In a densely-populated country such as the Netherlands, disasters and serious accidents have far-reaching consequences. Injured people and the loss of property may lead to serious hardship.

Society is becoming increasingly complex. Infrastructure, including road systems, tunnels, and high-speed railway systems are under construction. Large industrial complexes threaten to fill the last parts of our open environment. The chances of serious accidents increase.

There are many possibilities for effective disaster control and risk management. In fact, we prepare for the worst. This applies not only to relief workers deployed at a disaster site, but also to those who at various levels in the government have administrative and organizational responsibility for disaster control.

A short outline of the Dutch system of disaster control and crisis management will be presented. Its practical aspects will be illustrated with the Schiphol plans for disaster management. This national airport, and its surroundings, serve as a model for daily, multi-disciplinary practice of emergency services. Being one of the world's busiest airports, Schiphol has invested much effort in the realization of a system to prevents accidents. If accidents happen, however, this plan provides the most effective way for a coordinated use of emergency services.

The Netherlands, which is a small country, has no separate executive organization for calamities. The fire brigades, police, and medical assistance services work together. During calamities they "scale up" and are assisted by other organizations, such as the Red Cross, water boards, municipal and provincial services, the Army, and many more.

Disaster control requires the use of various services. Coordination is critical. By implementing multi-disciplinary training courses and large scale exercises, the Dutch government is ensuring that relief workers can acquire the right kind of knowledge and skills for the purpose. When called upon, they are prepared to carry out their tasks efficiently and effectively.

R. Vrenken, MD/MHA.

Regional Medical Officer Amsterdam.