HQ JFCBS – 2013 JFC JFCwww.jfcbs.nato.int Welcome to the border triangle Netherlands, Germany and Belgium Congratulations, you are going to stay in one JFC Brunssum and very close to the NATO Air- of the most wonderful and international regi- base in Teveren (Germany). In our cosy town ons of Europe. To make your first steps here as you will find many different restaurants and easy as possible, we would like to assist you as shops in walking distance. we do this for more than 20 years. Hundreds of newly arrived personnel have appreciated In our Bistro Café Fleur you will always meet the personalized attention we give to every someone to share experiences and to learn resident in our owner managed hotel. That’s more about our region. Our friendly staff because we love to host guests from all over speaks English fluently and will be happy to the world! help you with any questions you may have regarding your future life in our neighbour- At City Hotel and the adjacent apartment hood. Among the amenities we offer free building you will find tailor-made accommo- WI-FI throughout the whole building helps dation for you, your family and your pets until you to stay in contact with your friends and you have found your private home. We offer family all over the world. various short-term fully furnished apartments with hotel service. Our house is located in Don´t hesitate to contact us. We are looking the heart of Geilenkirchen, only 15 km from forward to welcoming you to the City Hotel. Q Exquisite single, double and triple rooms Q Studios and suites with kitchenette Q Full equipped apartments for 1 to 6 persons Q Free WI-FI, satellite tv, direct dial phone, washers and dryers, sauna Q Pets welcome! Bistro Café Fleur Breakfast buffet – Lunches – Snacks – Take away meals Opening hours Mon through Thu 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Fri 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Theodor-Heuss-Ring 15 · D-52511 Geilenkirchen, Fon: +49 (0) 2451. 627-0 · Fax: +49 (0) 2451. 627-300 offi[email protected] www.cityhotel-geilenkirchen.de Welcome Welcome to Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum. Having just arrived you will be acclimatising to your new surroundings but, hopefully, will quickly settle in and start to enjoy the beautiful region of South Limburg. We have always enjoyed good relations with the regional community, and I am sure you will find it a pleasure to work and live here for the next couple of years. South Limburg is a region that features many interesting historic sites and an abundance of varied cultural and sporting activi- ties. Maastricht, the capital of the Province of Limburg, is particularly attractive, with a history that dates back to the time of the Romans. But there are many other cities nearby in Germany, Belgium, and France that you should try to visit and enjoy. These include Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Liege, Gent and Hasselt; even Paris is not too far away. Do not hesitate to ask your colleagues for their personal experiences. Take advantage of the varied and unique international environment this NATO headquarters offers, and the gateway to Europe it provides. Our work focuses on crisis management. It embraces everything from humanitarian relief to security assistance and military cooperation. We undertake these tasks as part of the NATO family under the direction of Allied Command Operations – still commonly known as SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe). I expect everybody to know my Commanders’ Intent and be familiar with the Brunssum Campaign Plan. It is essential you know my priorities and objectives. The principle of Mission Command has my strong backing as it allows a certain freedom of movement but you must ensure your activities are sensitive to the command structure in place. You have joined Brunssum at a challenging time. The implementation of the new NATO Command Structure has brought several major changes for our Headquarters, amongst others, deployability. Our three main tasks are the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission to assist the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; Command and Control as the Standby Command for the NATO Response Force; and Northern Regional Focus. Our primary task – supporting the ISAF Mission - for the short and medium term, re- mains unchanged. Our responsibilities for ISAF and the follow-on mission are the main drivers for our daily activities. More importantly is the realisation that our Headquarters is at the heart of NATO’s corporate understanding of the evolution of the ISAF mission. This provides us an implied obligation with regard to shaping the concept and condi- tions for the follow-on mission. This years’ intensive preparation for NRF 2014 standby, in conjunction with our primary role of supporting ISAF, require us to think creatively to ensure best use of our most valuable, but limited, resource – our people. In addition, developing our responsibilities with regard to Northern Regional Focus will most cer- tainly consume staff effort, necessitating thoughtful prioritisation. I wish you and your family an enjoyable and rewarding time in Limburg, and hope that you will also take the opportunity to establish many new friendships during your time here. Our Headquarters has an important and prominent role within the new NATO Command Structure. We can only maintain this position by achieving our three ‘Rs’: Reputation, Relevance, and Responsiveness. Here I count on your loyal and valuable support. General Hans-Lothar Domröse, Hans-Lothar Domröse Commander Allied Joint Force General Command Brunssum Commander JFC Brunssum Colophon Contents The NEWCOMERS GUIDE is a publication, published with the assistance of ‘t Swarte Schaap, in 6 History 28 Amenities co-operation with and at no cost to HQ JFCBS. Opinions herein do not necessarily reflect official 7 On Arrival 34 Medical Services in the NATO or HQ JFCBS policy. The appearance of advertisements, Netherlands including inserts, does not constitute endorsement by NATO 8 You and your Car in the or HQ JFCBS of the products or Netherlands 39 International Schools services offered. To place an advertisement in the 12 The Laws of the Netherlands 41 Shopping & Bank Info Newcomers Guide, please call ’t Swarte Schaap and ask for Rob Schaap, Sint Franciscusweg 36-3, 6417 BD Heerlen, The 16 Life in the Headquarters 42 Basic Dutch Phrases & Netherlands, telephone: Website Links +31 (0)45 - 5716116, 18 Domestic Accommodation or e-mail: [email protected]. 43 Emergency Information Card Editorial work: by Public Affairs Office 21 Map Editorial Newcomers Guide 3 Using the Telephone National emergency number 112, when every second counts HQ JFCBS emergency number for Police/Fire/Medical 2000 Royal Marechaussee Representative 2544/3191 Royal Marechaussee control room 0343–528 999 Local Police (non emergency number) 0900-8844 Making calls to The Netherlands From within Europe, except France 00-31 -town number-local number From France 19-31 -town number-local number From Canada and USA 011-31 -town number-local number (The first ‘0’ in the town number e.g. 045 is omitted when dialing from outside the Netherlands.) The town number for Brunssum is 45. Maastricht is 43. Calling HQ JFCBS From To Dial 045 areas in Limburg Province HQ JFCBS 526 and desired extension number Any other areas in the Netherlands HQ JFCBS 045-526 and desired extension number If subscriber is not known, dial 526-2222 (from 045 areas) or 045-526-2222 (from other areas in the Netherlands) and ask the operator for Booking and Information. Useful HQ JFCBS Numbers Barrack Accommodations Belgium 3009 Germany 3132 The Netherlands 3023 UK 2585/2596 US Army 2169 US Air Force 2262 National Support Belgium National Liaison Office Italy French Support Unit Medical Centre 2152 Office 3348 Chief 4369 Secretariat 3337/2313 National Support United Kingdom Deputy Chief 4370 National Support Canada (CFSE) Chief Clerk 2197 Secretariat 4375 Orderly Room 2332 Medical Centre 2497 National Support Turkey National Support Czech Republic Arrivals & Travel Clerk 3192 Delegation NCO 2289/4152 Commander 2666 Medical Centre (duty hours) 2996 National Support the Netherlands National Support Denmark Secretariat 3068 Secretariat 2856 Commanding Office 2557 National Support Norway Medical Centre (Duty Hours) 2996 National Support Estonia Commander 3255 Lounge 3205 Office 3472 National Support Poland National Support United States National Support Germany Deputy Commander 2587 Medical Centre 2934 Medical Centre (all hours) 2346 National Support Slovakia US Army Element 2169 Orderly Room 3159/2194 Admin 4021 Air Force Detachment 2351/2262 National Liaison Officer Hungary National Support Element Spain Navy Element 3671 Office 2881 Office 2306/2922 Special Services HQ JFCBS Conference Centre Gymnasium Alliance Rest 3188 3170/3171 3723 HQ JFCBS Int. Police Sport Complex Insurance Office 2616/3200 2055 2492 HQ JFCBS School Bus Coordinator Family Support, Club13 045-5278228 Morale & Welfare Branch 2626 HQ JFCBS School Director 2626 Vehicle Registration 045-5278220 Beauty Salon 2580 Public Affairs Office 2957 Passes and Permits 2409/2167 B&S Central Store 2580 Housing and Billeting 4019/4023/4016 Emergencies on camp 2017/2135 Car Craft Shop Centre 2000 Legal Advisor 3173 Telephone/Computer Helpdesk 2463 Art and Craft Centre 3000 Religious Services 2454 Switchboard operator 2940 Alliance Theatre 9 Swimming pool 2110 3172 Miner’s Rest Library 2299 2669 V HOUSE FOR RENT VONCKEN Smaragdstraat 1 6412 SV Heerlen Semi – detached older house in Heerlen, within walking distance from the Central Station. Contents: Hall, Kitchen, Toilet, living room, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms also a little garden. For more information please call Price to rent: € 695 a month excl. Wim Voncken V water, gas, electricity 045-5753877 VONCKEN History Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (HQ JFCBS) is located in Brunssum, Limburg, the Netherlands, in the heart of Northwest Europe - an area which is often referred to as “the balcony of Europe,” or “land without frontiers” because of its easy access to several countries.