Police report in the Netherlands (aangifte): how it works and your rights

Anyone who knows of a criminal offence may report it to the police in the Netherlands (Article 161 of the Dutch Code of Criminal Procedure, Sv), whether victim, witness or bystander. A report (aangifte) is recorded in an official statement (proces-verbaal) that you sign; the police and the Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie, OM) then decide what happens, and for a few very serious offences reporting is a legal duty.

There is no deadline for reporting as such, but prosecution becomes time-barred after a period that depends on the offence. If the prosecutor decides not to prosecute, you can complain to the court of appeal within three months under Article 12 Sv.

What is the difference between an aangifte, a notification and an anonymous tip?

An aangifte is a formal report in which you ask for prosecution; a notification (melding) only passes on information. An anonymous tip through Meld Misdaad Anoniem keeps your identity hidden but cannot serve as evidence on its own.

An aangifte carries your name and becomes part of the criminal file, which the suspect and their lawyer can normally read. A victim or witness who fears the suspect can ask to give the police station as address (domiciliekeuze) or, in exceptional cases, to report under a number. Raise this at the start of the interview.

When is reporting a legal duty?

Reporting is normally voluntary. Article 160 Sv obliges anyone who knows of certain very serious offences, such as crimes against state security, against life, abduction and rape, to report them without delay; Article 162 Sv obliges public officials to report certain offences they discover in their duties.

Professionals with a right of non-disclosure, such as lawyers and doctors, cannot simply be compelled to report what they learned in confidence. Some sectors have their own reporting rules, such as the reporting code for domestic violence and child abuse in health care and education. Knowingly making a false report is itself an offence, so do not add facts you are unsure of.

Kedu otu esi etinye akụkọ?

Simple property offences without a known suspect, such as bicycle theft or many forms of online fraud, can be reported online at politie.nl with DigiD. Violent offences, home burglary, sexual offences, threats, stalking and cases with a known suspect are reported in person by appointment with the police; if the offence is happening now or someone is in danger, call the emergency number.

You can report anywhere in the Netherlands, not only where the offence took place. If the police at the counter say it is a civil matter, you may ask that the report be recorded anyway; if it is refused, a lawyer can submit a written aangifte to the police or the OM. A victim may bring a person of their choice and a lawyer to the interview, and an interpreter is provided if you do not report in Dutch.

Kedu ihe ị ga-eweta?

• Njirimara dị irè.
• A written chronology: date, time, place, what was said and done, and who was present.
• Evidence: photos of damage or injuries, screenshots with sender details and timestamps, bank transaction overviews, serial numbers and invoices.
• Names and contact details of witnesses.

Read the statement before signing it and have inaccuracies corrected on the spot. Ask for a copy and note the report number, which insurers and employers will ask for.

What happens after the report?

The police assess whether there are investigative leads; not every report leads to an investigation. Under the expediency principle, the OM may decide not to prosecute even with sufficient evidence, if prosecution is not in the public interest.

The options are a dismissal (sepot), sometimes with conditions, a punishment order (strafbeschikking) by the prosecutor for lighter offences, or a summons to the criminal court. As a victim, you have the right to be informed about the progress and decisions, to inspect and add documents, and to be assisted by a lawyer. For serious offences, victims and certain relatives may speak at the hearing. Victim Support Netherlands (Slachtofferhulp Nederland) offers practical help, including with a compensation claim.

What can you do if the case is dropped?

A directly interested party, usually the victim, can file a written complaint with the court of appeal against a decision not to prosecute (Article 12 Sv). The complaint must be filed within three months of the day you learned of the decision.

The court of appeal can hear you and the person concerned and can order the OM to prosecute; that order is binding. The procedure often takes long and does not decide guilt, only whether prosecution is warranted. Complaints about the conduct of the police go to the police complaints procedure and then to the National Ombudsman, but cannot force a prosecution. A civil claim against the person responsible remains possible.

How long can you still report an offence?

There is no deadline for the report itself, but once prosecution is time-barred, a report can no longer lead to a case. The limitation periods in the Dutch Criminal Code (Sr) depend on the maximum sentence; offences punishable by life imprisonment and serious sexual offences against children do not become time-barred.

Report early anyway: camera footage is often overwritten within weeks and traces degrade. For offences prosecuted only on complaint (klachtdelicten), such as defamation and stalking, the complaint can be withdrawn within eight days of filing (Article 67 Sr). Any other aangifte cannot be withdrawn; you can say you no longer wish to pursue it, but the OM decides.

How do you claim compensation as a victim?

You can join the criminal case as an injured party (benadeelde partij) and claim compensation from the suspect without separate civil proceedings or a court fee. Submit the claim on the prescribed form before the hearing, with invoices and other evidence.

The criminal court only deals with claims that do not disproportionately burden the criminal case; complex damages are referred to the civil court. If compensation is awarded, the court usually also imposes a compensation measure, under which the state collects the amount and, if the offender does not pay in time, advances it to the victim. Victims of violent crime can also apply to the Violent Offences Compensation Fund (Schadefonds Geweldsmisdrijven), even if the offender is not caught.

What applies to sexual offences, domestic violence and stalking?

For sexual offences, the vice unit (zedenpolitie) first holds an informative interview that does not oblige you to report. A medical examination can take place before you decide, which matters because forensic evidence is short-lived.

In domestic violence cases, the mayor can impose a temporary restraining order (huisverbod), initially for ten days, requiring the person to leave the home. Veilig Thuis is the advice and reporting point for domestic violence and child abuse. For threats and stalking, export messages and keep a dated log of every incident before blocking the sender.

What should you check as a victim or witness?

• Is this an aangifte, a notification or a klachtdelict that requires an express complaint?
• Have you secured evidence before cleaning up, deleting accounts or blocking senders?
• Did you read and correct the statement before signing, and note the report number?
• Do you want domiciliekeuze because you fear the suspect?
• Have you submitted your claim as an injured party before the hearing?
• If the case is dropped: is the three-month period for an Article 12 complaint diarised?

What should you check if a report has been filed against you?

• In what capacity are you invited: as a witness or as a suspect? Ask in writing.
• As a suspect, you have the right to remain silent and must be cautioned before questioning.
• You may consult a lawyer before the interview and have a lawyer present during it.
• Do not sign a statement you have not read carefully.

What can we do for you with a police report?

Anyị ndị ọka iwu mpụ assist victims, witnesses and people who have been reported against. See also our ndị nduzi iwu mpụ na isiokwu anyị gbasara ịkọ akụkọ mpụ nye ndị uwe ojii na Eindhoven.

• We prepare your report and, if needed, submit a written aangifte to the police or the OM.
• We attend the police interview with you.
• We draft and substantiate your claim as an injured party.
• We file an Article 12 complaint with the court of appeal within the three-month period.
• We assist you as a suspect before and during police questioning.

Summary

• Anyone may report an offence (Article 161 Sv); for some very serious offences it is a duty (Article 160 Sv).
• Simple property offences can be reported online; serious offences in person.
• Read the statement before signing and keep the report number.
• Against a decision not to prosecute, complain to the court of appeal within three months (Article 12 Sv).
• Claim compensation as an injured party in the criminal case, on the prescribed form.

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