App: Safelet
A new bracelet should make the world a little safer and protect women against robberies and rapes.
In America, Britain and Canada bracelets like Safelet are already a great success. Not to be confused with the SafeletBracelet. The Safelet is a sleekly designed safety bracelet that is linked to your phone. When you are in danger, you just click the strap. Family, friends and police will then receive a signal with your location and can offer assistance.
“Even in a country such as the Netherlands such a bracelet is needed”, says Herman Veenstra, creator of the Dutch version. “Every week there are 24 reports of rape.” It is estimated that a third of all women have to deal with sexual violence in the course of their life, according to figures from Rutgers WPF. “It is almost impossible in such frightening situations to grab and unlock your phone and place a call to a friend. That is why we have developed the Safelet.” For 79 euros you could be the owner of one.
Safer or less safe?
Security expert Arnout de Vries of TNO thinks there is a market for it. According to the statistics Netherlands might be getting safer, but he says “we do not feel safer. The Safelet can increase the feeling of safety. ” There is a lot of demand for this kind of applications, as is also proven by the popularity of safety apps for the smartphone. But we should not have too high expectations, he warns. “Such a bracelet does not necessarily create more safety.” And there lies another snag. You have to wonder if it is convenient if friends come into play as surrogate policeman. De Vries has his opinion on that: “I do not think it is good if heroic friends deploy an attack on the predator. Especially not when the predator or robber is armed. That is why I think the bracelet is a temporary fad, but not something permanent…” Another question is whether Such innovations might be overtaken by smart watches from Samsung or Apple that will probably offer similar apps. Wearables are by definition sensitive to fashion trends, even more than a mobile phone. However, it is conceivable that for many of these products there still is enough market, also because the safety risks in many other countries are much higher than in the Netherlands.
Sources: RTLNieuws, MarketingTribune, Radio1, WomenOnline
Questions about this article
How does the Safelet bracelet work?
The Safelet is linked to your phone. When you are in danger you click the strap, and family, friends and police receive a signal with your location so they can offer help.
Does a safety bracelet like the Safelet make people safer?
Arnout de Vries of TNO says it can increase the feeling of safety, but does not necessarily create more safety. He also warns against friends confronting an attacker, especially an armed one.
Why did Herman Veenstra develop the Safelet?
He says that in frightening situations it is almost impossible to grab and unlock your phone and call someone. According to figures from Rutgers WPF cited in the article, an estimated third of all women deal with sexual violence in the course of their life.
Questions and answers added in 2026, based on the article above.