Main strategic objectives and principles

Last updated: November 2011

eGovernment Policy in the Netherlands

According to 'Europe's Digital Competitiveness Report 2010', eGovernment is part of the country's wider ICT strategy with a focus on delivering new services in a more efficient manner and reducing administrative burden by investing in shared facilitating services and infrastructure, rather than pursuing eGovernment as an end in itself. Administrative burden reduction is a major political priority for the Netherlands and an important justification for eGovernment development.

National Implementation Programme (i-NUP) until 2015

The eGovernment strategy is given shape through the 'i-NUP - the government-wide implementation agenda for eGovernment services until 2015', which sets forth the government's ambitions for eGovernment development up to 2015. It was presented to the House of Representatives on 27 May 2011. It builds on the 'National Implementation Programme' (NUP). Each individual government body (municipal and provincial authorities, water boards and central government) is responsible for implementing the agenda; municipalities receive additional implementation support.

Strategic areas

One-stop-shop for citizens

The overall aim is for a more accessible government, one which possesses public sector information (PSI) that is easily obtained and readily available, where the municipality serves as the government entry point.

Digital services for businesses

The focus for 2011 is on the implementation of basic eServices:

• provide widely available, comprehensive basic eServices for access, information and communication;
• stimulate (re) use of basic eServices by making them mandatory for government providers;
• explore eBusiness opportunities for enterprises;
• develop further basic eServices.

System of 13 basic key registers

The following measures are being taken during 2011 to achieve the overall goal of an integrated key registers system by 2015:

• full use of the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA), the Key Registers of Addresses and Buildings (BAG) and the Trade Register (NHR);
• system-wide agreements on financing for development, implementation and use of the basic registers system;
• completion of common basic facilities and administrative preparation for their use.

ICT Agenda 2008-2011

The 'ICT Agenda 2008-2011' outlines the government's plans for ICT, among which eGovernment is a key priority area. The government has been working for several years to make information and services online available to the general public and to businesses. The services provided by the government need to be modern, professional and customised. Smartly deploying ICT will enable the government to tailor its services to the needs of the general public and businesses.

A sound basic infrastructure is essential to ensure a good level of electronic services. The government is also strengthening control over electronic services in order to achieve even better results. In addition, it is encouraging businesses and government agencies to exchange data. The government aims to improve its services and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses. It is important that all government agencies make the necessary preparations and apply the basic elements of the digital services infrastructure in their own organisation.

ICT strategy for central government (2011-present)

In November 2011, the ICT strategy for central government was launched as part of the 'Compact Central Government Implementation Programme'. It provides a long term view of the information infrastructure needed by the Central government and the implementation programmes that accompany it. The programme deals with the compact central government in greater depth and sets the framework for drawing up ministries' plans of action for the implementation of cutbacks. The net savings achieved will all be directed to the departments that have suffered budget cuts.

Previous eGovernment Strategies

National Implementation Programme (NUP) until 2010

The 'National Implementation Programme' (NUP), a joint priorities programme of municipal and provincial governments, water boards and central government, was concluded on 31 December 2010. It laid down a list of building blocks and six example projects. These facilities, which formed the basic infrastructure for the realisation of eGovernment, represented the prerequisites for adequate electronic communication between the government and the public, and for better service provision. The six projects have been realised and the basic facilities have been classified into five categories: eAccess; eAuthentication; numbers; common registers; and eInformation exchange.

In addition to the programme's contribution to improving government efficiency, the guiding principle in its realisation has been the perspective of business and citizens.

Key social objectives have been met with example projects, spread among the various policy fields:

• Citizens can apply for specific permits via an online service for environmental permits.
• Job seekers can register online for employment, apply for unemployment benefits or income support and check on their personal details via the online work and income client file.
• The national online school dropout reporting desk was introduced. Schools report their absenteeism data to a single point of contact which in turn informs the appropriate municipal authorities.
• Information on important care and social security provisions for people with disabilities, chronic illnesses and the elderly is provided by the special website 'regelhulp.nl'.
• The Youth Risks Reference Index (VIR) brings together risk factors provided by youth workers, which concern youth from across the Netherlands, thus facilitating communication among them and at an early stage in order to provide better help to young people.
• National and international service providers may use the Services Desk for handling procedures and formalities with government agencies, such as applying for and obtaining permits.
• The construction and filling of five of the seven key registers (municipal personal records database, trade register, key register of addresses and buildings, topography and the cadastral register) is almost complete.
• The building blocks for electronic authentication offer citizens and businesses safe access to different eGovernement services. Digital identity (DigiD) is frequently used throughout the state as an authentication facility. 'DigiD authorisarion' is used by the Tax & Customs Administration as from 1 January 2011, when DigiD for Business was replaced by eIdentity for Business.

Other facilities are available, but still have to be implemented by different government agencies. By the end of 2010, over 8 million people were able to reach their municipal government through the 14+ area code. Important steps forward with accompanying gains for citizens, businesses and government agencies need to be taken in the follow up to the NUP. This can only occur if the service organisations are connected to the different building blocks of the NUP, and these facilities are used in their work. This connection of the buildings blocks to the working processes has begun.