lot of time in. Pretty similar to what I guess people do for tornado warnings in the central USA. Of course nobody really thought we'd survive long, given that we all suspected those nuclear weapons to be quickly followed by nerve gas and biological weapons that'd kill any initial survivors, but you were prepared anyway. And with teachers, parents and grand parents in that era who were survivors of WW2 and had experienced German (and sometimes American and British) bombing raids on their home towns, there was a LOT of urgency. I never even thought about foreigners being alarmed by them until I had a British friend over and the sirens went off on their monthly test cycle. He had a jump scare, didn't know what to do until I explained to him what it was. They shouldn't discontinue the tests, or tear down the network. It's still performing a vital function in alerting the population of large scale disasters, like chemical spills, big fires, and things like that. Luckily it's rarely needed, but if needed it's there. NL Alert (and the US equivalent, Amber Alert) are helpful, but in a real emergency you can't rely on the cellphone network working. Underground phone lines and manually operated sirens are pretty much fool proof. It's always surprised me that other nations, especially nations like the UK and Germany that suffered horribly under bombing campaigns during WW2, don't have their air raid sirens operational any longer.
I'm from 1953. My dad spent 2 years in Germany during WW2 as forced labor. After WW2 it were real air raid sirens. My dad told me, the same sirens were in Germany during WW2 and yes he was at 200 m of the central aiming point in Chemnitz when USA bombers bombed that city. 3500 dead in one night. It took him two days to dig from the shelter under the factory to the street after the bombing. Just to illustrate it was serious business for him. During WW2 and the cold war there was a civil protection/aid organization in The Netherlands, the "Bescherming Bevolking". Printed instructions what to do when the sirens sounded, were handed out by the authorities with the advice to hang the instructions at a certain place. I believe it was next to the electricity meter. Bomb- and fallout shelters were created. In my street was a shelter for 2500 people under a highway. Today it's a shooting range. Later we were instructed to put on the TV on the local channel for instructions. The system will go away, that's decided. NL-Alert, a direct cell broadcast system, took the place of the sirens and the TV for instructions. Cell broadcast doesn't use the cell phone channels, it only uses the cell tower transmitters to send a signal to the cell phones and the receiving possibilities of cell phones. Instructions in Dutch and English, written and spoken on the cell phones appear. The NL-Alert system is more able to warn and instruct people in a much smaller area, so it's used quicker than the sirens. In a number of occasions, like the Limburg floodings a couple of years ago it prevented a lot of lost of lives, in contrast to Germany that did not have the system. The Germans had a lot of dead people. Germany took a speedy approach and has the Cell Alert system operational now as far as I know. Your remark about a totally overwhelmed cell phone network is foreseen too. The civil authorities, paramedics, fire brigades, police and military have a number of cell phones with priority. I was a police officer and was on duty during a totally overloaded cell phone network on a New years eve. My police cell phone worked normal. I loved the subject. It's the combination of my technical study and work before I went to the police and my many years of police work.
I am 1966 built. So the sirens always have been a part of my life. They were just there. That's about it. When I started asking questions, it was explained that they belonged to an alarm system belonging to the BurgerBescherming. This was a volunteer organisation, not part of the government nor the military, but closesly allied to the military. They would warn the people if something was going to happen. Obviously, growing up in a post WW2 country, in the height of the cold war, the threat, or rather very real possibility of an invasion of some kind. What also helped with that awareness, is that the Starfighters of the local airbase were using the town as a low flight area. They are LOUD!!!! All in all, the possiblity of war is a real thing here. There is no drill in any panicky way. It is more of a sign to switch on the radio and listen to what is required. Or NL-ALERT on your mobile phone. Install the app. Actually a few years ago they tried to stop the monthly sirens. It was objected against. So they went through.
The monthly sirens are not a part of a drill, but they are tested monthly. And as the tests are always at the same day (first Monday of the month) and the same time (12 o'clock) the Dutch people know not te pay much attention tot them. They do not remind me of danger, but when I hear them I know it is the first Monday and it is 12 o'clock). The teststs of NL-allert always cause me a real scare, just because they are just twice a year. And I have received a real NL-allert twice this year already. I do not have children, so I do not know what is taught in school nowadays. But when I went to school (in 70''s and 80's) the times the sirens were a subject in, school was in the month of May. On the 4th of May we have Dodenherdenking, when The Netherlands remember everybody who died for our country. And on the 5th of May we have Bevrijdingsdag, when we celebrate the end of WWII in the Netherlands.
I'm 52, born and raised in the Netherlands. I can't remember having been explained what the alarm is about. It's just the air raid siren. You grow up with it. It's just there every month. It seems to make sense that there would be an alarm system (for air raids). I don't have any concrete plan on what to do in case it would go off in a real emergency. I guess it depends on the emergency. In most cases the police will drive around and broadcast through their PA system what the emergency is and what to do. I've never experienced the air raid siren going off for real. I have heard the police driving around in case of a hazardous situation such chemicals in the air due to a fire in a warehouse or what have you.
There is a story that when the alarm went off, a wise-cracking Dutchman shouted "in panic": the dams have broken! We're all going to drown! In English and in the center of Amsterdam. Some tourists started running away in panic....
Talking abt warnings: be careful to give up your american citizenship. Dutch AOW (an important part of your pension) is dependent on how long you have lived and worked in the Netherlands.
From the American media and pop-culture we at a young age learn from US culture about earthquake drills - and things like that as well. Your brain on drugs is .... an egg sunny side up. Stanger danger, etc. The things you get in your TV shows - we also got, if we had that tv show. And we grew up with a lot of US based media in the Netherlands post WWII.
Questions; How were the alarms explained; It wasnt really explained. If it happened monday the first of every month then stuff is okay. If it happens on another date, shit is about to hit the ceiling. So run. Get under your desk. What happens when the alarm goes off in the middle of the month? Shit is about to hit the ceiling (I think you english say it like that right?). No particular plan in mind honestly. Be grateful for every day you have :) There is nothing really teached about the sirenes actually. NL Alert is often for missing childern and stuff I think.
Where I live, in Dordrecht, there are alarms in a few places, no one knows where, everyone is used to them, and there has never been a reason to have to respond to them since the Second World War. BUT years ago I lived temporarily in a very cheap apartment in a neighborhood, much cheaper than any other. I didn't understand WHY it was much cheaper but I found out on the first Monday of the month: the alarm was on top of my roof! I'm 60 and NO, no drills ever ... We moved as quickly as possible!
Since 1997, the siren has only been tested nationwide once a year (on the first Wednesday of June) and once silently per month. However, in 2000, this did not happen due to the fireworks disaster in Enschede. As of September 2003, the monthly loud test has been reintroduced. The government has considered abolishing the air raid siren more often. Almost everyone has a mobile phone, so the alarm can also be given that way. But that always leads to a lot of criticism. As Dutch people, we are used to the noise and we don't want to miss it. It also gives a sense of security to know that the alarm really works. If the alarm is not audible for once, you immediately see all kinds of messages on Twitter. Furthermore, we grow up with it, so even from being a baby, you are already used to it. My parents experienced the war, so I was simply told that the alarm was there in case there was a dangerous situation again.
A regular citizen has no plans for when the air raid alert sounds on a regular day. Most times I also recieve a push SMS on my phone during the monthly test. So I suppuse that - in the case of a distaser or attack or whatever - that system will also be used for sending people instrusctions about what to do. But these are modern sirens. I grew up with the old ones. They sounded like the type you hear in old war movies. Somewhat more sinister than the new sirens. Anyway. My parents grew up in Rotterdam during the war, They experienced them enough in those five years. Not so much as a warning for German bombardments, but rather the bombdroppings by Allied forces. The harbour, as important infrastructure, is a bomb magnet ofcourse. So I was told once what is was, and after that it became just part of life. And if I had queastions, I could always ask them about it. It did not a heavy war trauma or anything. So in short: No we have no plans, and it's just part of life. At a certain moment you won't even consciously hear it anymore.
So I heard you were going to Ikea, I only live 700m away there, So maybe next time I can bring you back home, with not to many large packages, haha, so you don't have to take bussess or trams. ? I'm referring to Ikea Barendrecht, not Delft
Back in the 60s/70s, this was very real. As a kid I had just come back from living on an air defense military base in Germany, where we would have been among the first targets, and the possibility of an air attack was not just a theoretical possibility. Other than "find shelter, listen to the radio", I don't think we had any explicit plan.
In Belgium the Air Raid Warning sirens go off every first Thursday of the month. Or at least, they did when I was a kid in the sixties. My dad explained to me what it was. He was from 1921 and had lived through the second world war, so, he knew what he was talking about. He sat through twelve hours of allied bombing when escaping from a German work camp in 1943. First in the surroundings of Bremerhaven and then at Hamburg port. He got shell-shock from it. In my village, the siren was sitting atop the roof of the municipal building and was the wailing kind, not the submarine-diving kind like in your video.
A few years ago we were renovating our first home and we had taken out at least about 8 windowpanels out of the windows to paint them when the alarm went off. I think it was mid summer, not on the first Monday of the month. And the advise accompanying that alarm is: close all windows and put on the radio. I pretty panicked, because I was alone in the house and couldn't put the freshly painted windowpanels back in the windows! 😱😱😱
And the radio didn't say anything about a disaster happening! It turned out to be a false alarm. I didn't think that was funny! 😱😱😱
Born 1964 in Denmark; growing up they tested the sirenes EVERY Wednesday at noon.
Now they only test once a year. I causes confusion!
I think I'd prefer the Dutch version, as I live very close to two chemical factories, and they've been in use because there was a fire on one. The sirenes mean: "go indoors, close all doors and windows, and turn on the news" NOW!
means the same in the netherlands
Those sirens started out as an airraid warning during the Cold War. They were operated by the BB, Bescherming Bevolking (1952 - 1981), a non-military organization tasked with the practical protection of the civilian population in case of war. After 1981 the sirens remained as a general alarm in case of emergencies. In the '50ies and 60ies it was usualy the parents that explained the meaning of the alarm and what to do. I never experienced (can't remember) any drills in school except the occasional fire-drill. In those days there were several public bomb-shelters all over the city, even in Metro station Beurs was a nuke-proof shelter. After the Cold war ended all those facilities were closed down.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, my father’s brother( survived the holocaust) emigrated after WW2 to the USA , so I grew up listening to the sirens, l knew what they had meant during WW2,so it always reminds me of my parents , ❤ by the way love your videos 😊
If the siren goes of, not on the 1st the month, in our region Rijnmond (=Rotterdam and suburbs) you'll have to close your windows and turn on the radio (preferably one with a battery in case of a power failure) and tune in on the local radio/tv broadcaster RTV Rijnmond.
Channel 30 on Ziggo TV or 93,4 FM radio and wait for instructions.
We have such tests every week in Finland and I currently sit above an bomb shelter as everybody who lives in an apartment building does in Finland. We hold 3 month reserves of critical medicines and food stuff etc. We have underground water reserves and our military headquarters have been dug into the granite. The capital area has underground shelters for way above the inhabitant numbers (I think we are hopeful foreigners would come to our assistance the next time). All our underground car-parks etc. are linked and can covert into wartime facilities. Even the smallest critical bridges and traffic points have systems that take dynamite-bundles to stop the advance of foreign troops. My 70-year-old godmother is still included in civil reserve protection plans, because she has a catering business and would be drafted to cook for the defence forces. My male friends upper in the ranks used to go for military re-rehearsals every 4-5 years until their early 40s to learn all the knew stuff to be able to command troops. The military has lists of equipment it will confiscate to the military the first day of martial law and they even rehearse the quickest roots to take in order to collect the equipment.
Some countries have been invaded and they have not unlearned the lesson. We are prepared for total war in Finland. The siren reminds us of it. I think the Netherlands lives in a similar reality still today.
Since you are living in Hilversum, I would advise you to bike to Laren and eat poffertjes in the poffertjes kraam on the Brink in the centre of town.
Best poffertjes in the Netherlands. Only there during spring and summerseason. Enjoy, EvB
If the siren goes off outside the usuel first monday of the month. People should warn others who may not have heard it, and immediately go inside and lock windows and doors and listen to the radio for further information.
This video is what you call making a mountain out of a mole hill. My parents explained that it is a test alarm, so we know it will work when it's really needed. And I explained it in the same way to my kids. Simple.
When it goes off at any other time than the first Monday of the month, you go inside, close all doors and windows and turn on Radio 1 for information. Also explained that to my children. Simple
@@ErikJan4 hi Erik…thanks for watching and thanks for the jab…
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the Super Thanks, @thomaslee5042! That was so kind of you 💕
@@SoultoSoulTravels As I prepare for my own move I am finding your videos to be helpful. Plus Eric looks very handsome in the newer videos. 😎
when it goes of on an other day, close the windows, stay inside, put on the radio/television.. (for instructions)
If the Sirens go off at an unusual time or stay on longer, the instructions are: close the windows (Inlcuding airflow hatch thingies above them) and doors, turn on the television or radio and put it on the channel 1, to hear what it's about. I will tell my children after doing those things try to call me asap.
Only happened once that I had to act on them. A chemical fire a couple miles away produced smoke clouds that could've been poisoness.
Native Dutchy here... I think I only hear it subconsciously. I know it happens, but I truely can't remember when I heard it last. I remember hearing it.... but when?
1. In the Netherlands we too have fire drills at schools and work places. the BHV and ARBO departments take care of the work related safety in general.
2. The siren isn't 80 years old. it wasn't a thing when I grew up and I'm 38 haven't heard a siren when i lived in Heerlen nor in dordrecht back in the day. Think it came into being about 15 or so years ago. It was introduced as a warning system for terrorist attacks which was a big thing around the world at that time. I remember there being a marketing campaign to raise awareness of it. So I suppose that dates the introduction to about 2010-2011 that this Siren became a thing. On top of that it was also said to be used for possible flood warning and other big threats that might occur at some point or another. These days when it goes of my mind is like "ugh must be first of the month again". I'm more annoyed by it then anything else.
I haven't really told my 4 year old daughter all that much beyond the basic. Haven't spoken with her about any plans in case of a hypothetical situation that most likely will never happen in our country. As she gets older she'll learn more about it on her own I guess. If something really goes wrong I'll come get her myself so an alarm is rather pointless for her.
In schools the same rules apply; go inside, close doors and window, turn on the emergency broadcast. Then take appropriate measure for what is happening - follow further instructions. We don't do this with the tests. We pause the lesson for a 1 1/2 minute if it is too loud, the school is close to the siren, and the lesson continues as usual. The will say; its the first of the month, its the test.
It is testing if the sirens still work in case for a real emergency.
As dutch boy was told that you get inside somewhere. They where for war warning. Parentsdid and school did
And the enemy knows to launch on the first Monday of the month at noon. Anyway, the sirens go off to test them. Not for the citizens to engage in a drill of some sort. Back in the 50s, 60s and 70s nothing happened when the sirens went off. Not at school, not at your workplace.
I knew it when I saw the title😂
This had to do with world wor II. There was a discussion to abolish the siren but the war between Ukraine and Russia has removed the doubts. That's what I heard. Please go to Netherlands American Cemetery in Magraten here in the Netherlands. Every American grave has been adopted by a Dutch family out of gratitude also gratitude to the Canedians etc.
Old dad joke: "ah, guess its lunch-o-clock"
Not surprising this came out today, guess you had to wait for Monday. 😂 Oh, in this day and age you also get a message on your phone...
As for the historical context, yes, it gets explained at length in schools. It evolved from radio warnings nation wide, that became region wide, and today even within cities alarms can be triggered.
PS
New glasses Eric?
I remember how my daughter freaked out when she heard the air alarm as a toddler. But when she was a bit older, she wanted to dress up as an air alarm, and join them by standing on the roof to scream her lungs out.
That’s so sweet.
creative kid! :D
lol lol lol
Hahaha that is amazing
Hahaha that's brilliant 😂
I think these monthly tests are useful. I understand that they're primarily meant to check if the sirens are still working. If there is an actual disaster, you'd want them to work. The combination of the sirens and the NL Alert app is very effective.
Also it's always fun to see tourists looking for clean underwear.
I myself don't have a plan, but all municipalities have a "rampenplan", a disasterplan, where the towns, emergency services etc know exactly who has to do what and where and how etc, who is in charge, which buildings will serve as shelters, etc., all this in a regional cooperation. The cities and services regularly "dry exercise" these plans, without troubling the public.
When I was a child, there were elderly people who had lived through WWII and some were still traumatized. I remember one time, I was walking our dog when the alarm went off and an elderly woman panicked, looking for a place to hide and urged me to seek cover, 'cause the bombs were coming. That was sad.
Not quite -- for reliability testing, once a year is enough. In fact, several years ago, they switched to that. But they noticed people started forgetting what to do if the sirens went off. So they had a re-education campaign with ads on TV and went back to monthly testing.
Not for testing the function of the system but to keep the people aware of the system and the meaning of the sound. So people are aware that if they hear the system and it isn't the first monday of the month at noon they know there is something wrong and they need to get shelter.
@@gilles111 Actually it's both: testing the system and keeping the people aware.
My parents never really told me what the siren exactly was. I never asked. The siren is just there. I wasn't scared because I saw that everyone's at ease, reacting calmly to the alarm. When I went to elementary school the teacher told us the history and what's the siren exactly for and what the plan is if it goes off at another time. I just thought, ohh that's what it's for. The teacher was not suprised by the reaction because she reacted the same when she was young. For most dutch people the siren has always been there. We are so used to it.
same here. it just was there and never mention it.
Same here. No stress, business as usual😉
same here.
Same here
Same here
Growing up in the sixties and seventies, and actually throughout most of the eighties, these were still roundly referred to as 'air raid sirens'. We're talking an era when WWII was a not too distant memory and the threats of the Cold War were still very vivid and real. During those years, there were still leaflets in the house describing how to shield yourself against radiation, and you had access to emergency iodine tablets, which were dispensed regularly. Very, very real threats.
Later on, there was much more emphasis on these being tests for a general emergency system. If the sirens went off (esp. in Rotterdam, with the port and the petrochemical industry nearby) during another time of the day, you were supposed to get inside (anywhere), close windows and doors, close ventilation systems, and tune into the emergency broadcaster (in Rotterdam: Radio/TV Rijnmond) immediately. Basically: hide and wait for instructions. I remember only one such event, which was in the seventies. Two ships collided in the Maas (roughly where the Erasmus Bridge is now; my parents lived there before the bridge was there, on the actual river) and there was a huge fuel spill. Lighting a cigarette anywhere in that area would have been disastrous.
Not much has changed in that respect (hide and wait), but the feeling is very different nowadays.
Also, in Rotterdam, it is not uncommon to hear a police car with a roof-mounted megaphone driving around in a neighborhood to warn about a very local problem; like around the river areas when the water is expected to be extremely high. You get told, loudly, that it's best to move your car and sandbag your doors. They don't use the sirens for that. Still startling..
I don't remember exactly what the criteria are, but I know I still got iodine tablets (send to me for free) because I have a young child, and live within a certain distance to a nuclear facility (think it's 100km or something like that). So in a way, that hasn't changed, just the reason has (no longer fear of nuclear attacks, but in case of an accident)
One more fine example of the third/fourth most liked comment being the most worthwhile 😉
The alarm has gone off in Vlaardingen. Being so close to Europort we have had issues with air quality. Turn on the tv to tv Rijnmond for further instructions. Close windows, stay inside etc. Shops, schools, etc have closed. Another time the water system was contaminated, road construction cut into a sewerline contaminating drinking water. Everyone living in Nederland should have the Emergency alert on their telephone. When a situation arises you are notified by a loud alarm on your telephone with a link for further instructions
Ok seriously when it goes off when it is not the normal time for it keep an eye on your cellphone you will get a NL-ALert with instructions or turn on the news
The Russians are coming! De Russen komen! To me, it reminds me of the Cold War. The alarms during the Second World War sounded different. My mother who was a teenager during the war told me the alarm had a different sound.
The plan is to go inside, close your doors and windows and listen to the local radio to know what to do next. The government also advices to have a survival package at home with first necessities and water. It happens when there is a disaster or a war brakes out.
Local radio is a bit outdated now, but you should definitely check the local media. Usually you will find online reports on regional newspapers' websites.
@@jeffafa3096 yes you can that as well but you forget that a lot of older people have nothing comes computers and smartphones
It is the same reason the siren still goes of. They are talking for years to only use amber alert.
One I had dinner at a restaurant on the beach with my family. Sudden all phones went of with an amber alert telling is not go into the water anymore because of strong under current The other people where totally in shock and did not understand what was happening
I'm older as well but I work with computers since the first one came out that you could use at home .
Under babyboomer that is not common and for people born before the war for sure not.
So these people have to die of first before you can scrap that.
it is not outdated, was on the news recently, when a big power fail happens for several days you’re best chance on information is you’re local radio, every province has a dedicated station that should give out advice what to do. Government advises to always make sure you gave a battery operated radio for emergencies
@@jeffafa3096 no advise is to listen to radio rijnmond in Rotterdam. They have a generator so they can produce electricity in case of a power outage. Internet will be gone soon because the 4g masts can only last 24 hours without electricity before it goes black
I remember these in school in the mid-50's. We had to crawl under our desks.
As a teacher I always forget about the alarm testing until it’s disrupting my quiet class. There is always a smart kid saying: what if they attack us on the first Monday at 12:00 and everyone thinks it’s a test?
lol lol lol…give him an A…that’s a smart kid
Eric
And you said when it is longer than 1.26 than we start panicking
i was once walking past a playground with children from various backgrounds when the testalarm went off.
the dutch kids kept playing but other kids were lying on the ground covering their heads and it broke my heart cuz they had lived thru a war and were traumatised for the rest of their lives.
Its important that refugees are told about the alarm and what it is for .
Yes they should but at the same time, very fast, they learn that there are safe countries where alarms go off and it doesn't mean havoc or misery. Not everything needs to be spoon fed or hands need to be held. People, and specially children, are very resilient and not everything that is out of the ordinary causes a trauma, needs counselling or you need to pop a pill.
I’m 70, born and raised in Rotterdam. My parents were both 21 when WW2 started. During the bombardment my dad was enlisted in the army, but my mom was in Rotterdam. She did her best not to engrain hér fears in my tiny soul, but I’ll never forget her fear, also when planes flew over our house, at a relatively low altitude.
Between 1990 en 2000 I was with the municipal / city hall team of press officers, and we were trained for situations in which the alarm might be needed. In my lifetime it was only used locally, like for a chemical fire in Rotterdam-West. And hopefully we will never know what it’s like, if all of the city is ‘under alarm’.
If it goes off in the middle of the month run and scream and kiss your butt goodbye 🤣
In Belgium they test the sirens every first Thursday of the month. There are sirens in towns who can have an impact from for example toxic fumes from some factory in the region (Seveso risk factories). I live in an industrial area in the port of Ghent, so I hear the testing every month at noon. The sirens have been supplemented now by a text message system on your portable phone, that is if you subscribe to it. 2 years ago the sirens went off on an other day than first Thursday because of a fire in a chemical plant not far away and I received a message describing the issue and potential danger and the advice to go inside and close all windows, which I did after warning my elderly neigbours to do the same. After a few hours I received an all clear message.
We have one that goes off once a month (1st Saturday at noon) in Michigan, it is for tornadoes. If it goes off any other time I head for the basement because one has been sighted. I enjoy your videos immensely. 😊
Well at least with a tornado there is less risk it will plan to come to Michigan exactly at 1th saturday noon so people will think it's just the testing of the alarm.
Thank you so much.
Eric
When I first immigrated to the NL my man, then partner, forgot to tell me about the alarms. What flashed through my mind when I first heard them was 'The War of the Worlds'. They are jarring still but useful, particularly as we're a 'sleutelland', strategically placed as a key country to trade with and pass through be it air, land or water transport and travel. And with the current unrest in the Middle East and Ukraine I'm glad we have such sirens in place. As far as where to seek shelter if war would break out on our soil the best place is home. Tammy's also right about the NL phone alerts. They're both efficient to reach a large group of people and handy to grab one's immediate attention.
I lived right next to the old model warning siren. That thing was even louder. My parents just told me that it was a warning in case of war and that the best place to hide was under the stairs. They saw a lot of bombed houses in WW2 (my father was a foced laborer in Berlin) and apparently the stairs were the most sturdy, I guess. I told my son the same and that it is now also for disasters in the neighbourhood. I don't have a disaster plan. I cannot plan for something that I don't know what it would look like. I only plan for flooding (I live at - 6 meters NAP). At schools there are fire drills like in any other company, maybe once a year.
Thank you for sharing that personal story ...Thanks for watching,
Eric
Now that you ask that it.. I feel like 'huh, never really thought of that.' We know from school age ( or they should) to go inside somewhere if you are able to, call home. or go home, lock doors and windows and listen to the radio or turn the tv on for the next instructions. I guess our parents also figured we would be smart enough/independent to find somewhere to seek shelter if we couldn't get home fast enough. I never heard any plan beyond get inside close doors and windows and wait for news what to do from my parents.
You seem under the impression that the sirens sounding off at 12 on the first Monday of each month is some kind of remembrance ritual, but it is only purely done to make sure the system and each single siren is working the way it is supposed to. It's a test.
On the 5 januari of 2011 on 14:30 the alarm was going of.
There was a big fire in Chemiepack in Moerdijk en we liffed at that time in Dordrecht.
We went in side the house amd close al the doors and windows and turn on the television in the local channel.
And thats wat everybody learns on school.
Come on, you are in the Netherlands. We have apps for everything as you must know.
When the sirens go off at any other time we check our apps.
If this is not possible you stay indoors with everything closed and wait for death or rescue.
Or till the sirens stop.
Good luck and pray to the gods who can save you.
The plan is, close the windows and put on the radio or tv for instuctions. ;)
Yes, we test things so it is ready. You should count yourself lucky you don't get Amber alerts all the time or warning there is another shooting. If this is the worst every first Monday of the month at noon, you will get over it pretty easily. Welcome to The Netherlands! 🤪
the drill is go home and watch and listen to the national radio/tv
A few years ago we had an alarm at night! There was a fire a few miles from here. and the wind was in our direction! There were toxins in the smoke!! That's why we were warned! Close windows and stay indoors. Until it was safe. It wasn't too bad afterwards. Quite a strange sensation!!
My mother lived through WWII and every time that sirene went off she ducked but stood up right away and try to be brave and tell me and my sister that she hoped that we would never experience the same fear she had through out WWII.
That is an awesome story…thanks for sharing
Eric
the alarm will go off when there is a bigg disaster in the area of that district they can go off not all together butt only on the place it needs to warn also. sow if the alarm goes off not on 12:00 then you need to go inside close your windows and put on the news. that is what we learn on a early age on school. the kids who dont know this just did not pay attention on school or dont remember it because there parents did nothing with it later on in life. its more then a bom alarm and there is a drill that goes with that to . we have had many disasters with water and treats of other things sow this is our alarm prevention of letting people know what is what. if the alarm is not on 12:00 uur its not a drill to check if the alarms are doing oke and you need to get inside close your windows and put on you local news.
The first alarm tones of the sirenes means alert. Than the silence and the next tones, means no alert. I was told they go off every month to make sure they work.
😂 I really can not remember sirenes every month in my youth. I'm 63 years now 😂😂😂
Can't remember as a kid that it had to be explained to me. You just grow up getting used to it and then find out later on what it's all about? There used to be ads on tv and we'd receive leaflets (and stickers?) in the mail that you could hang up indoors; some sort of checklist: When the sirene goes go indoors (at home or at a shop, school etc.), close windows, doors and switch off ventilation systems, tune in to regional radio (and tv?). Yours would be Radio Rijnmond.
Living near the Rotterdam Botlek (industrial) area this has happened before, though I get the impression that now they prefer to give these warnings by phone (the NL-alert). At least that's what it's been like with recent big fires and industrial accidents.
Never been used in drills at schools and such as far as I know, and we don't really associate it with war, but rather 'calamities'.
My parents never talked about the war. They went through it and continued their life when the war was over. As to the sirens; they said that when we heard them on any other time than on the first Monday of the month, we had to come home as quickly as possible. No reasons why, no explanation. Just "Come home." And since this was in the 1960's, we would obey, because we knew that if we didn't, we'd suffer a fate much worse than death.
I was a militair from 1986 till 1989 in the Dutch airforce stationed in Germany, Blomberg, HAWK system 3GGW as a radarspecialist! So at a age of 18 we where so used to alarms, cold war etc. I come from West Friesland but as soon the militairy starts you could be sended to Germany, Libanon or at the borders of the Netherlands. We lived in fear to be attacked by Russia in that time. Same as Ukraine today...Russia never learns and will always do the same tactic...Nothing to do with your upload but thats the way we think about a alarm system whene you both show to me something I am so used to.
Thank you for sharing and THANK YOU for your service!!
Eric
I don't know anymore when, maybe around the 90's or beginning of the century, there was decided that the sirenes could be tested without sounding. They tried that for a year or so and found out that wasn't working: they tried after a year or so to do a real test, a lot of the sirenes seemed to be dead/not working anymore. Then was decided to continue testing with sound, after repairing a lot of the sirenes.
When the sirenes sound on a normal day, you go in your house, listen to local radio, TV, or check your phone fot the NL Alert, to hear what to do next. It's common knowledge, although I doubt about a lot of people...
My parents explained to me why the alarm went of. I grew up during the Cold War. I already was interested in WW2 so I immediately understood.
No drills at school. Not then, not now.
Be sure you have food and water for a few days at home. Things in cans I mean like corned beef and a few bottles of water.
It was different when we grew up because we grew up hearing all the stories of our grandparents that lived through WW2 and we were continuously reminded of the Soviet threat. We even had to watch 'The day after' in school.
I think standard advised procedure in case of the sirens is go inside and put on radio or tv for further information what to do. I got the emergency text once because there was a fire close by with toxic fumes, so I closed the windows and the ventilation and UI went over to the neighbours who were still much more fluent in Chinese than Dutch back then to tell them what to do. The Dutch neighbour with his doors wide open I just shouted at.
After WW2 we had an organization called 'Bescherming Bevolking' BB for short. It translates to Civilian Protection. They were responsible for the sirens. Sirens are still important in case of floods, big fires and the likes. I remember back in my youth there was a fire going on in the Amsterdam harbor. Silos filled with grains were on fire and were kind of launched like rockets. That was a serious danger and the sirens were used then.
Back in the days we were told to stay or go into the house and turn the radio on and follow the instructions of the government or other officials. And that's what we told our children. I believe NLAlert is a more general alarm system. The sirens are more for disaster situations.
Dane here. We have same type of public alarm system. Here we though test it once a year. I do not how how it are in the Netherlands but would guess it also have different signals for different situations.
One thing are its original use as air warnings for bombings during war. Here it also have a generic signal that means go inside, close doors and windows and listen to Program 3 (most listened to) radio, turn on TV for information. We also have a website and a certain TEXT TV page with information about actual cause for it going of. Another signal means evacuate.
The signal today, besides the yearly test, will be in use typically if there are floods or fires developing potential dangerous smoke. Then signal will go off in affected area only.
It were in use in Denmark locally only last month where we had a sea level rise some places over 2 metres above normal. Some cities had to put up temporary flood barriers and in one city these were breached around midnight and signals were used to warn (and wake up) people to either evacuate immediately or seek higher ground. Parts of the city DID get flooded and signals DID warn people and no one died. Some areas had higher waterlevels than had been recorded in 125 years.
Since it are tested regularly you naturally tell your children in advance when very small and put on more and more information as they grow.
Before the internet all telephone books, were distributed to entire population for free with some years between, had around 10 dedicated pages with description of the different signals and what they meant, including basic ways to respond if subjected to chemical attacks, nuclear attacks etc etc. Also information about what mandates different kinds of nationwide states of emergency meant etc.
Most European nations have some kind of civil defence force and these have absolutely no powers in peacetime but that can change in a state of emergency.
As a kid, we were living close to the Europoort/Botlek, so we were told that if the alarm sounded on an irregular time, most likely a chemical plant had blown up, then go inside and listen to Radio Rijnmond. (there wasn't local TV at the time). That was it. At school, because the alarm was at noon, it was usually at the beginning of the lunch break, we didn't have to dive under the desk or so.
Only place where I ever had a proper drill with going to an underground shelter and a headcount was with a previous employer in Dallas, Tx because of tornado risk.
Goes to show how much people live out of fear in the US and other countries. We are lucky here in the Netherlands we were not brought up to think the worst immediately. Times are changing though. We were just told they need to be tested every month in case they ever need it for a war or other disaster. For me it also meant we were off for lunchbreak and I could walk home!😊. (12 - 13 in the old primary school system)
Sirens only go of by a whole nation disaster or war
Not from the sirens, but my mom (aged 91 now - she was 8 when the war started) still ducks a little whenever she hears a propeller plane. In the war we had a military basis on the edge of town - the biggest German airbase outside Germany.
about 2 years ago did hear the alarm but from alarms farther away, i phoned the city emergency number and 1.5 hourde later an engineer rang my bell to thank me for the alarm had actually broke down and he had to reset it and test again and it worked. is a nice feeling if i hear it on the not usual time i try to get indoor asap and when im at home i close my windows and door. i cant remember how it was taught to me for its so normal that you dont think about it (at least i dont)
The very first time I have heard it, I was alarmed. Luckily enough, it happened during the introduction session at the local university,and our professor gave us an explanation about the purpose of it, so we quickly got accustomed to them periodical "luchtalarm" tests. Now (15 years later, in my case) it takes simply a couple of seconds to make sure it's "this time of the month" (pun unintended) to figure out that you do not need to run for your life. In my humble opinion, this sound is fairly bearable. I cannot say the same thing about our dear NL-Alert. Oh, this fellow makes you go "duck and cover". :)
Greetings from the North.
My parents told me it was a test and that is all. They witnessed the bombing of Rotterdam and knew what the background was. I took it for granted, so did everybody. I used to work in an elementary school with a lot of refugees from Syria. We prepared the children before the test and told them that it was a test because they had witnessed themselves what the sirens mean. The next time the children were used to the sirens and told newcomers what was going on.
that it was a drill end of subject
You have now made me think hard about how it was explained to me as a child (I am now 64). And I can't remember it. The question Did I explained it to my own children...don't think so but I'm not sure. Quetion how the children are told now: and I don't know the answer to that either. I'm going to ask my grandchildren (7,6 and 4 years old) that tomorrow when I see them. I'm very curious now!
In the past, there have been government commercials on TV telling what to do if the siren goes off outside the normal time you would expect it. That is: close windows and doors and turn on the TV or radio to hear what is going on and to receive further instructions.
I'm actually amazed that I never ask these questions myself.
By the way, as far as I know, no drills are done when the alarm goes off on the 1st Monday of the month.
update:I asked my grandkids today and they had no idea what I was talking about. I think when they hear the siren they don't find it threatening because all the people around them just remain calm. Even the dogs and cats don't flinch
In the Cold War days there were a range of early warning devices in the UK. One was placed in every school canteen, colliery, hospital, vital factories etc. They were tested regularly. One I saw had a note attached. “If the 4-minute alarm sounds, bend down and kiss your butt goodbye”.
As a kid I just got the explanation: this us a test of the alarm system.
Now you know the sound, and they now know the thing works.
No drill, not much of a history lesson. Probably briefly mentioned during history classes on WWII.
My mother (lived through WWII Rotterdam) would add: find a radio set it on NPO1 and listen out.
I teach my kids just the test-part.
The only drills at school I am aware of are fire drills, like you said you have as well. Luckily, no “active shooter” drills either like I hear you have in the US.
Sirens are sometimes used. I already read some examples in other reactions, but you can also think of a train accident with a freight train carrying toxic chemicals. These trains sometimes pass through cities and towns, and if something were to happen with one carrying, say, chloride (there used to be one very frequently carrying that) you really want to be able to warn a lot of people very quickly. The sirens will do that trick.
The siren thing is a monthly test to make sure each and every one is working as they should, in case of a actual emergency. And yes they are by law placed after WW2 if ever something like that would happen again, however more and more they are used for disasters too. And yes even Dutch people tend to look around or jump up when those things go off. Specially if you are right underneath one.
My dad just told me it was just a test, don't pay attention to it unless it's either going off for longer then 1 minute or on a different day entirely. yet to be honest, I still feel uneasy to this day and i'm almost 41. And the lessons about what those things are and why they are there, I learned that in school. But no sooner then age 11. When I was learning about it the school invited the local fire department to send someone over that would explain about this together with someone from the local government's office. Problem is, they didn't make it easier to understand just harder haha.
I can't say about kids these days or parents, but I learned to get my rear end home asap if that thing goes off. If that is impossible, get inside anywhere and hide there until the all clear has been given. These days ALL PHONES in the Netherlands, regardless of your country of origin or whoever you might be, will get a text message with instructions. This is forced by default, but you can turn it off (although clearly a stupid move to do) In the US it would be similar to AMBER Alert.
The sirens need to continue, it makes sense to keep making sure, specially these days, to get that running and giving it attention. Specially keep testing the system.
For people who wish to learn more about it, here the government page regarding this (sorry, it's in Dutch):
www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/veiligheidsregios-en-crisisbeheersing/vraag-en-antwoord/wat-is-nl-alert
7:52": good question! I am "first generation past WWII" bu parents being adults during that, and the (old more "howling" air sirens) were just that: "remembrance of times past by". This days and world (not 'age') we need to re-think. Unfortunately. So, yeah, good question! Alas
I was taught to get inside quickly, close windows and doors and check the TV or radio.
In reality growing up with the siren is just one kid in school yelling "THE GERMANS ARE COMING" every month.
I'd like them to remain, because I don't always have a (charged) phone on me and I'm probably not alone in that.
It's also a good reminder for monthly tasks I think.
what to do when the alarm goes off halfway july at 2 in the afternoon? GO INSIDE, CLOSE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS, TURN ON RADIO/TV AND WAIT FOR FURTHER NEWS/INSTRUCTIONS
What to do when de sirens start: Get inside, close all doors and windows and tune in a local tv or radio station.
The old air-raid sirens had a very eerie sound compared to ones we are using today.
Somewhere between 2025 and 2035 the sirenes will become silent. They will be replaced by the NL alerting network. Duck and cover!
OK. The answer is to let go of your American background and embrace being Dutch. Take Dutch lessons. Speak Dutch. Stop compari😅ng. I have a Dutch passport, lived in UK most of my adult life, lived in China, Pacific, Belgium, now in France. Just accept local culture and learn local language. Accept things you think you are stupid, like no being able to get paracetamol on a Sunday - happened to me on a Sunday in France, I asked a neighbour, stock up!. Now we have an all-night chemist in central Montpellier. I am sure that there is one in Rotterdam.
i'm from 1967, it's simple, it's there to make sure it still works. That's how it was explained and how I explained it to my kids. You just don't do anything except think; is it monday 12h00? yes, okidoki then. When it will go off on any other day, just run and call your beloved.
No, no drills like in the US - they can be for many reasons. If the dykes break they will go off. Probably not in Limburg.... But they will go off, for things like that... So: 1. go inside, 2. close the doors and windows, and 3. check the emergency broadcast.
At times they gave it some extra attention; like the drill what I said. 1 - 2 - 3 steps "rules". Once you know what is happening and what the instructions are, you might have to do other things.
I grew up with Americans, military (LDS - religion) also been a American boy scout. I got more and different safety things from there then from the Dutch schools/systems. Land of the brave? LOL. Even an emergency first aid kit in the US has different things they need to have - in comparison to the Dutch. Or with the car, and safety we in the NL have things like that red triangle, and warming blankets, etc. Things you kinda must have in your car if not mistaken.
But I am also drilled about emergency plans the American way.
What to do with fire, and escape at home etc.
In public buildings we have the emergency exit signs, and at work places you can have these drills and tests. Also in correspondence and the test for the BHV's bedrijfs hulp verleners.
We got safety drills/explanations in airplanes - stuff like that.
1. You go inside, in the store, school, public building place, what ever is nearest.
You don't go back to your home unless it is right around the corner so to speak. 5 -10 minutes if you play outside.
If you are out in nature - .... good luck. Check what is happening on the emergency broadcast.
2. lock/close the doors and windows (it can be for smoke with fires, it can be chemical stuff, etc.)
3. and turn on the emergency broadcast signal, and check what is going on. TV or Radio, or computer...
But now days we also have these "Amber" alerts with the mobile phones that give these kinds of informations.
These sirens actually are part of a relatively new system.
Originally they were part of the BB, bescherming burgerbevolking or civil defence. But after the cold war ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the BB was cancelled and with them the old mechanical sirens went over the decade of the 1990s. But it was decided that some sort of public warning in case of large emergencies would still be needed.
In 1998 the current system WAS with the electronic sirens was introduced, they are part of the emergency response system controlled from the emergency dispatch room, the sirens can be triggered in a certain affected area only.
Back then, with internet in its infancy, the sirens would prompt people to switch onto local radio or television stations and await the instructions which would be given and repeated there.
In 2003 it was decided to reintroduce the monthly test siren as well, to give people the awareness of the existence of these sirens.
Not too long ago the NL alert app was added, giving people direct access to the instructions regardless of where they are.
Schools, work places and other institutions all have an emergency plan what to do in case of an alert, depending on instructions given by the authorities.
Is there, for instance, a large factory fire with poisonous gasses escaping the instructions will probably be to go indoors, keep doors and windows closed and switch off mechanical ventilation.
Is the danger level really high, an evacuation could be prompted. In this case also the police will patrol the area concerned and make sure everyone leaves to a safe place.
The sirens will be used in any case of calamities either by human or natural cause which creates an large and eminent risk to public safety.
As an emergency photographer I get the NL alert quite often, as I am quite often in the reach of a place where they use it. It makes a hell of a lot of noice, but I barely read it as I already know what it's saying. Most of the things I already know, hear/see at the emergency or read on social media. The main advice is always the same. Though there has been moments when it went of, not as a test, I really asked why. And then I did feel some panic getting in me, though luckily it were just errors in the system. But basically when I am near a zone, I am already following the rules, as it's for my own safety and to do my work the right way. So I don't worry that it will go wrong once I am not there and it goes off. I think I will be fine. I do wanna help others though with getting the information they want/need. As I have noticed that if you give people that, they will become a lot more calm/obedient/careful.
The national system has nothing to do with World War 2. Big cities may have had air raid warning sirens but most villages just rang the church bells. Most places would have have alarm systems (the aforementioned church bells) in place via their water boards. The national system was created for the cold war. After the cold war it fell in disuse for a few years before it got reinstated for it's current use.
Polder kids like me were told the warning had more to with flooding's than anything war related because we were near Den Helder and that would be a prime target for the Russians anyway.
No hiding under desks for us unless you can breath water and mud. A sturdy roof where you can wait for the helicopters is what you want.
The sirens.
I live in Emmen in Drenthe, up north-east. I've always heard the sirens, even when I lived way more rural.
My parent explained it thus: the sirens are there to warn us of danger. That can be any danger that you need to pay attention to. Every first monday of the month we test them to hear if they are all working right. But if you hear them any other time: Go inside, close doors and windows, and turn on the radio. (yeah, I'm that old.)
So, now, same thing, just turn on the tv, or any other social media, and one will find out what's going on.
Occasionally they're used near big fires, when people have to close doors and windows and turn off ventilations as to not inhale the smoke that may be coming their way. etc.
And recently, here in Emmen we had a - what we call - "sore-throat-chicken" ,...the siren coughed and spluttered and missed a lot of sound... Next test, perfect alarm.
It makes me feel safe these alarms. Like, "K, everything's working". It gives a great feeling of continuity.
The DRILL you talk about, happened with STER commercials on tv between programs. You know, "info the government wants you to know". The "go inside close doors and windows and turn on the radio" was the STER commercial that explained this alarm on tv regularly on family times too.
Want to inform the population about an upcoming catastrophe?
Scream it out loud until nobody can say "jeez, I didn't hear" anymore.
You can also use it as a PA so spoken words can also be used. (Think MASH)
We always kinda like to know what we're running for before we start to panic, you see.
Growing up in a garrison city, the sirens were deadly serious business.
We were surrounded by targets, 3 army bases, 2 air bases, several large storage sites for war supplies, a major command center, all within the blast radius of the expected nuclear weapons the Soviets were thought to be using against us when (not if, when) they were to attack.
Everyone knew where the nearest basement entrance was in any building they spent a lot of time in. Pretty similar to what I guess people do for tornado warnings in the central USA.
Of course nobody really thought we'd survive long, given that we all suspected those nuclear weapons to be quickly followed by nerve gas and biological weapons that'd kill any initial survivors, but you were prepared anyway.
And with teachers, parents and grand parents in that era who were survivors of WW2 and had experienced German (and sometimes American and British) bombing raids on their home towns, there was a LOT of urgency.
I never even thought about foreigners being alarmed by them until I had a British friend over and the sirens went off on their monthly test cycle. He had a jump scare, didn't know what to do until I explained to him what it was.
They shouldn't discontinue the tests, or tear down the network. It's still performing a vital function in alerting the population of large scale disasters, like chemical spills, big fires, and things like that. Luckily it's rarely needed, but if needed it's there.
NL Alert (and the US equivalent, Amber Alert) are helpful, but in a real emergency you can't rely on the cellphone network working. Underground phone lines and manually operated sirens are pretty much fool proof. It's always surprised me that other nations, especially nations like the UK and Germany that suffered horribly under bombing campaigns during WW2, don't have their air raid sirens operational any longer.
I'm from 1953. My dad spent 2 years in Germany during WW2 as forced labor. After WW2 it were real air raid sirens. My dad told me, the same sirens were in Germany during WW2 and yes he was at 200 m of the central aiming point in Chemnitz when USA bombers bombed that city. 3500 dead in one night. It took him two days to dig from the shelter under the factory to the street after the bombing. Just to illustrate it was serious business for him.
During WW2 and the cold war there was a civil protection/aid organization in The Netherlands, the "Bescherming Bevolking". Printed instructions what to do when the sirens sounded, were handed out by the authorities with the advice to hang the instructions at a certain place. I believe it was next to the electricity meter.
Bomb- and fallout shelters were created. In my street was a shelter for 2500 people under a highway. Today it's a shooting range. Later we were instructed to put on the TV on the local channel for instructions.
The system will go away, that's decided.
NL-Alert, a direct cell broadcast system, took the place of the sirens and the TV for instructions. Cell broadcast doesn't use the cell phone channels, it only uses the cell tower transmitters to send a signal to the cell phones and the receiving possibilities of cell phones. Instructions in Dutch and English, written and spoken on the cell phones appear. The NL-Alert system is more able to warn and instruct people in a much smaller area, so it's used quicker than the sirens. In a number of occasions, like the Limburg floodings a couple of years ago it prevented a lot of lost of lives, in contrast to Germany that did not have the system. The Germans had a lot of dead people. Germany took a speedy approach and has the Cell Alert system operational now as far as I know.
Your remark about a totally overwhelmed cell phone network is foreseen too. The civil authorities, paramedics, fire brigades, police and military have a number of cell phones with priority. I was a police officer and was on duty during a totally overloaded cell phone network on a New years eve. My police cell phone worked normal.
I loved the subject. It's the combination of my technical study and work before I went to the police and my many years of police work.
It's just testing.
I am 1966 built. So the sirens always have been a part of my life. They were just there. That's about it. When I started asking questions, it was explained that they belonged to an alarm system belonging to the BurgerBescherming. This was a volunteer organisation, not part of the government nor the military, but closesly allied to the military. They would warn the people if something was going to happen.
Obviously, growing up in a post WW2 country, in the height of the cold war, the threat, or rather very real possibility of an invasion of some kind. What also helped with that awareness, is that the Starfighters of the local airbase were using the town as a low flight area. They are LOUD!!!!
All in all, the possiblity of war is a real thing here.
There is no drill in any panicky way. It is more of a sign to switch on the radio and listen to what is required. Or NL-ALERT on your mobile phone. Install the app.
Actually a few years ago they tried to stop the monthly sirens. It was objected against. So they went through.
The monthly sirens are not a part of a drill, but they are tested monthly. And as the tests are always at the same day (first Monday of the month) and the same time (12 o'clock) the Dutch people know not te pay much attention tot them. They do not remind me of danger, but when I hear them I know it is the first Monday and it is 12 o'clock). The teststs of NL-allert always cause me a real scare, just because they are just twice a year. And I have received a real NL-allert twice this year already.
I do not have children, so I do not know what is taught in school nowadays. But when I went to school (in 70''s and 80's) the times the sirens were a subject in, school was in the month of May. On the 4th of May we have Dodenherdenking, when The Netherlands remember everybody who died for our country. And on the 5th of May we have Bevrijdingsdag, when we celebrate the end of WWII in the Netherlands.
I'm 52, born and raised in the Netherlands. I can't remember having been explained what the alarm is about. It's just the air raid siren. You grow up with it. It's just there every month. It seems to make sense that there would be an alarm system (for air raids). I don't have any concrete plan on what to do in case it would go off in a real emergency. I guess it depends on the emergency. In most cases the police will drive around and broadcast through their PA system what the emergency is and what to do. I've never experienced the air raid siren going off for real. I have heard the police driving around in case of a hazardous situation such chemicals in the air due to a fire in a warehouse or what have you.
There is a story that when the alarm went off, a wise-cracking Dutchman shouted "in panic": the dams have broken! We're all going to drown! In English and in the center of Amsterdam. Some tourists started running away in panic....
Talking abt warnings: be careful to give up your american citizenship. Dutch AOW (an important part of your pension) is dependent on how long you have lived and worked in the Netherlands.
From the American media and pop-culture we at a young age learn from US culture about earthquake drills - and things like that as well.
Your brain on drugs is .... an egg sunny side up. Stanger danger, etc. The things you get in your TV shows - we also got, if we had that tv show.
And we grew up with a lot of US based media in the Netherlands post WWII.
Questions;
How were the alarms explained; It wasnt really explained. If it happened monday the first of every month then stuff is okay. If it happens on another date, shit is about to hit the ceiling. So run. Get under your desk.
What happens when the alarm goes off in the middle of the month? Shit is about to hit the ceiling (I think you english say it like that right?). No particular plan in mind honestly. Be grateful for every day you have :)
There is nothing really teached about the sirenes actually.
NL Alert is often for missing childern and stuff I think.
Where I live, in Dordrecht, there are alarms in a few places, no one knows where, everyone is used to them, and there has never been a reason to have to respond to them since the Second World War. BUT years ago I lived temporarily in a very cheap apartment in a neighborhood, much cheaper than any other. I didn't understand WHY it was much cheaper but I found out on the first Monday of the month: the alarm was on top of my roof! I'm 60 and NO, no drills ever ...
We moved as quickly as possible!
Since 1997, the siren has only been tested nationwide once a year (on the first Wednesday of June) and once silently per month. However, in 2000, this did not happen due to the fireworks disaster in Enschede. As of September 2003, the monthly loud test has been reintroduced.
The government has considered abolishing the air raid siren more often. Almost everyone has a mobile phone, so the alarm can also be given that way.
But that always leads to a lot of criticism. As Dutch people, we are used to the noise and we don't want to miss it. It also gives a sense of security to know that the alarm really works.
If the alarm is not audible for once, you immediately see all kinds of messages on Twitter.
Furthermore, we grow up with it, so even from being a baby, you are already used to it. My parents experienced the war, so I was simply told that the alarm was there in case there was a dangerous situation again.
A regular citizen has no plans for when the air raid alert sounds on a regular day. Most times I also recieve a push SMS on my phone during the monthly test. So I suppuse that - in the case of a distaser or attack or whatever - that system will also be used for sending people instrusctions about what to do. But these are modern sirens. I grew up with the old ones. They sounded like the type you hear in old war movies. Somewhat more sinister than the new sirens. Anyway. My parents grew up in Rotterdam during the war, They experienced them enough in those five years. Not so much as a warning for German bombardments, but rather the bombdroppings by Allied forces. The harbour, as important infrastructure, is a bomb magnet ofcourse. So I was told once what is was, and after that it became just part of life. And if I had queastions, I could always ask them about it. It did not a heavy war trauma or anything. So in short: No we have no plans, and it's just part of life. At a certain moment you won't even consciously hear it anymore.
So I heard you were going to Ikea, I only live 700m away there, So maybe next time I can bring you back home, with not to many large packages, haha, so you don't have to take bussess or trams. ?
I'm referring to Ikea Barendrecht, not Delft
Back in the 60s/70s, this was very real. As a kid I had just come back from living on an air defense military base in Germany, where we would have been among the first targets, and the possibility of an air attack was not just a theoretical possibility. Other than "find shelter, listen to the radio", I don't think we had any explicit plan.