Espionage and security risks

This brochure provides information about undesirable intelligence activities in the Netherlands. Several foreign intelligence organisations are conducting activities in the Netherlands that may harm our national security.

In addition to traditional espionage activities, such as gathering secret military, political, economic and scientific information and influencing political-administrative decision-making, these services also focus on influencing migrant communities in the Netherlands, monitoring and intimidating opponents resident in this country and on the illegal procurement of equipment, material and knowledge for the production of weapons of mass destruction. It is the task of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and the Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) to identify such activities, to help terminating them and to arm society against them. It is important that people working in the public service and the private sector are aware of the risks constituted by espionage. This brochure is meant to contribute to this awareness. It also provides a number of tips to identify and prevent espionage.