The Netherlands is served by a network of police stations, though their numbers have decreased significantly in recent years—almost a quarter of stations have closed in the past five years as part of a national police reorganization[2]. As of 2024, there are approximately 227 team stations, down from 293 in 2019[2].
Police stations are distributed across cities, towns, and regions, with major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague hosting multiple stations, while rural areas and small towns may have only one or, increasingly, none[1]. For example, Rotterdam-Zuidplein Police Station in Rotterdam (Zuidplein 111, 3083 CN Rotterdam) is open daily from 8am to 10pm, while the Oost Watergraafsmeer station in Amsterdam (Linnaeusstraat 111, 1093 EN Amsterdam) operates from 8am to 6pm every day[1].
The trend toward station closures has especially impacted regions outside the largest cities. Noord-Nederland, which includes Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe, lost over a third of its stations. In some places, like Wolvega (Friesland), the last station is scheduled to close, requiring residents to travel to another town, such as Heerenveen, for in-person police services[2]. The visibility and trust associated with neighborhood policing are considered important by local officials, who worry closures weaken the bond between officers and the public[2].
According to the National Police, technology allows officers to operate effectively without always needing to return to a physical station. Administrative and fieldwork can often be conducted remotely, which, together with the need for cost control, has been cited as a reason for closures[2]. Nevertheless, the current Dutch government has committed to increasing police visibility—potentially by opening new service counters in town halls and libraries, though these will typically operate by appointment only and may have limited hours[2].
Some key police stations in the Netherlands, as of the latest available data, include:
- Police Station Nieuw-West Noord, Amsterdam – Postjesweg 179, 1062 JN Amsterdam, open Monday to Friday 8am-6pm[1]
- Police Station Rotterdam-Zuidplein, Rotterdam – Zuidplein 111, 3083 CN Rotterdam, open daily 8am-10pm[1]
- Police Station Oost Watergraafsmeer, Amsterdam – Linnaeusstraat 111, 1093 EN Amsterdam, open daily 8am-6pm[1]
- Police Station Zoetermeer – Burgemeester Wegstapelplein 1, 2711 AK Zoetermeer, open Monday to Saturday 9am-10pm, Sunday 9am-6pm[1]
- Politie Midden-Nederland, Utrecht – Burgemeester Middelweerdplaats 2, 3454 HG Utrecht, open Monday to Saturday 8:30am-5pm[1]
- Politie Station Baarn – Eemnesserweg 52, 3741 GB Baarn, open daily 7am-11pm[1]
For a more detailed and up-to-date list of police stations in the Netherlands—including addresses and opening hours—see the sources below.
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