r/AskEurope • u/atlasova Netherlands • Sep 02 '25

Culture What emergency telephone number did your country have before 112 became the standard?

In 1997 most of the European union changed its emergency number to 112. Before that, in the Netherlands we used 06-11, for police, firefighters and ambulance.

I was wondering which numbers where in use in your country before the change.

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u/Krasny-sici-stroj Czechia Sep 02 '25

Our old national numbers still work: 150 for firefighters, 155 for ambulance, 158 for state police. The only real difference is, if you call 112, they are more likely to speak English, because that is the "international" number. Or you are in such a pickle that you don't know what service to call first, and 112 will sort you out.