The Dutch emergency kit (noodpakket)
The Dutch government asks every household to keep a noodpakket (emergency kit) for the first 72 hours after a disaster or emergency, with 3 litres of water per person per day. The list comes from its Denk vooruit campaign.
What the Dutch government asks
Three days. Denk vooruit ("think ahead"), the national preparedness campaign run by the Rijksoverheid, puts it this way: "Met een noodpakket ben je de eerste 72 uur na een ramp of noodsituatie goed voorbereid." In English: with an emergency kit you are well prepared for the first 72 hours after a disaster or emergency.
The page adds that most of the items are probably already in your home, such as long-life food and blankets. We read it on 11 November 2026.
The official list
Twelve items, in the order Denk vooruit gives them.
| Item | What the list says |
|---|---|
| Water | Bottled water, 3 litres per person per day |
| Food | Long-life food such as nuts, tinned vegetables and dried fruit |
| News | A battery radio, and a mobile phone with a power bank |
| Light | A torch with spare batteries, candles and matches |
| First aid | A first-aid kit with instructions |
| Warmth | Blankets |
| Whistle | To let the emergency services know where you are |
| Cash | Cash. The English version of the page puts it at €70 per adult and €30 per child |
| Tools | For example a hammer, a saw and cutting pliers |
| Hygiene | Hand sanitiser, toilet paper, wet wipes, sanitary pads, toothpaste and a toothbrush |
| Papers | Copies of ID documents and a list of important phone numbers |
| Keys | Spare house and car keys |
Source: Denk vooruit, Stel je noodpakket samen, Rijksoverheid. Checked 11 Nov 2026.
Three things only you can add
The government asks you to look at your own household too:
- Medicines that you or anyone at home takes.
- Baby food, if there is a baby in the house.
- Food and water for your pets.
Water for a family of four
36 litres
Three days at the Dutch figure
Denk vooruit counts 3 litres per person per day. Over the 72 hours that is 9 litres each.
Source: Denk vooruit (Rijksoverheid)
Water for your household
People times 3 litres times 3 days.
| People | Per day | 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 L | 9 L |
| 2 | 6 L | 18 L |
| 3 | 9 L | 27 L |
| 4 | 12 L | 36 L |
| 5 | 15 L | 45 L |
| 6 | 18 L | 54 L |
At 3 litres per person per day (Denk vooruit). Pets drink on top of this. The water calculator works it out for your home.
Where to keep it and when to check
Denk vooruit gives four storage rules.
01One place, easy to reach
- Keep everything together in a handy spot you can get to quickly.
- Use waterproof packaging, such as a backpack.
Source: Denk vooruit (Rijksoverheid)
02A bag for leaving fast
- Put a bag in the same place in case you suddenly have to leave home.
- In it go the things you grab first: keys, ID and cash.
Source: Denk vooruit (Rijksoverheid)
03Agree who does what
- Decide at home who buys the supplies.
- Decide who checks them.
Source: Denk vooruit (Rijksoverheid)
04Check every six months
- Is the kit still complete?
- Are the products still within their dates?
Source: Denk vooruit (Rijksoverheid)
Questions people ask
How many days does the Netherlands recommend?
72 hours, so three days. That is the period Denk vooruit says a noodpakket should cover.
How much water per person?
3 litres a day. For three days, 9 litres a person, or 36 litres for a family of four.
Do I need to buy a ready-made kit?
The government's page says most of the items are probably in your home already. Gather what you have, then buy what is missing.
How often should I check it?
Every half year: that everything is still there and the food and batteries are still in date.
Is there an English version?
Yes. Denk vooruit has an English page on the emergency kit with the same list, plus the cash amounts.
Read next
Sources
- Denk vooruit (Rijksoverheid): Stel je noodpakket samen The list, the 72 hours and the 3 litres. Checked 11 Nov 2026.
- Denk vooruit: Putting together an emergency kit (English) Cash amounts per adult and child.
- Rijksoverheid: Alarmnummer 112