What if the power goes out for 72 hours or longer? Or internet and telephony? And how do you prepare your organisation for a prolonged crisis? VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland have published a new resilience guide that helps companies and industry associations prepare practically for disruptions. The guide was drawn up in consultation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and describes the steps entrepreneurs can already take to make their organisation more resilient.
Three scenarios at the centre
The guide offers an approach that can be applied to three concrete scenarios:
- Failure of electricity (72 hours or longer)
- Failure of internet and telephony (72 hours or longer)
- A situation in which the Netherlands becomes involved in a military conflict
Practical steps and examples
The publication takes entrepreneurs step by step through key parts of their business operations. Think of questions such as: how do you keep employees safe, who holds crucial roles in the organisation, and how do you reach them when regular communication is unavailable? Topics such as suppliers, continuity of processes and the role of IT are also covered in depth.
Important: the recommendations in the guide are not mandatory. The document is primarily intended as a tool with examples and inspiration. There is also room for customisation, so companies, large or small, can make their own choices to suit their situation. Industry associations can translate the example measures to their sector where needed.
Why this guide now?
The reason is the deteriorating international security situation and the growing risk of societal disruption. In that context, VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland call on entrepreneurs to actively work on resilience: not only to keep their own business running, but also to keep supply chains and essential processes going when circumstances are under prolonged pressure.
Also available in English
The guidelines have also been translated into English, so international companies and organisations, and their partners, can work with them too.
Source: VNO-NCW & MKB-Nederland, Resilience Guide (Handreiking weerbaarheid), published 4 February 2026. Download the guide.