The police commissioner (eerste hoofdcommissaris) in the Netherlands is Janny Knol since March 1, 2024.

These officers have a Special Enforcement Officer (SEO) status (Buitengewoon Opsporingsambtenaar) or BOA/Handhaving in Dutch and therefore have police powers (detaining suspects, ask for identification, make an arrest, issue fines within their power of offences and use force).

They can be found within the transport police, game wardens and local enforcement agencies.

A few councils also issue their officers, with permission from the Ministry of Justice and Security, police batons, pepper spray and occasionally firearms.

In 2018 unions were concerned with the increase of violence against these officers and had decided to make the consideration towards whether they would equip all these officers with the less-lethal weapons, batons and pepper spray, or make them part of the national police force.

This stayed the same until 1810, when Napoleon annexed the Netherlands to the French Empire and started to set up a proper police force.

The Netherlands regained its independence in 1813 and a year later King William I established the Corps de Marechaussee.

In 1858, in addition to the Marechaussee, the Korps Rijksveldwacht (national constable corps) was created with fourteen hundred employees.

To restore and control public order, the government decided to set up a new police organization in November 1945.

Decisions about the principal law enforcement policies are made by a regional board, the so-called Driehoek (triangle) whose chairman is the eenheidsbeheerder (unit manager).

In addition, it carries out broad police tasks (enforcement and investigation) on the main infrastructure, with specialist animals, and in the domain of VIP protection.

This way, the Operational Center can make adjustments if necessary and tailor the police force to the security situation at that time.

The departments also provide an overview and insight into the (inter)national security situation for operational police work.

The police monitor and protect people, objects and services (ex: Dutch royal family, other dignitaries assigned by the authorized minister) at a national, regional, and local level.

In such situations, the Royal and Diplomatic Protection Service takes on a more prominent role and provides support with specific expertise and special resources.

In addition, the unit supports the police throughout the Netherlands with special interventions (DSI) and secret operations (AO).

The intelligence service contributes to the management and enrichment of criminal investigations, priorities and choices within the unit.

various teams carry out work for the regional units, the VIP Security system, the Rijksrecherche (internal investigations department), the Royal Marechaussee, the RST (kingdom investigations cooperation) and the BODs (special enforcement agencies).

By taking care of business operations, officers within the units have more time for actual police work.

The current fleet of the DNP is made up of mostly Mercedes-Benz and Audi, but some Volkswagen vehicles still remain from a contract that ended in 2018.

[16] The marked units are white with blue and red striping on the side and carrying a light bar on the roof.

Main all-purpose patrol vehicle: All-purpose vehicle: Fast intervention Unit (LX) Riot police transport (ME) For various other tasks the DNP uses: Since 2012, the new Dutch Police Law (Politiewet 2012) passed.

This means that the use of ICT will have to be improved so that constables do not lose a lot of time noting all their observations on paper for later use.

Sometimes police patrols drive directly from the communications center to the location where someone requested assistance.

There are also more serious calls that need direct attention, like an accident with injuries, a stabbing, a burglary, vandalism; all events where the police have to act and reassure.

A constable on foot may tell shop owners to put locks on their shelves outside to prevent shoplifting.

More and more often the police will visit schools to teach pupils about drug prevention, vandalism or sex on the internet.

Other police powers, like wiretapping, observation or searching premises, can only be used after permission is granted by the examining judge.

When dealing with an accident for example, the police cooperate with ambulance services, doctors, fire brigade and Royal Marechaussee.

[23] The employees of Slachtofferhulp are specially trained to provide support to victims of accidents and crime.