The Nuclear Security Summit 2014
in more than 100 questions
INTRODUCTION
The Netherlands is known for its commitment to peace, justice and security around the world. We believe it is
important to prevent nuclear terrorism. Many goods and people pass through the Port of Rotterdam and Schiphol
Airport, increasing the risk that our country could be used for the transit of smuggled nuclear material. This is why we
are and will remain at the forefront of efforts to investigate these activities. We also have a nuclear industry in our
country which must have effective security.
Nuclear material has an important function. It is used to cure the sick and light our homes. The chance that terrorists
will use nuclear material to carry out an attack is fortunately small. But if such an attack were to occur, the
consequences for the whole world would be very serious. Governments, companies, scientists and organisations
from many different countries are therefore working together to reduce the quantity of nuclear material, improve the
security of existing nuclear material and make better international agreements.
The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) is needed to ensure that global cooperation on this issue is effective and thereby
to prevent nuclear terrorism. Nuclear Security Summits have been held every two years since 2010 and are attended
by the leaders of over 50 countries. They were initiated by President Obama, on whose request the Netherlands is
organising NSS 2014. In this way our country is actively helping to make the world a safer place for the benefit of
everyone, both now and in the future.
NSS 2014 will contribute to the Netherlands' profile as a country of peace, justice and security. It will also give the
country an economic boost and create employment, as well as confirming The Hague's position as a conference
venue and city of peace and justice.
GENERAL
INFORMATION ON
NSS 2014
1. When and where will NSS 2014 take place?
NSS 2014 will take place on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 March 2014 at the World Forum in The Hague.
Some delegations will arrive earlier and/or leave later.
2. What is the aim of the NSS?
The aim of the NSS is to prevent nuclear terrorism by:
1. reducing the amount of dangerous nuclear material in the world;
2. improving the security of existing nuclear material;
3. strengthening international cooperation.
3. Who will attend?
The leaders of 53 countries and four international organisations (the EU, the IAEA, INTERPOL and the
UN) have been invited to the summit. The European Union will bring two world leaders, bringing the total
to 58. The world leaders are expected to be accompanied by 5,000 delegates, and around 3,000
journalists are expected from around the world.
4. Why aren't more than 53 countries attending the NSS?
For the first NSS in 2010, 47 countries and three international organisations were invited. In selecting the
participants, the aim was to achieve a good regional spread of countries, and to give priority to countries
where nuclear material was present and used. Fifty-three countries and four international organisations
were invited to the second NSS in 2012. The Netherlands has decided to keep this number of invitations,
reasoning that the more participants there are, the more difficult it is to reach an agreement, and the
bigger and more complicated the task of organising the event becomes.
5. Why are countries like North Korea and Iran not taking part?
Different forums are used to talk to these countries about nuclear security and their role and activities in
this area. In the current circumstances the NSS is not the right setting.
6. What is the programme?
The delegates are expected to arrive in the Netherlands on Sunday 23 and Monday 24 March. The
summit will begin on Monday 24 March at 13.30. Delegations will be received at the World Forum by the
Prime Minister, Mark Rutte. Following the official opening, the plenary session will begin. In the evening
there is a reception and dinner with King Willem-Alexander at Huis ten Bosch Palace. The plenary
session will resume at 9.00 on Tuesday 25 March. There will also be opportunities for bilateral meetings.
After the traditional leaders' group photograph and the adoption of the final communiqué, the programme
will be rounded off with a press conference in the late afternoon. Most of the delegations will depart on
Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 March.
7. Is the NSS a public event?
No. Only world leaders and their delegations will have access to the NSS. At specific times and places
the host broadcaster will make TV recordings that will be made available to all media outlets. A media
centre will be set up to enable foreign and domestic journalists to report on the summit.
8. Why was the Netherlands asked to organise NSS 2014?
There are a number of reasons why the Netherlands was asked – at NSS 2012 in Seoul – to host NSS
2014:
a. Around the world the Netherlands is known for its commitment to peace, justice and security. This
is thanks in part to the presence of the International Criminal Court, the International Court of
Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Our reputation also
stems from other international gatherings we have hosted in recent years, like the Freedom
Online conference and the Afghanistan conference. The request for us to organise NSS 2014
confirms our international role.
b. The Netherlands is a major player in the nuclear industry. For example, the Nuclear Research
and Consultancy Group (NRG) in Petten produces radiopharmaceutical materials and isotopes,
while Urenco Nederland in Almelo enriches uranium.
c. Many goods and people pass through the Port of Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport, increasing the
risk that our country could be used for the transit of smuggled nuclear material.
d. Through the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) we have taken the lead in further developing
nuclear forensics and promoting international cooperation in this field.
9. Why isn't an international organisation like the IAEA or the UN organising the summit?
Wouldn't they be a more logical choice?
The IAEA has 159 member states while the NSS involves 53 countries and four organisations. The
smaller size of this group and the temporary nature of the NSS process allow global agreements on
preventing nuclear terrorism to be reached more quickly. The NSS is an initiative of President Obama,
who sought to give an extra boost to nuclear security. The presence and direct involvement of world
leaders enable the achievement of results that would otherwise only be attained after a long time, if at all.
QUESTIONS
ABOUT DELEGATIONS
10. Will President Obama (/other world leader) actually attend in person?
It is a matter for heads of state and government themselves to confirm their attendance.
US President Barack Obama, French President François Hollande and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna
Solberg have already announced that they will be travelling to the summit.
11. Is Michelle Obama coming too? Is there a programme for the partners of the world leaders?
There is no programme for the partners of the world leaders. The summit is exclusively focused on the
issues.
12. Where will President Obama (/other world leader) be staying / spending the night?
For security reasons, no details can be given about where world leaders are staying. We can confirm,
however, that contrary to some reports President Obama will not be spending the night on a ship or a
drilling platform in the North Sea.
13. When will President Obama (/other world leader) be arriving / leaving?
For security reasons, no details can be given about world leaders' itineraries.
14. How many people will there be in a delegation?
This will vary greatly and depends on the country in question. In total we expect around 5,000 delegates
to accompany their leaders to the Netherlands. For security reasons, no details can be given about the
size of a particular country's delegation.
15. Who will accompany the world leaders in March?
Their delegations will include their chief negotiators (sherpas) and other officials. These officials will not
only advise them on matters of nuclear security, but will also fulfil roles relating to protocol, personal
security and statements to the media.
16. Where will all those world leaders, delegates and journalists be staying?
Within a radius of 60km around The Hague, some 8,000 beds have been reserved at around 55 hotels for
the expected 5,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists (delegations pay for the accommodation themselves).
We cannot say for security reasons which hotels delegations will be staying at.
17. What security arrangements will be put in place for world leaders like President Obama?
The deployment of police during the summit will be substantial. We cannot answer specific questions
about security arrangements.
18. Can the Netherlands guarantee their safety?
The government is doing all it can to ensure the success of the summit. Effective, targeted measures are
necessary to maintain security and ensure the event proceeds without disturbances. These measures will
affect mobility. At the same time, the government always seeks to strike the right balance between taking
the necessary security measures and allowing society to function normally.
See also the questions on safety and security.
AIRPORTS
19. Which airports will be used?
Most guests will arrive at Schiphol Airport on scheduled flights or by government aircraft. Aircraft of
delegations will also land and be parked at Rotterdam-The Hague Airport, although fewer than at
Schiphol.
20. Is it true that Valkenburg airfield will be used?
The former Valkenburg airfield will not be used for the arrival or departure of delegations. The runways
are now entirely unsuitable for this purpose. However, the site will be used as a base for Ministry of
Defence helicopters and for the police involved in security and traffic management operations relating to
the summit.
ORGANISATION
OF THE
NSS
NSS 2014 is the biggest summit ever held in the Netherlands. Fifty-eight world leaders, 5,000 delegates
and 3,000 journalists will be coming to The Hague. Preparations are in full swing at various government
ministries and dozens of partner organisations. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will chair the summit.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frans Timmermans, is coordinating the organisational and substantive
preparations.
ORGANISATION
21. Who is organising NSS 2014?
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will chair NSS 2014. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frans
Timmermans, is handling the organisational and substantive preparations.
22. How is the NSS being prepared?
A project team started making the organisational and substantive preparations in mid-2012. A sherpa
team of six people is responsible for substantive, diplomatic and preparatory negotiations. Many other
organisations and government ministries are also contributing to making the summit a success.
LOCATION
23. Where will the NSS be held?
The NSS will be held at the World Forum in The Hague. Other buildings in the vicinity will also be used
(OPCW, Omniversum, Gemeentemuseum), for example to house an international media centre.
24. Will the buildings surrounding the World Forum remain available for the businesses and
organisations that they house?
The World Forum is in the international zone, which means that there will be a security cordon around the
location. The buildings within it will be completely at the disposal of the NSS.
25. Many people will be inconvenienced by the fact that The Hague and the World Forum were
selected to host the NSS. Why wasn't a different, more accessible venue chosen?
The Hague, as the international city of peace and justice, has considerable experience hosting large
international events. The venue was selected following a tender procedure in which a number of factors
were taken into account, including location. The Hague and the World Forum came out on top.
26. Is the World Forum actually big enough?
Yes, the World Forum is big enough for the world leaders and around 1,500 delegates attending the
summit. An estimated 3,000 journalists will be accommodated at the press centre close by the World
Forum in the international zone.
27. Who will be responsible for furnishing and decorating the venue?
The theme of the decoration at the summit, which will cover over 12,000 m² of event space, is ‘a modern
twist on Dutch classics'. The tender for floral decorations and event styling at the World Forum has been
won by Fraai Projecten and Wolterinck Event Decoration. Every room at the venue will be assigned a
distinctive function and the décor will consist mainly of furniture by Dutch designers. Fraai Projecten and
Wolterinck Event Decoration are planning to feature a variety of flowers in their designs, details of which
will be announced shortly before the start of the Nuclear Security Summit.
Fraai Projecten and Wolterinck Event Decoration were among the four competitors for the World Forum
tender, in which price, quality and sustainability were key issues. Artwork from The Hague’s
Gemeentemuseum may be loaned for display in the World Forum meeting rooms. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs is also considering works from its own collection for the event. The furnishing and decoration of the
World Forum will start on 16 March and continue round the clock.
28. Will King Willem-Alexander play a role at the NSS? If so, what will that role be?
Yes, on Monday evening King Willem-Alexander will host a reception and dinner at Huis ten Bosch
Palace.
29. Where will all the world leaders go in the event of a large-scale emergency?
Hosting an event of this size obviously involves drawing up contingency plans to deal with a wide range of
scenarios. For security reasons, no details can be disclosed about where world leaders will go in the
event of an emergency. It goes without saying that the contingency plans include arrangements for the
public and routes for the emergency services.
COSTS
AND BENEFITS OF THE NSS
Organising a global summit costs money. The Netherlands will be welcoming 58 world leaders to NSS
2014. It must ensure they enjoy a safe stay and provide a dignified and undisturbed setting for their
important work. At the same time, the aim is to minimise costs as far as possible. The delegations and
media will, for example, pay their own travel and accommodation expenses.
30. How much will NSS 2014 cost?
The budget to organise NSS 2014 is €24 million, excluding security costs. These costs will not be
disclosed in the interests of the world leaders’ security. As this is the first time the Netherlands has
organised such a major summit, the budget is based in part on the budgets for the previous two Nuclear
Security Summits, in Seoul and Washington, and the G8 and G20 summits.
The €24 million budget will cover the cost of the location, organisation, catering, technology, ICT and
transport for delegates. It will be paid from the central government budget, more specifically from the
Homogenous Budget for International Cooperation (HGIS, a sub-budget within the central government
budget to promote cooperation and coordinate various ministries’ expenditure on foreign policy). A
number of companies are also willing to act as sponsors in kind.
31. What are the benefits of NSS 2014?
This question can be answered on several levels:
- a safer world and therefore a safer Netherlands;
- confirmation of the role we fulfil internationally;
- positioning of the Netherlands in general and as a country of peace, justice and security in
particular;
- positioning of The Hague as an international city of peace and justice.
32. Why is NSS 2014 being held during a crisis?
The costs of hosting the summit are being kept as low as possible. Where reasonable and appropriate,
the delegations and media will bear their own costs. They will pay, for example, for their own flights,
hotels and (barring a handful of exceptions) travel from the airport to the World Forum and their hotels.
They will also pay for their meals outside the World Forum.
33. Will businesses be compensated for loss of turnover or additional costs?
No, there is no general compensation scheme. In principle, everyone will bear their own costs. The NSS
was announced well in advance through the media, municipalities, industry associations, at special
meetings, etc. Everyone has been able to make appropriate preparations. Similarly, compensation is not
paid if large events (major fairs, sports events, marathons) partially or completely prevent access to a
business.
If you nevertheless think you are entitled to compensation in very exceptional circumstances, you should
submit a claim to the authority responsible for the decision that caused your losses. The mayor is
responsible for the closure of municipal roads, the province for provincial roads and Rijkswaterstaat for
trunk roads and motorways.
TRANSPORT
AND ACCESSIBILITY
The Netherlands is welcoming 58 world leaders and 5,000 delegates to the Nuclear Security Summit
(NSS) in The Hague on 24 and 25 March 2014. The security and traffic management measures taken to
ensure the summit (the biggest ever organised in the Netherlands) runs smoothly will have an impact on
accessibility. People travelling on the roads between Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam should
expect serious disruption. Long tailbacks on the motorways are possible due to road closures. The roads
around Wassenaar, Katwijk, Noordwijk and Haarlemmermeer may also suffer severe congestion.
34. How will I be affected if I live or work in or around The Hague?
The organisers of NSS 2014 are doing all they can to minimise the inconvenience to residents. For
security reasons, however, cars will have only limited access to certain parts of the city, chiefly around the
World Forum and on the access routes to it, on one or more days. The route to the Hubertus Tunnel and
Viaduct will also be closed. Parking will be prohibited in certain streets. You are urgently advised not to
drive to The Hague. If possible leave your car at home and take the tram or bus. Extra trams and buses
will be in operation. Apart from a handful of diversions, buses and trams in The Hague will be operating
as normal. Dutch Railways (NS) will also provide extra train capacity. For local residents, the bicycle is
the perfect solution. You could also consider working from home or at different times. The latest
information on the measures being taken for the NSS is available at www.denhaag.nl/NSS 2014.
35. How will I be affected as a road user?
The organisers of NSS 2014 are doing all they can to minimise the inconvenience to road users. For
security reasons, however, some roads and/or lanes will be closed to traffic at certain times.
People travelling on the roads between Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam should expect serious
disruption. Long tailbacks on the motorways are possible due to road closures. The roads around
Wassenaar, Katwijk, Noordwijk and Haarlemmermeer may also suffer severe congestion. All information
on traffic measures can be found at www.vanAnaarBeter.nl/voorbereidopweg/nss/.
36. What is the NSS’s estimated impact on traffic?
Traffic models indicate that rush-hour congestion will be twice as long as normal (‘congestion on top of
congestion’). If tailbacks on the motorways in the Randstad are usually 150 kilometres long, they will be
300 kilometres long during the summit.
37. What should commuters and other road users do?
 The government has asked all civil servants who do not live in The Hague to consult their superiors
and work at home or from somewhere else outside The Hague if possible. The government is


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therefore setting a good example to other employers and organisations. If you do not have to be in
this part of the Randstad on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 March, you are urgently advised to work
from home or somewhere else.
Secondly, if you have to travel to The Hague or Schiphol, or to destinations in between, use public
transport and travel outside the rush hour.
Extra rail capacity will be provided on services to The Hague. Dutch Railways (NS) will provide extra
rush-hour capacity between Amsterdam, Schiphol, Leiden and The Hague on Monday 24 March and
Tuesday 25 March. Longer intercity trains will run between 07.00 and 09.00 in the morning and
between 17.00 and 19.00 in the evening to carry 22,000 passengers per hour. This is 10,000 more
than normal. More details will be provided later. NS will also deploy an additional 600 people to assist
passengers at stations and on trains. The longer trains will also travel to Rotterdam.
If you have to travel by car during the rush hour, expect severe delays and longer journey times.
Good preparation is important. Consult www.vanAnaarBeter.nl before you leave, listen to the latest
traffic reports and follow diversions as signposted. In any event be prepared for longer journey times.
ROAD TRAFFIC MEASURES
Which roads will be directly affected?
The world leaders will travel from Schiphol to The Hague via a closed route, the A5, A4, A44, N44
and N14 corridor. One or more lanes will be closed for a long period of time.
When will the route be closed?
As far as we are aware, the route will be closed from 16.00 on Sunday afternoon until 16.00 on
Monday afternoon and from 13.00 on Tuesday afternoon until 05.00 on Wednesday morning. We
expect traffic to be severely disrupted during these periods.
So that’s a total of 40 hours. Why do the roads have to be closed for so long?
Traffic measures have to be taken and a thorough security check has to be carried out before the
world leaders can use the corridor. That takes time. The second closure – on Tuesday – will be
shorter because the route will be subject to strict security checks throughout the NSS and the
road closure equipment will remain in place. Furthermore, we will not know when the world
leaders will arrive at Schiphol until the very last minute.
So traffic will be disrupted both on Sunday afternoon and during the Monday morning and
Tuesday afternoon and evening rush hours?
Yes. The route will be reserved for the world leaders from 16.00 on Sunday 23 March. Roads and
lanes will be closed to the public and there will be serious disruptions.
Why has this route been chosen?
Security and the impact on traffic were taken into consideration and it was concluded that it would
be better to use the A44/N44 corridor than the A4 to The Hague.
What measures will be taken on the A5?
The A5 will be closed in both directions between the Raasdorp (A9) interchange and De Hoek
(A4) interchange between 16.00 on Sunday afternoon and 16.00 on Monday afternoon and
between 13.00 on Tuesday afternoon and 05.00 on Wednesday morning.
What measures will be taken on the A4?
Three lanes on the A4 will be closed between De Hoek interchange and the Burgerveen
interchange heading towards The Hague between 16.00 on Sunday afternoon and 16.00 on
Monday afternoon and between 13.00 on Tuesday afternoon and 05.00 on Wednesday morning.
The lanes will be closed by a mobile barrier, which can be placed and removed far faster than a
conventional barrier. Only two lanes will be available for traffic.
For security reasons, Den Ruygen Hoek service station on the A4 heading towards The Hague
will be closed from Sunday afternoon until Wednesday morning. Vehicles will not be allowed to
stay on the car park.
What measures will be taken on the A44/N44?
The A44 will be closed between the Burgerveen interchange and Wassenaar heading towards
The Hague between 16.00 on Sunday afternoon and 16.00 on Monday afternoon and between
13.00 on Tuesday afternoon and 05.00 on Wednesday morning.
What measures will be taken on the N14/N440?
The N14/N440 (Sytwende route, via the Hubertus Tunnel to the World Forum) will be closed in
both directions from Sunday afternoon 23 March until Wednesday morning 26 March. The route
will be closed from the A4. It will still be possible to reach Leidschendam.
Why will lanes heading towards The Hague be closed on Tuesday afternoon? Aren’t the
delegates returning to Schiphol?
To make use of the security and traffic measures already taken, it has been decided to use the
same route. The delegates will therefore travel against the normal flow of traffic on Tuesday
afternoon, heading north in the western lane.
Which slip roads on the route will be closed?
The slip roads at Hoofddorp (3), Hoofddorp-Zuid (3a) and Nieuw-Vennep will be closed.
How will slip roads be closed?
Slip roads will be closed by means of fences and barriers.
Will it be easy to reach Schiphol on these days?
It will be exceedingly difficult to reach Schiphol. You are advised to travel to the airport by train.
To take the world leaders from Schiphol to The Hague, the A4 heading south will be reduced from
five lanes to two. The first lane will be closed south of the Schiphol tunnel so that traffic can reach
Schiphol using the lane parallel to the A4 (north of the tunnel) for as long as possible.
-
If there is a risk of congestion on the A4 between the Badhoevedorp interchange and the
Schiphol tunnel, traffic will be diverted to Schiphol as follows:
traffic from the Vinkeveen exit on the A2 will be diverted via the N201 to the A4 and then led from
Hoofdorp via Oostbaan to Schiphol;
traffic from the Aalsmeer exit (6) on the A9 will be diverted to the A4 via the N232 (Fokkerweg)
and the N201;
traffic from the Ouderkerk a/d Amstel / Amstelveen-Oost exit (4) on the A9 will be diverted via
Beneluxbaan.
Who will inform the public of the NSS’s impact on air passengers?
Schiphol will inform the public of the NSS’s impact by means of press releases, its website,
Schiphol TV, etc. If necessary, it will communicate directly with local residents, airport users and
businesses.
Will measures also be taken on the A13?
It may be necessary to close one lane of the A13 to carry delegates from Rotterdam (airport and
city). Whether or not the motorway is closed will depend on the volume of traffic. If a delegation
can be escorted through the traffic without having to stop, the motorway will not be closed. If
there is a risk of congestion, a lane will be temporarily closed so that the delegation can be
escorted to The Hague quickly.
The route will not be closed from 16.00 on Monday afternoon until 13.00 on Tuesday
afternoon. Won’t there be problems?
On Monday evening, the world leaders will not return to their hotels until well after the rush hour.
We therefore expect few problems for other traffic.
The Tuesday morning rush hour will be very busy. Some world leaders will spend the night
outside The Hague and be escorted back to The Hague again in the morning but roads will not be
closed for long. The brief closure of some motorways and, for example, the N206 (from
Noordwijk) may disrupt traffic.
ALTERNATIVES



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You are urgently advised not to travel to this part of the Randstad (between Amsterdam and
The Hague) on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 March unless you absolutely have to. You are
advised to work from home or elsewhere. The government will ask all civil servants in The
Hague to consult their superiors and work from home or somewhere outside The Hague if at
all possible.
Secondly, if you have to be in or near The Hague or Schiphol, travel outside the rush hour.
If you have to travel to The Hague, Dutch Railways (NS) will provide extra capacity on the
trains between Amsterdam, Schiphol, Leiden and The Hague on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25
March. Longer intercity trains will be running to carry 22,000 passengers per hour between
07.00 and 09.00 in the morning and 17.00 and 19.00 in the evening. This is 10,000 more than
normal. Further details will be provided later. NS will also deploy 600 extra people to assist
passengers at stations and on trains. The longer trains will also run to and from Rotterdam.
If you have to travel by car during the rush hour, expect severe disruptions and longer
journey times. Good preparation is essential. Consult www.vanAnaarBeter.nl before you
leave, listen to the latest traffic reports and follow diversions as signposted.
How many extra trains will there be?
Extra capacity will be created by running longer trains and providing more standing room. It is not
possible to operate additional trains between Amsterdam, Schiphol, Leiden and The Hague. The
maximum number is already being operated.
Can’t Dutch Railways operate more trains instead of longer trains?
The capacity of all routes around The Hague has been studied. Extra passengers are expected
chiefly on the route between Amsterdam and The Hague. The trains will be lengthened to provide
more room. Additional trains cannot be operated on this very busy route in the Randstad.
Why can’t Dutch Railways always run longer trains on these routes?
Transport will be a key factor during the NSS. The carriages that will be used to lengthen the
trains are not ‘surplus’ but have to be taken from trains on other routes. To improve transport
around The Hague, it will be busier than usual on other routes in the Netherlands. There is good
cause to lengthen the trains in this exceptional case but it cannot be done all the time.
What will happen if a train breaks down? Can Dutch Railways guarantee a service?
ProRail will have extra people and equipment ready to deal with incidents. Dutch Railways (NS)
will also deploy extra people to deal with incidents and help passengers have a smooth journey.
How many more people will Dutch Railways deploy?
Dutch Railways (NS) will deploy 600 more people to assist passengers at stations and on trains.
It will also deploy more people to deal with incidents and help passengers have a smooth journey.
Where will the extra capacity come from?
The extra capacity will come from other parts of the Netherlands. Less capacity will therefore be
available on other routes in the country. The extra capacity will be created by making trains
longer and providing more standing room.
What effect will the longer trains have?
Taking the train or working at home could cut road traffic by as much as 30%. This will not be
enough to prevent traffic congestion during the NSS but hopefully it will be enough to prevent the
Randstad coming to a complete standstill.
What else will ProRail be doing on these days?
Extra response teams and engineers will be available to deal with problems quickly. Recovery
locomotives will also be on stand-by to provide assistance. This extra capacity should ensure that
trains keep moving if there is an incident.
Furthermore, ProRail (like Rijkswaterstaat on the roads) has not planned any engineering work
on the railway during the NSS.
Are you asking all civil servants to work from home?
We are asking all civil servants who do not live in The Hague to consult their superiors and work
from home on 24 and 25 March if at all possible. Alternatively, you might be able to find a
workspace in another government office outside the Randstad. Travelling outside the rush hour
will in any event help. You could even take a day off. It is in any event advisable to plan
appointments in The Hague on another day. By asking people to work from home, the
government is setting a good example to other large employers in The Hague, Leiden and around
Schiphol.
What is the thinking behind the diversions?
Road diversions will be in place between 16.00 on Sunday 23 March and 05.00 on Wednesday
26 March. They will be published on www.vanAnaarBeter.nl and signposted on the roads.
The diversions are intended to prevent traffic that is not going to a destination near Schiphol,
Leiden or The Hague from entering in that area. Commuters who normally drive from Amsterdam
to The Hague or Rotterdam, for example, will be diverted via Utrecht (A2/A12/A20). Drivers
heading from Schiphol/Amsterdam to Breda will also be diverted via Utrecht (A2/A27).
There is a high risk of tailbacks on the diversions. To limit them, the traffic that normally uses
those routes will also be diverted.
Examples:
- Friesland – Amsterdam via the A6/A1: to relieve the north of Amsterdam (A7/A8/A10);
- Groningen – Rotterdam via the A28/A50/A15 and Arnhem/Nijmegen – Rotterdam via the
A50/A15 to relieve the A12/A20 (especially the Gouwe-Terbregseplein interchange);
- Arnhem/Ede – Amsterdam via the A30/A1: to relieve the Oudenrijn interchange.
The aim is to spread the pain across the country as fairly as possible by spreading the traffic
across the motorway network. We expect the biggest problems in the west. That’s why the
diversions take traffic to the east. We urge drivers to follow the diversions so that the additional
journey time is as short as possible. Follow the diversion signs, not your navigation system.
How long will the road delays be?
Journey times by road during the NSS will be longer than usual. If people use public transport,
hopefully the motorways will not come to a complete standstill.
If you must drive, you are advised to prepare well before leaving home. Consult
www.vanAnaarBeter.nl, listen to the latest traffic reports and follow the diversion signs.
Information will be provided by the municipality of The Hague, many other municipalities,
provinces, Schiphol Airport, the ANWB motorists’ organisation and the Traffic Information Service
(VID).
Will the rest of the Randstad also be inconvenienced by the closures between Schiphol
and The Hague?
Yes. On the diversions via Utrecht, for example, it will be busier than normal.
You are providing diversions and extra train capacity. Isn’t that sending a mixed
message? What’s your advice to drivers?
The advice is to use public transport on Monday 24 March and Tuesday 25 March. Take the train
instead of the car. You could also work from home. If you have to drive, prepare well. Consult
www.vanAnaarBeter.nl for diversions, listen to the latest traffic reports and expect longer journey
times.
What are the alternatives/diversions in each municipality?
We are working on a single integrated traffic plan comprising all measures and diversions. It will
be completed in the course of February. The municipalities will announce the local consequences
and diversions and inform their residents themselves. Rijkswaterstaat will announce the regional
and national diversions, for example on www.vanAnaarBeter.nl. The authorities responsible for
managing the roads will share the information with each other.
It looks as though some municipalities, such as Wassenaar, will be cut off from the
outside world for two days. Is that true?
Diversions will also be in place to make sure that Wassenaar and other municipalities affected by
the NSS can be reached. But expect journey times to be much longer.
How will cyclists be affected during the NSS?
We aim to keep disruption to drivers and cyclists to a minimum during the NSS. In principle,
cyclists will not be restricted but they may have to wait if, for instance, a protected delegation is
passing. They can continue on their journey once the delegation has passed.
The only place where stricter rules will be enforced is on the road parallel to the N44 from The
Hague to Wassenaar. Cyclists will not be permitted on the road when protected delegations are
using the N44. More concrete information on the times is available on
http://www.vananaarbeter.nl/voorbereidopweg/nss/ and the municipal website.
If you want to know what arrangements have been made in your municipality, for example
regarding restricted areas, contact your municipality or visit the municipal website.
AIRSPACE AND FLIGHTS
38. Is it true that the airspace over The Hague will be sealed off for four days? If so, why?
All airspace within 50 nautical miles of The Hague will be sealed off and a wider area will be subject to
restrictions during the NSS on 24 and 25 March. Further airspace restrictions will be introduced
immediately above The Hague on 24 and 25 March. The civil aviation sector has been informed about the
restrictions.
39. How will the NSS affect scheduled flights?
With so many delegations to the NSS arriving at Schiphol, scheduled flights to and from the airport will
inevitably be affected. The precise impact is currently uncertain. It will depend on the airspace restrictions
in combination with Schiphol’s hourly capacity. Flight schedules will probably have to be rearranged.
40. May drones or model aeroplanes be flown near the World Forum or a delegate’s hotel?
As soon as they take to the air, all unmanned aircraft, including drones and model aeroplanes, are
classified as air traffic and are largely subject to the Aviation Act and Air Traffic Control Regulations.
These lay down that recreational/private flights with unmanned aircraft are permitted only above certain
areas and certainly not above built-up areas or crowds of people. Unmanned flights are therefore not
permitted around the World Forum, hotels or other locations that fall under this definition.
41. What will happen if members of the public or the media nonetheless fly model aeroplanes or
drones where they are not permitted?
They will be committing a criminal offence and action will be taken.
42. Is this always a criminal offence or only during the NSS?
As soon as they take to the air, all unmanned aircraft, including drones and model aeroplanes, are
classified as air traffic and are largely subject to the Aviation Act and Air Traffic Control Regulations.
These lay down that recreational/private flights with unmanned aircraft are permitted only above certain
areas and certainly not above built-up areas or crowds of people. This has nothing to do with the NSS.
43. Will other airports be used apart from Schiphol?
Some delegations will arrive at Rotterdam-The Hague Airport and their aircraft will remain parked there,
although the numbers will be smaller than at Schiphol.
44. How will access to Schiphol be affected?
Access to Schiphol by road is expected to be severely restricted at several peak times during the day.
Schiphol is warning travellers that they may experience difficulties getting to the airport during the NSS on
24 and 25 March and also on the preceding Sunday afternoon and the following Wednesday morning.
Travellers are advised to take the train to Schiphol.
45. Will it be possible to reach the flower auction and other businesses around Schiphol as
normal?
Yes, it will be possible to reach the flower auction and other businesses around Schiphol, although not
always via the usual routes. Diversions will be put in place and clearly signposted. Special meetings will
be organised to inform businesses about accessibility in the area affected.
46. How will people who work at or near Schiphol be affected?
People who work at or near Schiphol should expect longer journey times owing to the traffic congestion
that may affect the roads around Schiphol. They are advised to travel to work by train.
47. Will the NSS inconvenience people who live near Schiphol?
Part of the airport, including the Polder runway, will be reserved to receive the delegations to the NSS.
Scheduled flights will be spread across other runways. This may cause extra inconvenience to local
residents. Following the NSS, the Polder runway will undergo major maintenance work for four weeks.
More information will be posted on the website for local residents, www.bezoekbas.nl.
48. Can I still book a hotel in the Randstad (Amsterdam/Rotterdam/The Hague) during NSS 2014?
You can, but there is a risk that many hotels will be fully booked during the NSS. To find out about
availability, contact the hotels or an intermediary such as a travel agent or online booking service.
SAFETY
AND SECURITY
General
- Specific security measures are necessary to ensure that a summit involving 58 world leaders and
5,000 delegation members, being covered by 3,000 journalists from all over the world, can be
conducted in a safe and dignified manner, without disruption.
-
Countless organisations are working together closely to ensure that the NSS 2014 can be held
safely and without disruption.
The aim is to strike the right balance between safety and continuity, limiting the general
inconvenience caused to the greatest possible extent.
The risks that an event like the NSS entails have been described in scenarios. On the basis of
these scenarios, a range of appropriate measures (both visible and invisible) are being taken in
cooperation with the police and the security and intelligence services
49. Are foreign security personnel permitted to bring firearms?
When a head of state, government leader or foreign minister visits the Netherlands, armed security
personnel are permitted to accompany the delegation. These security personnel require permission to
carry firearms. Regulations exist under which firearms licences are issued by the National Coordinator for
Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) on behalf of the Minister of Security and Justice. These licensing
regulations will also apply to foreign security personnel at this summit.
50. Will the US secret service be responsible for President Obama’s security?
The Dutch government is responsible for the security of all heads of state and government who are in the
Netherlands at the time of the NSS. Security will be ensured by the Dutch police, who naturally will work
with the leaders’ own security services.
51. Will the US intelligence services (in particular the NSA) be cooperating with the Dutch
services?
As you can imagine, we will be working with the security services of all countries taking part in the summit
to prepare as carefully as possible for the arrival of their government leaders. This will ensure that the
summit can be conducted in a safe and dignified manner, without disruption.
52. Will there be any ‘no go areas’ where special units will be able to shoot without warning?
Obviously some areas, including the World Forum, will not be accessible to the general public. These
areas will be secured in a variety of ways to prevent access by anyone who has no need to be there or
ought not to be granted access. The regular Dutch rules on the use of force will apply at all times. These
do not permit shooting without warning.
53. Will the residential areas in the vicinity of the world leaders be evacuated?
A range of security measures will be put in place in the vicinity of the world leaders. There is no question
of evacuating residential areas. We have succeeded in establishing a secure zone without residents
being required to leave their homes. However, we have made arrangements with businesses and other
organisations at certain locations about staffing on the days in question.
54. What security arrangements will apply at the World Forum?
The World Forum and its immediate vicinity will be entirely sealed off during the NSS. Residents in the
immediate vicinity (both individuals and businesses) have been informed by the mayor, Jozias van
Aartsen, about the implications of the security measures for them.
55. Where will all the world leaders go in the event of a large-scale emergency?
Hosting an event of this size obviously involves drawing up contingency plans to deal with a wide range of
scenarios. For security reasons, no details can be disclosed about where world leaders will go in the
event of an emergency. It goes without saying that the contingency plans include arrangements for the
public and routes for the emergency services.
56. Is the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) screening those involved in the NSS?
If requested by the NCTV, the AIVD will consult its own systems to screen any individuals who are to be
given access to the secure area and may therefore get close to world leaders and their delegations. The
AIVD will not screen the local residents.
57. Is it true that surface-to-air missile systems will be deployed? If so, where will they be
stationed?
The Ministry of Defence deploys helicopters and other aircraft in fulfilling its general responsibility for
securing the airspace. As a precautionary measure to supplement these arrangements, the Royal
Netherlands Army will deploy a land-based missile defence system at a number of coastal locations. We
cannot comment at present on the exact deployment locations. However, due care will be taken in
informing the local residents.
58. Is it true that security measures are also being put in place at sea and along the coast?
Generally speaking the North Sea will remain accessible to all types of users for the duration of the NSS.
Shipping will be able to proceed as normal from a distance of 1 kilometre or more from the coast, and
Scheveningen harbour will remain accessible. However, just as security measures will apply in relation to
airspace, measures will be adopted in part of the North Sea and along the coast to prevent any threat of
disruption from the sea and to maintain order during the NSS. A degree of disruption at sea and along the
coast is therefore inevitable on the days in question. The specific aim of the measures taken will be to
secure the direct vicinity of hotels by the coast in Scheveningen and in Noordwijk at which NSS guests
are staying.
59. What about other events taking place around the same time as the NSS (e.g. football matches)
that require the deployment of the police and other security partners? Will there be enough
resources available to cover these events given the enormous police deployment required for
the NSS?
Municipalities have received a letter asking them to discuss any professional football matches planned for
the weekend of 21-23 March with the home and away clubs and the relevant security partners well in
advance. They should consider whether any creative solutions can be found that will enable matches to
go ahead as planned without extra police to maintain public order.
ROLE OF THE POLICE
60. What role will the police play?
The police will also be helping to ensure that this global summit can be conducted in a safe and dignified
manner, without disruption. There will be lots of officers on the beat to conduct additional surveillance and
the police will accompany delegations at the time of arrival, travel and departure. A summit in which 58
world leaders are taking part involves certain risks. The police will therefore remain constantly alert to any
security threats and take any security measures that are necessary. Not all of those security measures
will be visible to the public.
61. How many police officers are being deployed?
Officers from throughout the Netherlands will assist with this important event. Given the programme as it
currently stands, some 13,000 police officers per day will be deployed on conference days. By way of
comparison, this is four times as high as deployment on the occasion of the abdication and investiture.
62. What are the implications for police in the rest of the country?
The National Police will not only be involved with the NSS on 24 and 25 March; they will continue to
perform their other tasks in the rest of the country. Provision will also be made for any unforeseen
circumstances or incidents arising in other parts of the country that require a high level of police
deployment. As always, the police will remain on hand to assist anyone who needs help.
63. Have the police asked municipalities to exercise restraint in granting licences for events?
Given the high level of police deployment involved, last year the police chiefs asked local government
officials to take the NSS into account when granting licences for events. Events licences are a matter for
municipalities, but when making their decisions it is important for them to bear in mind that many officers
will be deployed in the Randstad on the days of the summit.
64. Can the police cope without the manpower needed for the summit?
Every year there are a number of major events that have a big impact on police capacity. Take last year’s
abdication and investiture, for example. The police make allowance for this, for instance by scheduling
training and courses for other times of the year, thereby helping to ensure the continuity of policing.
65. Are officers receiving special training? How are they being prepared for the NSS?
The police always conduct exercises and undertake training to ensure that they are properly prepared for
their daily activities and for any events. The NSS is an exceptional event for which specific training and
exercises are being undertaken. Sometimes this involves only police officers, but other security partners
may also be involved, such as the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Military and Border Police and foreign
police forces.
66. How will the police deal with demonstrations?
People will have the opportunity to express dissent, since the right to protest is a fundamental right that is
essential for a democracy to function properly. Acting on the instructions of the local authorities, the police
aim to ensure that demonstrations can be conducted in a safe and dignified manner. This means talking
to the organisers of any protests in advance to agree on how the police can ensure the safety of both
demonstrators and the public in general.
67. What measures will the police be taking?
The police are undertaking extensive preparations for this global summit and taking all the measures
necessary to ensure that it passes off safely. However, we cannot give details of the exact measures
being taken.
W HAT THE NSS IS ABOUT
Introduction
Nuclear material has an important function. It cures diseases and lights our homes. Fortunately, the
chance that terrorists could use this material to carry out an attack is small. But if it were to happen, the
global repercussions would be considerable. With this in mind, governments, businesses, researchers
and organisations from many countries are working together to reduce the overall amount of nuclear
material, improve security procedures for existing material and make better international agreements. The
Nuclear Security Summit is necessary to improve global cooperation and thus prevent nuclear terrorism.
68. What is the aim of the NSS?
The 2014 Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) aims to prevent nuclear terrorism worldwide by:
• reducing the amount of dangerous nuclear material in the world;
• improving the security of existing nuclear material;
• strengthening international cooperation.
69. What won’t the NSS deal with?
The NSS will not discuss nuclear disarmament, the pros and cons of nuclear power or protection from
natural disasters.
70. Why will the NSS include no discussion of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation?
Disarmament is a key issue which is being discussed in many forums. Since the mid-20th century, many
instruments (the IAEA system of safeguards, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, etc.) and export control
regimes (like the Nuclear Suppliers Group) have been created for these purposes. The NSS focuses on
the danger of non-state actors (terrorists) acquiring nuclear materials and/or a nuclear weapon.
Introducing the subject of disarmament could impede progress on this key issue.
71. How will the NSS affect the situation in Iran and North Korea?
The NSS is not about disarmament, but about preventing nuclear terrorism on the part of individuals or
groups (not countries). Therefore, the controversial arms programmes of North Korea and Iran will not be
discussed here. However, the agreements reached at this conference will ensure that nuclear material,
technology and knowledge are better protected. As a result, it will be more difficult for countries that are
less open about the intentions of their nuclear programmes to obtain new, advanced technology that
could form the backbone of an arms programme.
72. What was achieved at the Seoul Summit in 2012?
A great deal. Eighty per cent of the commitments undertaken by countries at the 2010 Washington
Summit were fulfilled by the 2012 Seoul Summit. Progress was made in a variety of areas, including the
ratification of international treaties, the establishment of training centres for nuclear security personnel
and the prevention of smuggling (e.g. by fitting out ports with detection equipment).
Enough highly enriched uranium for 3,000 nuclear weapons was downblended in Russia and the US, and
10 countries have already returned their highly enriched uranium to its country of origin (typically the US
or Russia). In addition to that, countries undertook a number of new pledges as well.
73. What are the main issues for discussion at this Summit?
Different countries want different things. Some of the issues that will be on the table in The Hague:
• Plutonium can be used for nuclear weapons, but it is also used to generate fuel for nuclear power
plants.
• We want to minimise highly enriched uranium (HEU), but at the same time we are well aware that it is
used to produce medical products (isotopes). The use of low-enriched uranium (LEU) for this purpose
is more expensive and entails certain technical difficulties. When should we make the transition to
LEU?
• The government is ultimately responsible for all legislation, but input from the industry can be useful
in order to ensure that whatever laws do emerge take account of real-life practices as well as
possible. How should industry take part in the development of legislation?
• Radiological sources are used in a variety of settings, including hospitals and universities, where they
are not as easy to protect. If we want, for example, to minimise the inconvenience to patients caused
by security measures, what is the best way to protect these sources?
• Exchanging information about nuclear security could serve to boost confidence, but such information
can also be misused. How can we shape policy so that it reflects both facets of this issue?
74. What specifically has been achieved through Dutch efforts?
The negotiations under the leadership of the Dutch chairmanship on the text of the final communiqué are
currently still under way. The communiqué shows what results the participating countries have achieved
and what still remains to be done. In addition, shortly before the summit many countries will announce
improvements to their own nuclear security, and there are groups of countries that will want to go further
than the common or average level of ambition. The Netherlands sees the NSS results as the sum total of
the substance of the communiqué and of all these other, supplementary initiatives (‘gift baskets’).
75. Obama has called upon the world to meet certain objectives within four years. Is this going to
happen?
In 2009, President Obama expressed the desire to ‘secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the
world within four years.’
In the intervening years it has become apparent that this is an extremely complex issue which requires a
great deal of time to address. Indeed, in some respects it is a never-ending process. That said, a number
of major steps have been taken in securing nuclear material, and the NSS has played a major role in that
regard.
76. Is the NSS a one-off event?
The NSS is an initiative of President Obama. In a speech he gave in Prague he underscored the global
interest in working together to prevent nuclear terrorism.
•
•
•
•
Following this speech, the first NSS took place in Washington in April 2010 and adopted the
Washington Work Plan, which sets out all the specific measures agreed at the NSS.
The second NSS was held in Seoul in March 2012. Here, new measures were added to the
Washington Work Plan, as described in the Seoul Communiqué.
NSS 2014 will be the third global summit on this subject.
The fourth and probably final NSS will be held in Washington in 2016.
77. Why is a summit needed?
The NSS speeds up the process leading to global agreements on preventing nuclear terrorism. The
presence and direct involvement of world leaders enable the achievement of results that would otherwise
only be attained after a long time, if at all.
78. Once the summit is over, what will be done to further the fight against nuclear terrorism?
The US has indicated its intention to organise a follow-up summit in 2016. The agreements made in The
Hague will thus be implemented over the course of the next two years (just as has been done during the
past four years). It is also important to anchor the results achieved in existing forums and mechanisms,
such as the IAEA, thereby ensuring that nuclear security will continue to improve even after the NSS
cycle has come to an end.
NSS S IDE
EVENTS
Introduction
The independently organised side events NIS, NKS and the @TOMIC drill are not officially part of
NSS2014, though there is considerable overlap in the subject matter of all four.
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY SUMMIT
International: the international nuclear sector is actively working to make the world a safer place.
National: the Dutch nuclear sector is an important and internationally valued partner in the field of nuclear
security.
69. What is the Nuclear Industry Summit?
Since 2010 the nuclear industry has been organising Nuclear Industry Summits (NIS). The NIS and NSS
are organised independently of one another, with industry and government each taking responsibility for
their own efforts. The two events are similar in subject matter, however. After all, the prime concern of the
NSS is the security of nuclear and radioactive materials, in industry and elsewhere. The NSS will take
note of the results of the NIS and can incorporate its conclusions and recommendations in its own
discussions.
The NIS will take place on 23 and 24 March at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, with the participation
of about 200 CEOs from Dutch and international nuclear industry firms. NIS 2014 is being organised by
the Dutch nuclear industry under the leadership of Urenco Nederland. The Dutch nuclear industry
occupies an important place in some parts of the nuclear world. For example, NRG’s High Flux Reactor
(HFR) in Petten produces 30% of the world’s medical isotopes worldwide (and 60% of the isotopes on the
European market), while Urenco produces a large share of the low-enriched uranium needed for nuclear
power plants worldwide.
More information is available at https://www.nis2014.org/.
70. Who pays for the NIS?
The NIS is organised and paid for by the industry itself. Because of the importance of a successful NIS,
the NIS receives a financial contribution from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
71. What subjects will the Nuclear Industry Summit 2014 deal with?
NIS2014 will bring together over 200 high-ranking representatives of the international nuclear industry to
discuss issues related to nuclear security. The conference has three overarching themes:
- Strengthening security governance: what actions can the industry itself take to safeguard its own
security, over and above the statutory measures laid down by the Competent Authority.
- Managing materials of concern: the move from highly enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium
and the protection of radiological sources, with a view to minimising the risk that nuclear material
could be misused.
- Dealing with cyber threats: digital security in the nuclear industry. How can the nuclear industry
reduce the risk of digital incidents?
72. What is the goal/intended result of NIS2014?
The formulation of a joint statement. Prior to and during the NIS, a joint statement will be drafted by the
nuclear industry. Its conclusions and recommendations will be presented to the NSS as input to the
discussion.
73. Who is organising NIS2014?
The Dutch nuclear industry, led by Urenco Nederland and supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs,
is the host of NIS2014.
74. How well-protected are Dutch nuclear installations?
The nuclear facilities in the Netherlands comply with Dutch law, which is in line with the international
recommendations of the IAEA. In 2012 the IAEA conducted a study on how well nuclear facilities in the
Netherlands followed its recommendations. The conclusion was that Dutch nuclear installations were in
compliance and indeed that the Netherlands was an example to other countries.
NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE SUMMIT
The Nuclear Knowledge Summit (NKS) will take place from 20 to 22 March 2014, bringing together
nuclear experts, scientists and NGOs from around the world at a single location in Amsterdam.
The NKS seeks to create a forum for discussion and establish an international network that will safeguard
nuclear security and support the NSS process. Although the NKS has many substantive links with the
NSS and NIS, the NKS aims to move the dialogue forward by looking ahead, asking: what kind of future
do we envision for nuclear security? Themes that will be on the NKS agenda will include cyber security
and securing nuclear fuel used for non-civilian applications.
On Friday 21 and Saturday 22 March 2014 there will be an international NKS expert meeting: the 2014
Nuclear Knowledge Summit: Towards Sustainable Nuclear Security. In addition a number of other events
will be organised by Dutch institutions (e.g. the Delft Institute of Technology, Leiden University-The
Hague Campus, the Netherlands Forensic Institute, the Hague Security Delta, the Hague Institute for
Global Justice and the municipality of The Hague) under the aegis of the NKS.
NKS2014 will be organised and financed by the Netherlands Institute for International Relations
Clingendael, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG) and the Asan
Institute for Policy Studies (South Korea).
More information is available at http://www.knowledgesummit.org/
75. What is the NKS?
NKS2014 is an international conference on nuclear security for nuclear experts, scientists and NGOs.
The NKS will be the official scientific side event of the NSS. The main organiser is the Netherlands
Institute for International Relations Clingendael, supported by the FMWG and the Asan Institute.
76. Who pays for the NKS?
NKS2014 will be organised and financed by the Netherlands Institute for International Relations
Clingendael, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG) and the Asan
Institute for Policy Studies (South Korea). Participation is free, and a limited number of grants will be
available to cover travel expenses and accommodation, so as to encourage a wide range of participants.
77. Why have non-NSS countries been invited to the NKS?
While 53 countries will be participating in the NSS, the larger aim is to anchor the issue of nuclear
security in a universal forum like the IAEA in due course. The scientific and NGO communities are helping
to lay the groundwork for this effort. This is why no countries are being excluded in advance by the NKS.
78. Why is the NKS being held in Amsterdam and not The Hague?
Because of the large number of participants attending the NSS, it is not possible to reserve enough hotel
accommodation in The Hague. This is why the NKS, like the NIS, has been relocated to Amsterdam.
@TOMIC
In February 2014 the government will hold a nuclear drill. Organised in Maastricht by the National
Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV), together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this
international crisis exercise has been given the name ‘@tomic 2014’. Over 50 countries, including several
which are not participating in the NSS, are taking part, with a total of about 500 people. (@tomic is a side
event of the NSS. It had been planned earlier, but in connection with the NSS it is being organised on a
larger scale.)
During @tomic 2014, international delegations, including participants from ministries, the police,
intelligence services, customs agencies, forensic services, official spokespeople, Computer Emergency
Response Teams (CERTs) and cyber security organisations will practise responding to a fictional nuclear
incident with a cyber component. The goal of the exercise is to strengthen trusted communities, raise the
level of knowledge and awareness, and improve cooperation between countries and international sectors.
As the @tomic 2014 exercise will not be visible to the outside world, the general public will not notice it.
The contacts, experience and knowledge that we gain before and during @tomic 2014 will prepare us to
better deal with an actual nuclear incident. In this way we are working together to enhance national and
international security.
BACKGROUND
ON NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN THE
NETHERLANDS
89. Where in the Netherlands is work being done with nuclear materials?
There are several facilities in the Netherlands where work is being done with nuclear materials, such as:
a. the nuclear power plant in Borssele, operated by the Electricity Generating Company for the
Southern Netherlands (EPZ), which generates electricity for hundreds of thousands of
households;
b. the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten, operated by the Nuclear Research and Consultancy
Group (NRG), which produces radiopharmaceutical products and isotopes for health care;
c. the Higher Education Reactor (HOR) at the Faculty of Applied Sciences of Delft University of
Technology, which is used for research;
d. Urenco in Almelo, where uranium is enriched to make it suitable for use in nuclear reactors;
e. the Central Organisation for Radioactive Waste (COVRA) in Borssele, where all the radioactive
waste produced in the Netherlands is stored;
f. Dutch hospitals and research facilities, where materials from radioactive sources are often used
in treating patients;
g. conventional industries, where radioactive sources are used to, for instance, check metallic pipes
and welded seams or sterilise food and other products;
h. the nuclear power plant at Dodewaard, which is no longer operating but still contains radioactive
material. The building will be demolished in 2045 when the material has become much less
radioactive.
90. Does the Dutch nuclear industry play a major international role?
Yes, especially NRG in Petten, which produces radiopharmaceutical materials and isotopes for health
care. On a daily basis 24,000 patients worldwide are treated with or thanks to these products. About 30%
of the world’s isotopes and 60% of Europe’s (used among other things for treating cancer) come from
NRG. The Netherlands is also prominent in the fields of nuclear forensics (Netherlands Forensics Institute
(NFI)), industry (Urenco) and scientific research and education (the master’s programme in nuclear
security at Delft University of Technology).
91. How much nuclear material is stored in the Netherlands (in kilos)?
Information about the amount of nuclear material currently stored is not made available.
92. What’s the chance of a nuclear attack in the Netherlands?
There is a chance, but it’s a very small one. The measures taken with a view to the NSS further reduce
this risk.
93. How good are the Netherlands’ nuclear security arrangements really?
The nuclear facilities in the Netherlands comply with existing international rules and guidelines on nuclear
security as set by the IAEA.
All nuclear facilities have approved security plans, which cover subjects like awareness of security issues
among management and staff, the current state of security infrastructure, preparedness drills, etc.
Nuclear facilities must comply with all security requirements in order to gain approval for their security
plans.
In a recent IAEA study of nuclear security in the Netherlands, which examined the methods of both the
Dutch government and the nuclear facilities themselves, the IAEA stated that Dutch nuclear security was
good, robust and an example to other countries.
BACKGROUND
ON GLOBAL NUCLEAR SECURITY
94. What are the existing conventions and resolutions on nuclear security?
- The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its amendment. The
amendment requires states to secure nuclear materials during storage and transport. Another 28
countries must still ratify the amendment for it to enter into force; ratification is being encouraged
through the NSS.
- The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), in which 85 countries take part.
Participation by more countries is being encouraged through the NSS. The Netherlands chairs a
number of working groups within the GICNT.
- The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), originally
drafted to fill gaps in the CPPNM especially with regard to radiological sources and the criminalisation
of smuggling. The Convention has now been ratified by more than 91 countries. Efforts are being
made through the NSS to promote ICSANT’s universal application.
- The voluntary Code of Conduct (signed by 120 of the 161 IAEA member states) includes specific
rules for effectively securing radiological sources and combating illegal trade. Efforts are being made
through the NSS to promote universal application of the Code of Conduct.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1540, which obliges countries to prevent non-state actors from
acquiring weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems.
95. What is the IAEA, and who are its members?
The IAEA is an independent organisation in the UN family, based in Vienna, which serves as an
intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation on nuclear technology and its peaceful
uses. It has the right to inspect the nuclear facilities of its 161 member states.
96. The NSS mainly discusses nuclear materials in industry. How does the amount of nuclear
materials used in industry compare with the amount used in nuclear weapons?
About 85% of existing nuclear materials are used in weapons and about 15% in industry.
97. In view of those proportions, why doesn’t the NSS put more emphasis on discussing nuclear
materials in weapons?
Nuclear materials in weapons are not excluded from the NSS discussions as such, but the emphasis is
on nuclear materials in industry. The arguments for this are that: a) military stocks are already much
better secured, b) agreements have already been made in other frameworks (bilateral and multilateral)
about military stocks and how to secure them, and c) military stocks are a sensitive issue, and discussing
them could be an obstacle to achieving results in dealing with civil nuclear materials.
BACKGROUND ON NUCLEAR MATERIALS AND TERRORISM
98. What materials can be used to make a nuclear bomb?
Highly enriched uranium (HEU) or plutonium (Pu).
99. How much highly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium (Pu) is there in the world?
Between 1,300 and 1,900 tonnes of HEU and between 475 and 525 tonnes of Pu.
100.
How many kilos of HEU or PU are needed to make a nuclear weapon?
Approximately 16 kilos of HEU or 8 kilos of Pu.
101.
Do we know if there are terrorists or terrorist organisations that are interested in using
nuclear materials to carry out an attack?
Yes, we have known for about 20 years that various terrorist organisations – including al Qa’ida – are
trying to obtain nuclear materials that they could use in carrying out an attack. There have been attempts
by terrorist organisations to buy nuclear materials on the black market.
102.
What is the most difficult part of making a nuclear bomb?
Obtaining nuclear materials.
103.
How difficult is it for a terrorist to obtain nuclear material?
Not difficult enough. Whatever our efforts, it can never be difficult enough. Sites where work is done using
nuclear materials generally have very tight security. But there are many of them around the world (several
hundred: research reactors, nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons depots, etc.). Constant vigilance and
continuous security enhancement are therefore needed.
104.
If terrorists do obtain nuclear material, could they make a real nuclear bomb?
Yes, the knowledge needed for this purpose can be easily obtained. A country with high- grade
technology can make a nuclear weapon in about 10 days. Terrorists are estimated to need about a year.
105.
Are there known cases of dangerous nuclear material being smuggled (HEU or Pu)?
Yes, there have been about 20 known cases around the world.
106.
No.
Are there known cases of terrorist organisations getting hold of nuclear materials?
107.
How are nuclear materials smuggled?
Using the same routes that are used for drugs and human trafficking.
108.
Could terrorists cause a nuclear explosion by attacking a nuclear power plant?
It is not possible to cause a nuclear explosion in a nuclear power plant. A terrorist attack on a nuclear
power plant could however release high levels of radiation.
109.
What is a dirty bomb?
A dirty bomb, or more properly a radiological weapon, is a weapon which, unlike a real nuclear weapon,
does not set off an explosive nuclear chain reaction, but rather releases ionising radiation. A dirty bomb is
aimed less at causing many deaths and injuries than at unleashing panic, disrupting society and making
an area uninhabitable for many years.
110.
Are there binding rules on securing radiological sources?
No. Radiological sources are generally considered a national responsibility. There is the IAEA Code of
Conduct, but it is voluntary. The NSS is a key opportunity to press for compliance with the Code of
Conduct.