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Why object security has no standard rate card
The cost of securing a data centre is not the same as securing a retail shop. The officer deployed to a pharmaceutical R&D campus requires a higher screening level — and therefore carries a higher cost — than a patrol guard on an industrial park. A 24/7 post covering three eight-hour shifts costs three times as much as a single daytime shift. A deployment requiring Dutch, English, and French language capability costs more than a Dutch-only post.
Published rate cards are a feature of volume staffing businesses, not specialist security providers. When a company gives you an instant quote without visiting your site, you are receiving a generic number that has not been calibrated to your actual risk, staffing requirement, or officer specification. The proper starting point for any object security engagement is a site survey — a security manager visits the location, assesses the threat picture, and proposes a guarding scheme matched to the site.
The main cost drivers
Number of officer positions and shift coverage. This is the dominant factor. A single officer on a daytime shift costs a fraction of a three-post, 24/7 deployment. The shift structure follows from the threat profile: sites with significant after-hours risk need overnight and weekend coverage; sites with high daytime footfall may need additional capacity during business hours only.
Officer specification. The baseline is a Wpbr-compliant officer with a beveiligerspas — but specification adds cost. Higher-level security clearances, language requirements, specialist skills (de-escalation for healthcare, ISPS for port facilities, K9 handling), physical presence or plainclothes presentation — each narrows the candidate pool and raises the rate.
Site type and associated complexity. A simple office reception post is straightforward to staff and supervise. A chemical plant operating under BRZO requires officers briefed into the safety-management system, integrated into emergency drills, and screened to a higher standard. Port-adjacent facilities require officers with the relevant port access credentials. Each complexity layer adds to the cost.
Management and supervision overhead. A reputable provider includes unannounced supervisor visits, a 24/7 operations centre, and regular account reviews in the contract. These are not extras — they are what separates a managed security service from a staffing arrangement. Providers who quote without including supervision are transferring management responsibility to you.
What to compare when evaluating quotes
When you receive two quotes for the same brief, the lowest number is rarely the correct choice. Compare: what officer specification is included (screening level, language, training standard); whether supervision and quality assurance are priced in or billed as extras; what the response protocol is for officer absence or sickness; whether standing instructions are included in the setup or charged as a consultancy fee; and what the contract exit terms are.
The right question is not 'what does it cost per hour' but 'what am I actually buying for this fee?' A provider who cannot clearly answer what screening they perform, how they supervise posts, and what their sickness cover looks like is not a managed service. They are a placement agency with a uniform.
How to get an accurate object security quote
Contact Mission Support and describe your site, location, shift requirements, and any specialist needs. We will arrange a site visit with a security consultant who will assess your location, identify the right deployment model, and produce a written proposal — including officer specification, shift structure, standing instruction framework, and account management arrangements.
All Mission Support proposals are site-specific and priced against the actual requirement. We do not publish rate cards. The investment in a site survey is the only way to ensure you receive a proposal that actually matches your security need.
Frequently asked
Can you give a rough price for object security without a site visit?
We can give you a range to inform your budget — but a range is not a proposal. Object security costs in the Netherlands typically vary from a single-officer daytime post to large multi-officer 24/7 deployments at industrial or critical-infrastructure sites. The only way to produce an accurate number is a site survey. We do not publish day rates because a number without a specification is misleading.
Is cheaper object security less safe?
Not always — but cost-cutting typically shows up in officer quality and supervision rather than in the visible deliverable. The risks of a low-cost guarding contract include: officers who do not hold a valid beveiligerspas or have not passed a proper VOG screening; no unannounced supervisor visits to verify post compliance; no 24/7 operations centre to handle incidents; and standing instructions so generic they are functionally useless. Verify permit and beveiligerspas, require a site survey, and insist on supervision before signing.
What is included in a Mission Support object security proposal?
Every proposal includes: officer specification (screening level, language, training); shift structure; standing instruction framework tailored to the site; supervision model (unannounced visits, 24/7 operations centre contact); incident reporting cadence; and contract terms. Nothing is charged as a surprise extra after contract signature.
Can the cost of object security change after a contract is signed?
Yes — legitimate reasons for cost changes include regulatory changes to officer training requirements, changes in deployment scope requested by the client, and collective labour agreement (CAO) adjustments affecting officer wages. Reputable providers are transparent about CAO pass-through clauses before contract signature. Unexpected cost increases unrelated to scope or regulation are a red flag.