The Dutch government conducted a nationwide test of its NL-Alert emergency warning system at noon on Monday, June 2, 2025. The alert, accompanied by a loud, piercing sound, was sent to mobile phones connected to the Dutch mobile network. NL-Alert tests are held twice a year, typically on the first Mondays in June and December.
The message, clearly marked as a test, read: “NL-Alert [June 2, 2025] 12:00: TESTBERICHT. The government warns you during emergencies via NL-Alert. You will read what to do and where to find more information. *** TEST MESSAGE Netherlands Government Public Warning System. No action required.”
NL-Alert is used during life-threatening emergencies, including severe weather, large fires, terrorist threats, epidemics, and when 112 emergency phone lines are unavailable. The system provides critical safety instructions to people in affected areas.
Some users may have received the test alert multiple times. This can happen if their devices are configured to repeat emergency messages or are connected to both of the NL-Alert broadcast channels, which support different generations of mobile devices.
Not all mobile phones received the message. Devices that were powered off, in airplane mode, or outside of mobile coverage during the alert transmission did not receive it. Phones connected to older 2G or 3G networks, or to towers in Belgium or Germany—especially in border regions—were also unlikely to get the alert.