Disclaimer: The board of Buurtvereniging Zeelst-Oost has no interest in the WhatsApp groups and apps mentioned on this page. The information on this page is intended to provide a complete overview of where to find information about the neighborhood.
Several WhatsApp groups are active in our neighborhood. There’s a Buurtpreventie group for almost every street (in Dutch). Ask your neighbors or someone you know on your street to be added to the group. This is primarily focused on urgent matters. There’s also the BuitenBeter app for less urgent matters.
Neighborhood Watch with the BuitenBeter app revolves around reporting problems in public spaces, such as litter, broken streetlights, or loose paving stones, with a photo and a short description so the municipality can resolve them.
Rules for BuitenBeter (reporting physical problems):
- What to report: Anything in public spaces, such as damage, litter, broken playground equipment, vermin, broken lampposts, etc.
- How to report: Take a clear photo (an overview is better than a close-up), provide the location (GPS is helpful), choose the subject, briefly describe the problem (max. 140 characters), and send the report.
- What is the goal: The municipality receives immediate notification and can resolve the problem. You can track the status of your report.
Rules for WhatsApp Neighborhood Watch (suspicious situations):
- Call 112 first: If you see a suspicious situation, always call 112 first.
- Then send a message: Afterward, send a message in the group that 112 has been called, so that not everyone calls at the same time.
- Clear information: Share the most important information briefly and concisely (car color, make, license plate; description of the person), avoid cursing, name-calling, or discrimination.
- Don’t take the law into your own hands: Don’t break any laws. Send photos of suspects only after consulting with the police for the description.
- Use the group correctly: Only for prevention, not for private messages or discussions. For this you can use NextDoor or the Whatsapp group shown below (Dutch):
In short:
Buurtpreventie Group in WhatsApp = Raising the alarm in suspicious situations, with an emphasis on cooperation and safety, never taking the law into your own hands.
BuitenBeter = Reporting physical defects/nuisance to the municipality.
Disclaimer: The board of Buurtvereniging Zeelst-Oost has no interest in the WhatsApp groups and apps mentioned on this page. The information on this page is intended to provide a complete overview of where to find information about the neighborhood.
Several WhatsApp groups are active in our neighborhood. There’s a Buurtpreventie group for almost every street (in Dutch). Ask your neighbors or someone you know on your street to be added to the group. This is primarily focused on urgent matters. There’s also the BuitenBeter app for less urgent matters.
Neighborhood Watch with the BuitenBeter app revolves around reporting problems in public spaces, such as litter, broken streetlights, or loose paving stones, with a photo and a short description so the municipality can resolve them.
Rules for BuitenBeter (reporting physical problems):
- What to report: Anything in public spaces, such as damage, litter, broken playground equipment, vermin, broken lampposts, etc.
- How to report: Take a clear photo (an overview is better than a close-up), provide the location (GPS is helpful), choose the subject, briefly describe the problem (max. 140 characters), and send the report.
- What is the goal: The municipality receives immediate notification and can resolve the problem. You can track the status of your report.
Rules for WhatsApp Neighborhood Watch (suspicious situations):
- Call 112 first: If you see a suspicious situation, always call 112 first.
- Then send a message: Afterward, send a message in the group that 112 has been called, so that not everyone calls at the same time.
- Clear information: Share the most important information briefly and concisely (car color, make, license plate; description of the person), avoid cursing, name-calling, or discrimination.
- Don’t take the law into your own hands: Don’t break any laws. Send photos of suspects only after consulting with the police for the description.
- Use the group correctly: Only for prevention, not for private messages or discussions. For this you can use NextDoor or the Whatsapp group shown below (Dutch):
In short:
Buurtpreventie Group in WhatsApp = Raising the alarm in suspicious situations, with an emphasis on cooperation and safety, never taking the law into your own hands.
BuitenBeter = Reporting physical defects/nuisance to the municipality.