If you are in need of emergency assistance, whether it’s fire, police or medical services, the number to call is 112. The central emergency operator will answer ‘112 Alarm Centre’ (they will speak English). You must tell the operator which service is required: police, fire department or ambulance, and then the operator will connect you with the appropriate department. When the operator of the required service answers, say what is wrong and at which location. They will take the details and then send help, alerting any other services that might be needed. Help should arrive in five minutes. In minor emergencies, you should first contact your GP, who will either make a house call, ask you to come to the local GP surgery, or send you to hospital for treatment. If you are sent to a hospital, your GP will notify it in advance of your arrival. If you do not have a doctor’s referral and your situation is not life threatening, Dutch hospitals may refuse to treat you, so be sure to call your GP first. If you need a doctor urgently and are not registered yet with a GP (or can’t reach them over the phone) you can phone the Centrale Doktersdienst (Central Doctors’ Service) on 020 592 34 34.