Has anyone had to call the emergency number here? I had to, and found the police to be extremely responsive. On location within 1-2 minutes, and very professional.

Was I lucky? What are your experiences?

Fortunately I never had to use the number. So I cannot comment on this one.

However, I have another horror story.
Once, on a Saturday afternoon last October, I was cooking out Egyptian food with a few friends and suddenly I felt awkward. Minutes later I really felt ill and my friends were alarmed. They brought me to the "Huisartsenpost" (the GP at the Hospital) because it was in the weekend and after 5 pm.
Well, the Assistant would not let me in because I didn't have an appointment! Anybody could see I was on the verge of collapse and the biotch refused to open the goddam door! Regels zijn regels...
Seconds before I fainted I heard a familiar voice behind me: "Hello Emilio, what's up?". It was my own GP who started his service at the "Huisartsenpost". He listened 10 seconds to my heart and diagnosed atrium flutter and wheeled me himself to emergency at the other side of the road. Had he not been there, I would probably not been posting now!

That was really lucky I can't imagine the relief you must have felt when you saw your GP. Sometimes 'regels' is the favourite word, and they really need to cop on, and use some common sense. That's another of my gripes, by the way, but forgot to mention. The lack of simple common sense is astounding, sometimes.

Fortunately, I wasn't referring to a medical emergency (and hope I don't have to), but a street fight I saw from my window. I was still describing the 'purps' (I watch too much Law & Order) to the lady on the phone when the police arrived. It wasn't a coincidence, as the lady spoke me through that they were coming, and confirmed with me that they had arrived. That's quick!

Yes. I've so far phoned twice and found them to be just as good as they were in the UK...

I've never phoned 112, but that Huisenartspost is ridiculous! I took my man in (after calling to make an appointment), they made us wait, he had a piece of meat caught in his esophagus (not the wind pipe, the food pipe) - nothing could go up or down - and it hurts really bad, the doctor looked at him for 2 minutes, and said go home and call back later if it doesn't get any better in 2 hours, he "really didn't want to call the doctor from KNO (ENT) in for that... and that was it! I'm sure it will cost us an arm and a leg, not to mention the E 1,30 per minute the call cost.... for nothing! I was a "typical loudmouthed American" that day walking out of the place... Never calling them again - I'll go to Tilburg first....

He's ok btw, and the meat came up, then went down ALMOST exactly 2 hours later... but what a HORRIBLE way to spend a Sunday evening....

How awful...
Rather than go to the medical people in this country, I often find myself turning to the Internet for help, because from past experiences, we've also been let down badly.
meat caught in throat

Same experience, I've called them a few times over fights and a burglary and the police was quick to respond.
Fwiw this was in Amsterdam.