About the organisation
The Dutch Safer Internet Centre exists to promote a safer and better use of the internet and mobile technologies among children and young people.
Awareness centre
The awareness centre is responsible for national coordination (aligning the programmes and projects of ministries, NGOs and private partners). It focusses on awareness raising on safer internet issues, by a website, campaigns, events and working groups.
Helpline
Offlimits.nl strives for a safer online world, with a special focus on preventing and combatting online sexual (child) abuse. The Child Sexual Exploitation Materials Hotline, Helpwanted and Stop it Now initiatives support this overarching objective.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 07.00hs to 23.00hs
Sunday: 11.00hs to 19.00hs.
Hotline
The "Meldpunt ter bestrijding van Kinderpornografie op Internet" (the hotline combating child pornography on the internet) is part of the Expertisebureau Online Kindermisbruik (EOKM), an independent private foundation officially opened by the Ministry of Security and Justice in June 1996. The Dutch hotline was created at the initiative of internet providers joined in the (now dissolved) NLIP, as well as individual internet users. Its main objective is to contribute to the reduction of the distribution of child abuse material via the internet.
Opening hours:
Through the website an anonymous report can be made 24/7.
Youth participation
The Youth Panel consists of 17 young people from 12-18 years old, that advise the Safer Internet Centre on
a variety of activities. Discussions about emerging trends, helping with the awareness campaigns and
sharing their input on our services.
How can you get involved?
Young people interested in getting involved can email at info@saferinternetcentre.nl.
Key successes
The Awareness strand launches various yearly campaigns such as Media Literacy Week and Cybersecurity Month Alert Online. During the media literacy week, a highly successful game is played by over 180K primary school students. Public private partnerships (PPPs) are a highlight of the Safer Internet Centre. The Dutch SIC has a long history of public private partnerships and has managed to get ministries and private partners on board with no exclusivity (everyone can join), aligning safety, skills, digital literacy, media literacy and cyber security programmes on a national level.
The number of reports at the helpline increase yearly, with a 44% increase in 2023. The helpline is promoted to a national easy-accessible reporting facility for online illegal content, preparing to be the Trusted Flagger
under the DSA.
The hotline handled more reports than previous years. The technical tool Hash Check Service was also highly successful, detecting illegal material and preventing it from appearing online. In 2023 almost 8 billion checks were carried out, resulting in 800.000 hits.
Together the SIC websites reached over 2 million visitors in 2023.
Key partners/supporters
Key supporters of the Dutch Safer Internet Centre include:
- The Ministry of Economic Affairs (telecommunication law and responsibility regarding industry, so funding the awareness node).
- Ministry of Safety and Justice (cyber security and funding the hotline and the helpline).
- Ministry of Education (funding a media literacy programme).
All relevant NGOs and knowledge centres participate in expert groups or the Advisory Board.
Additionally, private partners in the telecommunication sector - large ISP's, mobile providers and the hosting sector - are supporting the centre, both financially and by taking part in the working groups and Advisory Board.
Additional links / resources
About the organisation
The Dutch Safer Internet Centre exists to promote a safer and better use of the internet and mobile technologies among children and young people.
Awareness centre
The awareness centre is responsible for national coordination (aligning the programmes and projects of ministries, NGOs and private partners). It focusses on awareness raising on safer internet issues, by a website, campaigns, events and working groups.
Helpline
Offlimits.nl strives for a safer online world, with a special focus on preventing and combatting online sexual (child) abuse. The Child Sexual Exploitation Materials Hotline, Helpwanted and Stop it Now initiatives support this overarching objective.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 07.00hs to 23.00hs
Sunday: 11.00hs to 19.00hs.
Hotline
The "Meldpunt ter bestrijding van Kinderpornografie op Internet" (the hotline combating child pornography on the internet) is part of the Expertisebureau Online Kindermisbruik (EOKM), an independent private foundation officially opened by the Ministry of Security and Justice in June 1996. The Dutch hotline was created at the initiative of internet providers joined in the (now dissolved) NLIP, as well as individual internet users. Its main objective is to contribute to the reduction of the distribution of child abuse material via the internet.
Opening hours:
Through the website an anonymous report can be made 24/7.
Youth participation
The Youth Panel consists of 17 young people from 12-18 years old, that advise the Safer Internet Centre on
a variety of activities. Discussions about emerging trends, helping with the awareness campaigns and
sharing their input on our services.
How can you get involved?
Young people interested in getting involved can email at info@saferinternetcentre.nl.
Key successes
The Awareness strand launches various yearly campaigns such as Media Literacy Week and Cybersecurity Month Alert Online. During the media literacy week, a highly successful game is played by over 180K primary school students. Public private partnerships (PPPs) are a highlight of the Safer Internet Centre. The Dutch SIC has a long history of public private partnerships and has managed to get ministries and private partners on board with no exclusivity (everyone can join), aligning safety, skills, digital literacy, media literacy and cyber security programmes on a national level.
The number of reports at the helpline increase yearly, with a 44% increase in 2023. The helpline is promoted to a national easy-accessible reporting facility for online illegal content, preparing to be the Trusted Flagger
under the DSA.
The hotline handled more reports than previous years. The technical tool Hash Check Service was also highly successful, detecting illegal material and preventing it from appearing online. In 2023 almost 8 billion checks were carried out, resulting in 800.000 hits.
Together the SIC websites reached over 2 million visitors in 2023.
Key partners/supporters
Key supporters of the Dutch Safer Internet Centre include:
- The Ministry of Economic Affairs (telecommunication law and responsibility regarding industry, so funding the awareness node).
- Ministry of Safety and Justice (cyber security and funding the hotline and the helpline).
- Ministry of Education (funding a media literacy programme).
All relevant NGOs and knowledge centres participate in expert groups or the Advisory Board.
Additionally, private partners in the telecommunication sector - large ISP's, mobile providers and the hosting sector - are supporting the centre, both financially and by taking part in the working groups and Advisory Board.
Additional links / resources
Related news and resources
