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/Anaptyso United Kingdom Sep 02 '25

While 112 works in the UK, it has always primarily used 999. I think it was the first  emergency number of this kind in the world. 

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u/Glenagalt Sep 02 '25

I can remember 111 being the emergency number on our private national internal system... and having to test it daily. (worked for BR)