A serious situation involving a child has occurred at a childcare facility on Hemsterhuislaan in Haren. This was reported by Haren de Krant. The exact nature of the incident is not yet fully clear, but the authorities involved have taken immediate action.
Investigation by Municipal Health Service and municipality
The GGD (Municipal Health Service) and the municipality have launched an investigation into the incident. For serious incidents at childcare facilities, this is standard procedure. The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd, IGJ) may additionally be called in when there is a possible violation of the Childcare Act (Wet kinderopvang) or doubts about children's safety.
Childcare organizations in the Netherlands are legally required to report incidents to the municipality and, where applicable, to the GGD. For serious incidents – such as accidents, injuries, or other emergencies involving a child – there is a mandatory reporting requirement that must be fulfilled within a short timeframe.
Protocol for serious incidents
Strict protocols apply for incidents in Dutch childcare. Facilities must have a safety policy in place, and staff must be trained in recognizing and reporting risks. When a serious incident occurs, the facility typically follows these steps:
- Immediate care for the child involved and any other children present
- Notification to parents or caregivers
- Internal reporting and documentation
- Notification to the municipality and/or GGD
- Possible investigation by the IGJ if structural shortcomings are suspected
It is currently unclear whether the facility on Hemsterhuislaan will be temporarily (partially) closed during the investigation. This depends on the severity of the situation and the findings of the GGD and municipality in the initial phase of the investigation.
Source: Haren de Krant