The Dutch government will test the emergency system again. Today, on Monday 7 June around 12:00 PM, the government will send a test message to all suitable mobile phones in the Netherlands, so that you can check whether your device is set up correctly. Read here how you can prepare for this new NL-Alert.
NL-Alert test control message
NL-Alert is the system of the government that is used in emergency situations. With NL-Alert, the government can keep citizens informed of calamities and problems, whether or not in the immediate vicinity. The advantage of NL-Alert is that it also works if the network is overloaded, because cell broadcast is used. With this technique, a message is sent via all cell towers of the mobile providers.
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Once in a while In the meantime, the government will test the functioning of NL-Alert by distributing a test message. This always happens on the first Monday of June and December. This year it will be on June 7 and December 6.
If you want to receive this, it is necessary to set up your iPhone correctly. Since iOS 12.2, your iPhone is set correctly by default. If you still want to check whether everything is set correctly, you can read our tip on how to set up NL-Alert on the iPhone. Please note that receiving an NL-Alert is not possible on an iPad, even if it is equipped with a mobile data connection.
NL-Alert test used more and more
NL-Alert has recently been used more and more in case of calamities, such as large fires where it is recommended to close windows and doors. Last spring, an NL-Alert was sent due to the corona virus, due to crowds on a sunny Sunday in March. In the 5 years that NL-Alert has been used, it has already been used 200 times. However, things do not always go well, because many people sometimes receive the same NL-Alert message several times, but sometimes not at all. This is partly why the government is going to test NL-Alert again.
The government sends out an NL-Alert control message twice a year, which is announced via the NL-Alert website (and via iCulture of course). When you receive the verification message, your mobile phone is set up correctly.
The government will eventually replace the older alarm system with NL-Alert. These old sirens are still tested every first Monday of the month. In 2022, the government wants to stop the air raid siren. From that moment on, the sirens will be switched off and you will only be kept informed via NL-Alert, the crisis.nl website and social media. This is a target date, so it could change at any time. A decision on this will follow around the end of the year.
Concerns about battery life
A lot of people turn off NL-Alert because of the drain on the battery life. Whether it really has a lot of influence on your battery life is a matter of trial and error. Turn off the function for a day and use your iPhone as usual to find out if NL-Alert reduces your battery life. If the difference is negligible, it's better to turn it on to stay informed in an emergency. We have never noticed in the editors that NL-Alert causes a reduced battery life.
Also via unofficial NL-Alarm app
Do you never get an NL-Alert or do you want to receive notifications of emergencies in specific locations, even when you are not there? With the unofficial NL-Alarm app you get NL-Alerts via push messages. You can set up to three locations of places from which you want to receive an NL-Alert. Consider, for example, a notification to the address of a family member who does not have a smartphone. The app can also use your own location.
NL-Alarm is géén a replacement for NL-Alert, but only an additional service from an external party. In addition, you still need an active internet connection to receive a push message. If the network is overloaded, this app may not be able to send a notification. The advantage of NL-Alert is that this is separate from the mobile networks.
The government also released an official NL-Alert app itself, but was soon discouraged. A data breach in the NL-Alert app ensured that location data of users ended up with an external party. There was an update to fix this problem, but the app has stopped sending push notifications since then. It is therefore not recommended to use the app any longer.