Main developments and key milestones (in reverse chronological order)

Last updated: November 2011

For the latest developments, see: ePractice news for eGovernment.

A brief history of eGovernment in the Netherlands can also be found on the website of the Dutch eGovernment Knowledge Centre.

Recent News

November 2011

In November 2011, the Dutch Cabinet launches the ICT Strategy for central government as part of the 'Compact Central Government Implementation Programme'. The strategy intends to: enhance ICT within the government at national level; reinforce the monitoring of large-scale ICT-related projects; and increase the digital skills and competencies of management and public sector employees.

September 2011

On 15 September 2011, Minister Piet Hein Donner of the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations officially launches the open data portal of the Dutch Government, 'data.overheid.nl', enabling citizens to locate and freely re-use Government data on the environment, buildings, the population and infrastructure. The portal is intended to be the gateway through which all public sector information can be easily and quickly accessed, freely or at low cost. It guides the user in searches of the websites of all Governmental institutions, and of closely affiliated organisations such as libraries, schools and healthcare institutions.

August 2011

• On 12 August 2011, TenderNed, the national system for public eProcurement in the Netherlands, launches the Internet guide eGids to facilitate the tendering process. The aim of eGids is to enable the procurement process to proceed faster and more easily by providing reliable and user-friendly online support for the supplier for the entire tendering process. It includes functions which provide detailed information on using TenderNed and direct access to the relevant laws and glossary.
• MyGovernment (MijnOverheid), the personalised eGovernment portal for Dutch citizens, registers its 100 000th user in early August 2011. The portal's services include a secure mailbox for public sector communications, information on the user's business with the Government and a record of the user's personal data held by the Government. The site is designed to save citizens' time and effort and the Government a substantial amount in postage costs. 'MyGovernment' intends to contribute to an improved eGovernment provision, with better service, greater convenience and fewer restrictions.
• The standards of electronic data exchange in Dutch public authorities are updated, it is announced on 1 August 2011. The new standards are devised by Logius, the digital government service of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Quality Institute of Dutch Municipalities.

May 2011

According to a government announcement on 24 May 2011, residents of the Gelderland province are able to make appeals or objections to the provincial government's decisions electronically through the use of their DigiD (digital identity). The province envisages that this pioneering service will make it easier for citizens to raise objections if they feel disadvantaged by a decision, or believe to be unfairly treated. Likewise, the process of filing an appeal will be faster and thus facilitate compliance with legal deadlines.

March 2011

It is announced on 24 March 2011 that geo-standards have been added to the 'comply or explain' list of open standards of the Dutch Standardisation Board. From this date forward, all Dutch government organisations are required to incorporate and implement these standards, where applicable. Using geo-standards makes it easier for public sector parties to find, share and use geographical information.

February 2011

On 28 February 2011, the government introduces DigiD Authorise, a system which enables tighter privacy in the use of citizens' digital identity. Authorising DigiD aims to contribute to a more compact and efficient government with less bureaucracy. The Tax Administration became the first user of the system.

January 2011

• As from 1 January 2011, businesses can carry out electronic processing of invoices with all 78 Central Government bodies via the electronic post office Digipoort. To enable the exchange of eInvoices, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations eGovernment service Logius customised Digipoort and an open standard format is being used.
• On 20 January 2011, the 'Data.overheid.nl' web portal goes live. Launched by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the data concerned is freely available to citizens and businesses.

News 2010-2001

2010

• On 31 December 2010, the 'National Implementation Programme' (NUP), which laid down building blocks and six example projects with the overall objective to realise eGovernment, comes to an end.
• As of 28 November 2010, entrepreneurs are able to use eRecognition to make use of the Message Box (the point of single contact based on the Services Act).
• eRecognition, the eID infrastructure for businesses, becomes available. It is intended to be used for electronic communication between businesses and the government, as well as for Business-to-business (B2B) electronic communication. It is based on a network approach in which existing means for authentication (e.g. cards, mobile phones, tokens, passwords) can co-exist.
• Since the beginning of April 2010, 20 desktop PCs running the Ubuntu Linux distribution have been used to manage the services at a shared office building in The Hague for all Dutch ministries. The shared office building facilitates the ministries' jointwork on temporary projects and offers them extra office space when needed.
• On 25 March 2010, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen, officially presents 'Trade2gether', a new website whose main purpose is to create synergy between the Dutch providers of Private Sector Development (PSD) services in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition.
• As from January 2010, all municipalities, provinces and water boards in the Netherlands have Internet access to information concerning national spatial planning initiatives. The digitalisation aimed to increase planning transparency and to encourage the development ofeGovernment initiatives, is a mandatory requirement of the new Spatial Planning Act (WRO) of July 2008.
  An initial version of 'ePetitions', an open source tool to help manage electronic petitions, was published in 2010 on the Open Source Observatory and Repository for European public administrations (OSOR) website. The project aims to develop a web application that offers support for electronic petitions in many languages.

2009

• The eForms project, started in 2005, is terminated after having achieved the goal of establishing a standard to be used in the exchange of information among the Government, businesses and citizens.
• On 12 November 2009, the eDepot of the National Archives is put into use. The Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations for the first time archives a digitally created document in the eDepot.
• On 27 September 2009, the Platform Communication on Climate Change (PCCC) receives the 'Outreach & Communication Award 2009' from the European Meteorological Society for contributing to bridging the gap between science and society. The portal provides scientific, technical and socio-economicinformation relevant to the scientific basis of natural and human-induced climate change.
  On 21 September 2009, State Secretary Ank Bijleveld receives the first passport bearing fingerprints, thus officially introducing the use of fingerprints in Dutch passports and ID cards.

• In May 2009, NOIV, the Dutch Government's resource centre on open source and open standards, recommends that public administrations, which publish open source applications, should use the European Union Public Licence (EUPL).
• As from March 2009, those declaring their income online to the Dutch Tax Administration will be able to access a pre-completed declaration (Vooraf Ingevulde Aangifte - VIA), by which the taxpayer can consult informationheld by the Tax Administration such as citizen service number, birth date, Valuation of Immovable Property Act (WOZ value) and wage data.

2008

• In October 2008, public authorities, ministries, firms and other organisations in the Netherlands will no longer need to publish their decisions in paper format. The Dutch Cabinet’s decision to permit such paper-free documentation extended from the new electronic disclosures law.
  Limburg becomes the first Dutch province to connect to GovUnited, a Dutch public sector organisation aiming to improve and standardise both the public services and the internal administration of local governments in the Netherlands.
  GovUnited connects five Dutch pilot municipalities to the transparency products of 'Overheid heeft Antwoord©' (Government Answers©). Past the implementation of the content management system, these municipalities would be connected to four transparency products.

• On 24 September 2008, the Netherlands Patent Office launches its new website based on open source software. This action takes place within the framework of 'The Netherlands in Open Connection' action plan.
• In August 2008, it is announced that by the end of 2009, all child healthcare providers in the Netherlands will have to operate using electronic patient records.
• In May 2008, the Ministry for Internal Affairs launches a website that enables citizens to interact with local and (inter) national politicians. The website, 'maildepolitiek.nl', is an initiative of the Dutch 'New Voting' foundation and aims to make politics more transparent.
  Upon proposal of the State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Cabinet banned electronic voting devices from future elections, due to eavesdropping risks.

• The Dutch Ministry of Defence introduces secure USB sticks for personnel use. From 1 April 2008, defence ministry staff is required to carry all work-related data on secured USBs only.
• The 'Regelhulp.nl' website wins two national awards for the best innovation by a public authority.
• In February 2008, the 'eFormulieren' website allowed public authorities in the Netherlands to order forms directly without having to go through an account manager. The programme manages, free of charge, electronic forms for local and regional authorities, ministries and other public bodies.

2007

• In December 2007, the Dutch Senate embraces the action plan 'The Netherlands Open in Connection', to make open source and open standard software compulsory for all Government levels.
  In the same month, the Dutch Senate agrees to a plan by the Secretary of State for Employment that will force Government organisations to re-use the information provided by citizens.
  In the same month, the Dutch Donor Register goes live. All citizens over the age of 12 can register their preference for or against becoming a donor on the website.

• In November 2007, the Dutch Citizen Service Code, an instrument for Government agents to improve their service to citizens, wins the European eDemocracy Award 2007. Using the Citizen Service Code keeps civil servants aware of their duties towards citizens.
  In the same month, the then Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality renews the Area Database on its website, which makes available online all ecological and administrative information on the protected areas.

• As from October 2007, all Dutch public authorities are required to switch to Open Source.
• In September 2007, on the Dutch eGovernment website, www.e-overheid.nl, a new search engine enables visitors to search within the collection of Dutch eGovernment websites.
  In the same month, the Dutch Government's GovUnited website launches a new service called 'Op Afspraak' (By Appointment), which allows citizens to book appointments online to see civil servants.

• In July 2007, the Citizen Service Number (CSN) is given the go-ahead by the Dutch Senate. The CSN would improve the delivery of Government services, facilitate data sharing and help fight fraudulent access to public services.
• In May 2007, the website 'Working on the Netherlands together' ('Samen werken aan Nederland') is launched, aiming at receiving citizens' feedback on ways to improve Government performance.

2006

In July 2006, it is announced that all official websites in the Netherlands will need to be easily accessible by all groups of citizens, including the disabled, by 2010 particularly. From September 2006, all new Government websites will have to be constructed in compliance with the new guidelines and standards.

2005

• In June 2005, the Second progress report on the ICT and Administrative Burden (ICTAL) programme is submitted to Parliament, with two new initiatives: the eForms project, to facilitate management of electronic forms, and the establishment of a standardisation council.
  In the same month, the follow-up of the national ICT Agenda 'Better performance with ICT' is released. It contains seven priorities: once-only data provision; electronic identification; faster on the Internet; trust and security; standardisation; consumer policy; and ICT in the (semi) public domain.

• In March 2005, a release of the progress report on administrative burden for businesses indicates first and second phase proposals for reductions, inevitable increases and interdepartmental projects.
• In February 2005, the Dutch Government adopts a metadata standard for public sector websites. The 'Overheid.nl webmetadata' intends to make it easier for users to spot the information they need across more than 1 200 separate Government websites in the Netherlands.
• In January 2005, the Dutch Digital Identity service DigiD is launched, providing citizens with a centralised online authentication solution for accessing eGovernment services, based on a user ID.

2004

• In September 2004, the Government rolls out biometric passports and ID card pilots in six municipalities.
• In August 2004, the Dutch Government launches a project to build the world's first Government-sponsored mobile alert system based on cell broadcast technology. The alert system will enable the Government to provide instructions (in case of natural disasters, etc) to citizens in a specific location.
• In June 2004, the Government publishes the policy statement 'Towards the Electronic Government', a further elaboration of the main outlines laid down in the Modernising Government Programme and the national ICT Agenda.
• In May 2004, the Government approves plans for the creation of a unique identification number for Dutch residents by 2006. The Citizen Service Number will be assigned to every Dutch resident.
• In February 2004, the Government publishes the ICT Agenda of the Netherlands: 'Better performance with ICT', which describes how to make better use of the possibilities offered by ICT and realise improved economic and social returns.

2003

• In December 2003, the Government adopts the 'Modernising Government's programme', a wide-ranging modernisation programme that commits the Government to implementing eGovernment.
• In November 2003, the Netherlands become one of the first countries in Europe where all local authorities have an Internet presence. To further advance eGovernment at local level, the Association of Dutch Communes (VNG) launches an 'eCommunes' project (eGemeenten, Egem).
• In March 2003, an updated version of the eGovernment portal 'Overheid.nl' is launched. The website is revamped to provide easier access to an increasing amount of information and services.
  In the same month, the Government establishes an eGovernment Knowledge Centre, aimed at centralising information on the different programmes and projects related to eGovernment.

• In January 2003, the ICT and Administrative Burden (ICTAL) programme is launched. Its task is to develop and implement ICT tools to significantly reduce administrative burden for companies.

2002

In December 2002, the 'Better Government for Citizens and Businesses' (B4 programme) is launched aiming at solving lingering social problems, reducing bureaucracy and Government spending.

2001

In April 2001, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations created the ICT Unit (ICTU), a new body in charge of coordinating ICT developments in Government.

News 2000 and before

• In 1999, the publication of 'Digital Delta - The Netherlands Online', a policy document for the further development of the Information Society in the Netherlands, covers such issues as digital skills and competences, access, legislation, telecommunications infrastructure, knowledge and innovation.
  The Government information and services portal 'Overheid.nl' is launched.

• In 1998, the launch of the 'Electronic Government Action Programme' paves the way for the Dutch Government to use the potential of ICT to deliver better and more effective public services to citizens and businesses, while saving money on the provision of these services. This action programme aimed to make 25 % of public services available online by the end of 2002.
• In 1996, the Public Counter 2000 project (Overheidsloket 2000) is launched. It aims to deliver a reference model for integrated public service delivery through an electronic counter providing a 'one stop shop' for citizen interactions with public administrations.
• In 1994, the adoption of the 'National Action Programme on Electronic Highways' lays out a framework for several Government initiatives within a set of six lines of action - including example projects in the public sector -designed to give the Netherlands a leading position in the area of ICT.