New national siren system to be developed as Netherlands keeps air raid alerts

The Netherlands will retain its public warning sirens, with a new network to be introduced in partnership with the Ministry of Defense, according to Justice Minister David van Weel. In a letter to parliament, he said the country would invest in “an innovative new siren network” designed to meet contemporary requirements, including the ability to be activated on a nationwide scale.

The future of the warning system had been uncertain, with plans for it to disappear by 2028 due to a lack of funding for a replacement. However, a parliamentary majority pushed to keep the sirens in operation.

In a post on X, Van Weel said it is “important that the government can issue warnings promptly and through multiple channels.” As a result, the air raid siren system will remain in place alongside NL-Alert as a rapid means of alerting the public.

The minister said the existing air raid siren system, known as the Warning and Alarm System (WAS), has become outdated and needs replacing. Because it is limited to a single warning tone, its usefulness is restricted to specific emergency situations, meaning it is rarely deployed in practice. He also noted that the sirens are not audible to everyone in the Netherlands.

Van Weel said that NL-Alert provides adequate warning capabilities under normal circumstances. However, he warned that depending solely on the mobile alert system would leave the Netherlands vulnerable in the event of a major attack by a foreign state.