Apeldoorn, City of Safety

From the Hunneschans near the Uddelermeer to the military development of the Veluwe from the 19th century to the present day: for centuries, Apeldoorn has been a place of preparation, training and defence. That history is still visible and palpable in the city.

Even today, Apeldoorn plays an important role in the security of the Netherlands. With the presence of the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Military Police and the East Netherlands Police, as well as leading training programmes, there is a strong foundation here. This is reinforced by a growing number of national companies active in physical and digital security. Together, they form a powerful network where knowledge and practical experience come together.

With the Centre for Security and Digitalisation, the Police Academy, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, ROC Aventus and partnerships with the University of Twente and the Eastern Netherlands Security Network, Apeldoorn has become the leading centre of expertise and training for security professionals.

What makes Apeldoorn special is that safety is not only conceived here, but also taught, tested and put into practice. The education sector, the government and the business community work closely together to develop innovative solutions to the safety challenges of today and tomorrow.

For the Netherlands, from Apeldoorn

Apeldoorn stands out for its combination of training, work and practical application. This is where the whole chain comes together: from education and innovation to practical experience and employment.

In recent years, an important new dimension has been added: digital security. Through the Centre for Security and Digitalisation, partners are working together on issues at the intersection of security and technology.

It is precisely this combination of physical and digital security, and the close collaboration between public and private sector organisations, that makes Apeldoorn a place where knowledge is directly put into practice.

Today’s challenges do not stop at municipal boundaries. Think of cyber-attacks, disruptions to the energy supply or system failures. Their impact is immediately felt in everyday life.

Apeldoorn is therefore developing into a place where these issues come together and where work is being done to find solutions that can also be applied elsewhere. In this way, the city contributes to the safety and resilience of the Netherlands.

Why is this important?

Society is changing rapidly. We are becoming increasingly dependent on digital systems and essential services such as energy, water and communications. At the same time, disruptions are becoming more complex and are having a more immediate impact on our daily lives.

This calls for a different approach: not just reacting when something happens, but also preparing, working together and thinking ahead.

Working together to ensure safety

Safety is everyone’s responsibility. That is why the government, the education sector, businesses and the wider community are working together. By sharing knowledge, practising together and supporting one another, we are better equipped to deal with unexpected situations.

To strengthen this collaboration and provide direction, Apeldoorn is working with partners on the further development of ‘City of Safety’.

In this way, Apeldoorn is making a tangible contribution to a safe and future-proof Netherlands.

Would you like to find out more about the approach? Take a look at the Introductory note: Apeldoorn, City of Safety.