Dutch safety regions unprepared for major blackouts, watchdog warns
The Dutch Safety Regions (Veiligheidsregio’s) must significantly improve their readiness for large-scale and long-lasting power outages, the Inspection for Justice and Security (Inspectie Justitie en Veiligheid) warned in a report published Thursday.
An investigation by the inspection revealed that 15 out of the 25 safety regions lack a concrete internal plan to continue crisis management operations without electricity. The inspection called this “concerning” and urged the regions to take urgent action.
While most Veiligheidsregio’s regularly conduct exercises simulating local power failures, these drills do not involve coordination with other regions nor do they simulate prolonged outages lasting several days. The inspection stresses that such comprehensive, multi-region drills are essential due to the possibility of widespread power failures affecting multiple areas or the entire country.
The concern follows real-world examples such as the multi-hour blackouts that struck large parts of Spain and Portugal in April 2025. These outages had immediate and severe consequences: mobile networks collapsed, preventing phone and internet use; hospitals switched to emergency generators; public transportation largely halted; and payment terminals stopped working.
Dutch safety regions stated that they recognize the high likelihood and severe societal impact of power outages and have prepared contingency plans to mitigate negative effects. However, the inspection points out that current preparations remain insufficient. Beyond lacking detailed self-sufficiency plans during outages, regions also fail to simulate prolonged blackouts exceeding 48 hours, relying instead on drills assuming shorter disruptions.
The inspection's report highlights that better cooperation among regions and realistic long-duration outage scenarios are critical to strengthening the nation’s crisis response framework. Without these measures, the ability to maintain essential services and public safety during a major power failure is reportedly at risk.
