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Missing abroad

Do you suspect someone is missing abroad? Or are you yourself abroad and a fellow traveler goes missing? Probably you are overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. Find out what you can do and who to turn to for the right help. Slightly different advice applies if you are in the country of missing than if you are in the Netherlands or another country.

I am not in the same country

  • Contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on +31247247247 (available 24/7). Calling from outside the Netherlands? Note that international telephone fees apply when you call from abroad.
  • You will be asked for the following information: name and address of the missing person, passport number of the missing person, name and address of the local contact (e.g. a tour leader), information about the purpose and destination of the trip, last known whereabouts of the missing person, names of any fellow travellers (and possibly their contact details), travel insurance information, information on flight tickets, money, credit cards, transport, medication. Having and sharing as much information as possible on these subjects will be helpful.
  • You will be requested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send the above information by email to dcv-ca@minbuza.nl.
  • You will also be asked by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report the disappearance in your place of residence. The police will subsequently determine follow-up steps depending on the circumstances.
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  • Report the disappearance in your place of residence if the person remains missing for a prolonged period. The police can tell you more about the follow-up steps and assist and support you.
  • Where possible, bring the same information that you have also provided to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • The police may contact the local police in the country in question. The disappearance must also be reported there if circumstances so dictate. Dutch authorities have no investigative power abroad. This responsibility lies with the authorities of the country in question.
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  • If the missing person contacts you, report this immediately to the police and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • If the missing person has travel insurance, contact the insurance company’s emergency centre. They can give information about possible compensation of costs of assistance in search actions.
  • If you are approached by the press, do not let yourself be tempted to make statements that may disadvantage the investigation. Click herefor information about how to deal with social and other media in the event of a disappearance.
  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the police will contact you if there have been developments in the case.
  • Contact Victim Support Netherlands if you feel you need support. They can not only provide emotional support, but can also help with legal and practical issues. Click herefor more information about the role of Victim Support Netherlands in the event of a disappearance, or contact them directly on 0900-0101 (from abroad: 116-006).
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I’m in the same country as where the person went missing

  • Contact the Dutch embassy in the country in question to report the disappearance. You can find the contact details via this link. Or you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via +31247247247 (available 24/7). Note that international telephone fees apply when you call from abroad.
  • You will be asked for the following information: name, address and passport number of the missing person, name and address of the local contact (e.g., a tour leader), information about the purpose and destination of the trip, last known whereabouts of the missing person, names of any fellow travellers (and possibly their contact details), travel insurance information, information on flight tickets, money, credit cards, transport, medication. Having and sharing as much information as possible on these subjects will be helpful.
  • The embassy will ask you to send the above information to them by email.
  • The embassy will ask you to report the disappearance to the local police.
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  • Report the disappearance to the police in the place where the person went missing.
  • If you face language problems, ask the embassy about the possibilities of hiring an interpreter. This will be your own responsibility.
  • Ask for a copy of the missing persons report. This may help with administrative matters at a later stage, such as insurance issues or a criminal investigation.
  • The police in different countries have different ways of working; therefore try to provide as much information about the missing person as possible: name and address of the missing person, passport number of the missing person, name and address of the local contact (e.g. a tour leader), information about the purpose and destination of the trip, last known whereabouts of the missing person, names of any fellow travellers (and possibly their contact details), travel insurance information, information on flight tickets, money, credit cards, transport, medication.
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    • If the missing person contacts you, report this immediately to the police and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
    • If the missing person has travel insurance, contact the insurance company’s emergency centre. They can give information about possible compensation of costs of assistance in search actions.
    • If you are approached by the press, do not let yourself be tempted to make statements that may disadvantage the investigation. Click herefor information about how to deal with social and other media in the event of a disappearance.
    • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contact you if there have been developments in the case.
    • Contact Victim Support Netherlands if you feel you need support. They can not only provide emotional support, but can also help with legal and practical issues. Click herefor more information about the role of Victim Support Netherlands in the event of a disappearance or contact them directly on 0900-0101 (from abroad: 116-006).

     

     

Role of Dutch authorities

  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy can establish contact with local authorities in the country in question. This will depend on the situation and on the country itself. One country may be more willing to give information than another.
  • Dutch authorities have noinvestigative powers abroad.
  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy may receive notification that the person has been registered somewhere, for example in a hospital or at a police station.
  • Be aware that a person has the right to disappear. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy knows the whereabouts of the person, but the person does not want this information to be shared, the authorities will not be allowed to share this information with you.
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