This guide accompanies our manned guarding service.
What object security actually covers
Object security (objectbeveiliging) is the continuous or scheduled guarding of a fixed site — a commercial building, industrial facility, logistics hub, retail property, or mixed-use complex. A properly scoped engagement covers access control, perimeter monitoring, incident response, and handover reporting. The guard is not a deterrent decoration; he or she is a trained decision-maker who can escalate, de-escalate, detain, and document.
Most Dutch sites need one of three configurations: a 24/7 resident guard for high-value or high-footfall premises, a day-shift guard for access control during business hours, or night-and-weekend coverage for properties unoccupied outside core hours. The right configuration comes from a site risk assessment, not from a sales catalogue.
Legal requirements — what to verify before signing
In the Netherlands, every private security company must hold a Wpbr permit issued by the Justis department of the Ministry of Justice. Every deployed guard must carry a valid security pass (beveiligerspas) and a clean VOG (verklaring omtrent gedrag). Ask the provider to show the company permit number and confirm it is active at justis.nl before any guard sets foot on your site.
Contracts must specify the exact deployment profile: site address, post description, shift hours, minimum response times, escalation chain, and incident-reporting obligations. A vague contract protects the provider, not you. If the provider resists putting operational specifics in writing, that is a red flag.
What to ask a provider before you hire
Five questions cut through the noise. First: can you provide the Wpbr permit number and the individual beveiligerspas numbers for the guards who will be deployed? Second: what is the guard's training level and does it match my site type (retail, industrial, mixed-use)? Third: who is the supervisor on duty when my assigned guard has an incident? Fourth: what is the handover and reporting protocol — daily, weekly, or incident-triggered? Fifth: what is the response time if I call outside of the contracted hours?
A provider who answers all five clearly, in writing, is a provider worth engaging. Evasion on licensing, reporting, or supervision is a disqualifier at any price point.
Matching guard profile to site risk
Not all object security guards are interchangeable. A night guard for a quiet industrial park needs a different profile from a day guard managing a mixed-use retail complex with public footfall. High-risk environments — data centres, pharma warehouses, diplomatic premises — require guards with additional clearances and specific protocols for tailgating, duress alarms, and CCTV oversight.
The site survey is where this matching happens. A credible provider sends a security consultant to walk the perimeter, identify access points, review lighting and CCTV coverage, and document the risk categories. The survey output informs the deployment proposal. If you receive a quote without a site survey, you are buying a generic product, not a tailored service.
Frequently asked
How much does object security cost in the Netherlands?
Object security is priced per shift and per post, not by a published day rate. Cost drivers include the number of guards, shift hours, required training level, location type, and whether CCTV monitoring or alarm response is integrated. Request a site-specific proposal rather than comparing headline prices.
Do I need a security company with a Wpbr permit?
Yes. Under Dutch law, any company providing security personnel for guarding tasks must hold a Wpbr permit. Deploying guards without a valid permit exposes both the provider and the client to regulatory liability. Always verify the permit number before signing.
How quickly can object security be deployed?
A basic post can often be staffed within 24–72 hours for an existing provider with available personnel. A new engagement requiring a full site assessment and custom deployment plan typically takes 5–10 business days from contract to first shift.