HAPPENING 8 OCT '26 | KPN and SeniorWeb are offering free drop-in help with internet use, apps and online safety in Rotterdam on Thursday 8 October, with additional advice sessions continuing throughout the month. The initiative comes as KPN-commissioned research finds that almost half of people aged 60 and over do not always feel safe online, although visitors of all ages are welcome.
Free help with online safety
The special drop-in session takes place on Thursday 8 October, the Dutch Day of Digital Resilience (Dag van de Digitale Weerbaarheid). KPN and SeniorWeb will have advisers available to answer practical questions about phishing, secure internet use, passwords, apps and protecting online accounts.
There is no charge and no appointment is required. Similar sessions are being organised at 24 locations across the Netherlands, with Rotterdam, Rhoon and 's-Gravenzande among the participating places in South Holland. KPN's current Cyber Security Month information confirms that visitors can simply walk in with their digital questions.
Bring your real online questions
The sessions are intended to deal with situations people actually encounter. That could mean trying to work out whether an unexpected email or message is genuine, understanding a suspicious payment request or checking whether an account is properly protected.
SeniorWeb and KPN say the aim is not simply to solve the immediate problem, but also to explain what warning signs people can recognise themselves the next time something similar happens.
Marieke Snoep, responsible for KPN's Consumer Market and a member of its Board of Management, said:
“Digital services should make everyday life easier, not more complicated. That is why, together with SeniorWeb, we offer accessible help to people who have questions or get stuck. Everyone is welcome. This way, more people can manage their digital affairs safely and independently.”
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Older internet users report less confidence
The initiative follows research commissioned by KPN in September among 1,112 Dutch adults. The survey, carried out by Panelwizard, found that 49% of people aged 60 and over do not always feel safe online.
Four in ten respondents in that age group said they were not confident that they could distinguish a suspicious message from a trustworthy one. Among people under 30, by comparison, 81% said they were reasonably or very confident that they could tell the difference.
KPN's research also found that 36% of people aged 60 and over had encountered online fraud or an attempted scam during the previous 12 months. Of those cases, 64% involved phishing. Meanwhile, 30% of respondents aged 60 and over said they needed help with digital matters, compared with 16% of people under 30.
The survey was designed to be representative by factors including age, gender, household situation, employment, education and region.
Online crime affects millions in the Netherlands
The wider problem is not limited to older internet users. Statistics Netherlands reported that 17% of people aged 15 and over experienced at least one form of online crime or another online incident in 2025, equivalent to roughly 2.5 million people. Online fraud was the most common category.
Those national figures also add some useful context to the age discussion. CBS found that people aged 65 and over were actually the least likely age group to become victims of online crime overall, while younger people were more frequently affected by online threats and intimidation. Feeling less confident online does not therefore necessarily mean being victimised more often.
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More sessions throughout October
The 8 October event is part of KPN's Cyber Security Month. Participating KPN Experience Stores and KPN XL shops will continue offering personal advice on Thursday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00 throughout October. No advance registration is required.
KPN is also offering an online webinar, Slimmer dan de oplichter (Smarter than the scammer), in which experts from KPN, the police and SeniorWeb discuss how online scams work, how suspicious messages can be recognised and what to do when something does not feel right.
How to get there
The participating Rotterdam KPN location is in the Alexandrium shopping area at Watermanweg 301. Rotterdam Alexander railway and metro station is around 600 metres away, while several bus services also stop around Alexandrium.
Check KPN's Cyber Security Month page before travelling for the latest participating locations and session information, particularly if you plan to visit on one of the later Thursdays in October.
