Main eGovernment infrastructure components

Last updated: November 2011

Portals

'Overheid.nl': main administration portal

'Overheid.nl' serves as the central access point to all information about government organisations. The portal discloses information for persons and businesses by theme, life events and location. It offers consolidated legislation, as well as access to local decisions and a catalogue of services so that citizens can easily find an appropriate organisation. Furthermore, a catalogue of open data has been added. e-Overheid voor Burgers manages the portal.

'e-Overheid.nl': eGovernment portal

'e-Overheid.nl' provides news on eGovernment in the Netherlands and an overview of Dutch eGovernment services. It enables users to search a repository of Dutch eGovernment websites and offers external links where necessary.

'Rijksoverheid.nl': citizens’ portal

The overall objective of 'Rijksoverheid.nl' is to improve the visibility and accessibility of government. It contains details on all government-related information, from ministries to documents and publications, in addition to updated news items on all domains. Personalised services are integrated into the portal. Citizens can login with their DigiD and access specific services, such as personal data, message receipt, tracking and tracing.

'Antwoord voor bedrijven': business portal

'Answers for Business' is the point of contact for businesses and entrepreneurs in areas such as legislation, subsidies and permits. The information provided covers all levels of government. It is made available through various channels (websites, email, telephone and chat) and focuses on the issues and needs of the business community.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation administers the business forum, where entrepreneurs can discuss matters of direct concern.

Networks

'Digipoort'

Through 'Digipport', the electronic post office for businesses, government organisations and businesses can quickly and efficiently exchange digital information. Every business that is connected can exchange digital information with the government. The website ensures that a government organisation is able to receive information that, if required, it can be verified and that any information sent is delivered to the correct business.

'Digikoppeling'

Digikoppeling enables large-scale electronic messaging between government organisations. This is accomplished through the connectivity of Diginetwerk, the Internet or a different type of connection.

'Diginetwerk'

Diginetwerk connects existing physical government organisation networks to one another. This results in a single closed virtual government network.

'Digimelding'

Digimelding is a single central point for registering inaccuracies in basic registries. Through its use, a registered incident arrives at the proper government body or bodies. A government official then receives a message about the outcome of the incident.

eIdentification/eAuthentication

Digital identification

Authorities can use a Government-wide authentication service for their electronic services, to electronically determine whether a particular identity is valid. DigiD is available in two different levels: basic (user name and password: DigiD) and middle (DigiD + sms-authentication).

DigiD for citizens

DigiD (Digital Identification) provides citizens with a centralised online authentication solution for accessing eGovernment services based on a user ID and password. It furthermore enables citizens and businesses to identify themselves with similar identification means to all the government agencies that provide electronic services. DigiD is only available to people who are registered in a municipality and possess a Citizen Service Number (CSN). It is currently only available in Dutch.

eRecognition

DigiD (Digital Identification) for businesses was replaced by eRecognition on 1 January 2011. It enables private citizens and businesses to identify themselves to government agencies that provide electronic services. This shared facility, provided by and for the Government, is able to recognise users of electronic government services.

DigiD Authorise

'DigiD Authorise' is a national, collective facility allowing businesses and citizens to use authorisations for electronic government service provision. This facility makes it possible to authorise a third person to acquire online services provided by the government. Using the authorisation function prevents citizens from giving their DigiD identification code to others, or allowing other parties to gain access to pre-completed details. It was reported in April 2011 that over 225 000 citizens (double the figure anticipated by authorities) used 'DigiD Authorise' to give permission to a third party in settling their 2011 tax return.

Common authorisation and representation facilities

Unique numbers for individuals and businesses

Citizen Service Number (CSN)

A CSN enables data interchange that requires personal ID numbers to take place reliably and efficiently. It is a unique identification number that is automatically assigned to every citizen who is registered in the population register (Municipal Personal Records Database). It is designed to improve the delivery of eGovernment services, facilitate data sharing and fight fraudulent access to public services. A CSN may only be used for exchange of information, as permitted by law. It is one of the tools designed to permit key data to be collected only once and then streamlined.

Chamber of Commerce number (CCN)

The Chamber of Commerce uses unique numbers for businesses. In the case of groupings and legal entities governed by public law, the tax number of the Tax and Customs Administration is used. For businesses and social activities, a unique Chamber of Commerce number is employed (alphanumerical, eight characters). A unique Chamber of Commerce number is used for branches of businesses and social activities (alphanumerical, twelve characters).

eProcurement

Current status

The Netherlands has a decentralised eProcurement policy. The national non-mandatory eProcurement platform, TenderNed, deals only with eNotices for all European tenders and for quite a number of national tenders. Furthermore, eProcurement services are offered through privately-owned platforms.

Source: "Digitising Public Services in Europe: Putting ambition into action 9th Benchmark Measurement"

eTendering system 'TenderNed'

The eTendering system 'TenderNed' is a web-based application that supports the entire tender procedure from notice to award for all contracting (central and local) authorities and suppliers. It is a key instrument in meeting the European Commission’s objectives for eProcurement and automatically publishes contract notices that exceed the EU threshold on Tenders Electronic Daily (TED).

PIANOo, the public procurement expertise centre under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, administers TenderNet. The overall aim of PIANOo is to achieve better eProcurement within the government. It supports stakeholders who are involved in procurement on a daily basis, and offers a platform for all contracting authorities to share problems encountered and to discuss applied solutions.

Knowledge Management

ICTU programme 'RENOIR'

The ICTU programme 'RENOIR' organises knowledge in the field of eGovernment. Its aim is to enable any given group to apply information and agreements by providing relevant, up-to-date and targeted information on the development of eGovernment, and of a set of agreements on joined-up, collaborative eGovernment that require widespread support.

Other Infrastructure

Electronic access to government

Official government information

The overall objective is to make official government information such as regulations, permits and public announcements available on the Internet. Interested individuals and businesses can obtain from the Internet timely, pro-active and detailed information on developments that affect them.

Catalogue Collaboration

Catalogue Collaboration institutes full co-operation between the various online government points of contact. The national Catalogue Collaboration standard allows government agency points of contact on the Internet to work together so that users are no longer faced with barriers when trying to access electronic government.

eForms

The eForms programme develops and manages electronic forms for other government agencies. The main objective is to maximise the amount of electronic government services available. The forms are centrally stored and presented on the related government agencies' sites in their own corporate styles. eForms also link up with national basic facilities such as DigiD.

Digital exchange in planning processes

New spatial plans were made digitally available in 2009 following the Spatial Planning Act (WRO). In addition to a new and improved system of spatial planning processes in the Netherlands, the introduction of the Act also preserves the results of the DEPP (Digital Exchange in Planning Processes) programme in law; virtually all the tools in the Act are to be made digitally available by the source holders and local plans will be comparable to one another.

Assistance with eGovernment implementation

GovUnited and Dimpact

Two additional support programmes for municipalities are GovUnited and Dimpact, under which municipalities work together to develop and implement eGovernment services.

GovUnited is a public sector organisation managed by participating municipal and provincial authorities. The aim is to improve and standardise both the public services and the internal administration of local governments. It combines the expertise, experience and purchasing power of municipal authorities, and collaborates with departments, national programmes and interest groups in the implementation of new policies. Projects are all aimed at multi-channel delivery. The application of web technology makes it possible to use the same facilities whether they are accessed online, via telephone or from a physical information desk. GovUnited has progressed into a broad-based construct that is unique for the Netherlands, a large-scale roll-out of a standardised digital service desk and concrete collaborative projects. It is the first organisation to acquire a common ICT platform for a large number of local authorities. It has developed a number of products, such as offering new affiliates a comprehensive, standardised basic service desk, a contact management system (CMS) and a service which allows citizens to book appointments online with civil servants. 

Dimpact, a partnership by and for municipalities, develops and implements digital products and services. Municipalities serve as a first point of access in providing optimal digital services for citizens and companies.

Interprovincial Consultative Council and Waterschapshuis

Provinces and water boards receive support not only from the Iteams, but also from the Interprovincial Consultative Council and the Waterschapshuis, respectively. The next stages of development in the provinces are being supervised and supported by the Council, in collaboration with the Knowledge Centre. The Waterschapshuis is the management and implementation organisation for the water boards in the field of ICT. Its aim is to promote collaboration between water boards, improve the quality of service and cut costs. The work of the special Iteams for the water boards builds on what they have already achieved in the area of ICT.

Standardisation

Architecture and standards

The backbone of the eGovernment architecture is the Netherlands Government Reference Architecture (NORA 3.0). All government parties have endorsed NORA. Through NORA, they can coordinate developments within their own organisations. By adhering to the design principles and standards, IT solutions meet the demands affixed to cohesion and standardisation. NORA provides a framework for the eGovernment components that has been acknowledged by all stakeholders. The partners can use it to gear developments in their organisations to a common framework.

Open standards and open source software

The Standardisation Forum and the Standardisation Board support the Dutch government in the use, development and establishment of open standards for electronic exchange.

The Standardisation Forum promotes interoperability, not only within the government system itself, but also in the relations between government agencies on the one hand and citizens and businesses on the other. The Standardisation Board, which is supervised by the Forum, consists of 16 senior officials from various government agencies involved in the development and implementation of policies on open standards.

'The Netherlands Open in Connection' (2008-2012) aimed to establish open source and open standard software in all levels of Government and intended to make the use of open standards software compulsory for government organisations. As a result of the action plan, all ministries now support open source OpenDocument Format (ODF) for reading, writing, sharing, publishing and receiving documents.

Web guidelines

Municipalities, water boards, provinces and central government bodies that are subject to ministerial responsibility are obliged to comply with the 'Web Guidelines' as laid down in ministerial decisions and administrative agreements. In 2010, the Government published its findings on WCAG 2.0, the current international accessibility standard. Based on this, 'Web Guidelines version 2' was published in June 2011 by the Standardisation Board.

Key Registers

To improve services and reduce the administrative burden by applying the 'collect data once' principle, whereby private citizens and businesses only have to supply their data to the Government once, a system of 13 basic registers is being developed.

Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA)

The GBA is the sole and unique source of personal details of persons registered in the Netherlands. Statutory regulations governing the GBA as a common register were introduced in 2010. Personal details and a properly functioning common register are necessary for effective operation of government tasks and a satisfactory level of government service provision. Every municipal authority updates and manages the data kept in its GBA with respect to its own residents.

Trade Register (NHR)

The Chamber of Commerce works on and manages the NHR. Registration is compulsory for every business and nearly every legal entity.. All government authorities are expected to be connected to the NHR by 2014. This connection results in a more efficient government and better service provision to businesses.

Key Registers of Addresses and Buildings (BAG)

The BAG is a common register kept by municipal authorities containing details on addresses and buildings. All government authorities can retrieve data from this database, and as of mid 2011 are obligated to use this information.

Topography (BRT) and Cadastral Registry (BRK)

The BRT is a unique source of information for all mid- and small-scale topographic maps (scale of 1:10.000 or smaller scale maps) with which government authorities can easily exchange geographic information. It is kept by the Land Registry. The BRK registers cadastral information on parcels, title, mortgage and independently limited rights such as ground lease, building and usufruct. It functions as a common register because many government authorities use the cadastral information as a basis for their own operational processes.

Vehicle records (BRV)

Aim: to create a key register of vehicles.

Pay, Working Conditions and Benefits (BLAU)

Aim: to create a key register of pay, working conditions and benefits.

Income (BRI)

Aim: to create a key register of incomes.

Property Valuation (WOZ)

Aim: to create a property valuation key register.

Future Key Registers

Non-Residents (RNI)

The RNI is expected to be a single register of certain common key data on non-residents recorded in a standardised, uniform manner. The different government bodies each keep their own registration of these non-residents. A number of general details are bundled in the RNI to one set of data. Furthermore, the identifying details, the Citizen Service Number (CSN) and the foreign addresses of non-residents have been recorded. This data may be used - just as with the GBA - by all authorised government organisations. The RNI is expected to be in operation during 2012.

Netherlands Large Scale Basic Map (BGT)

The BGT is based on the current Large Scale Standard Map of the Netherlands (GBKN), the most detailed topographic map in the country. Its main aim is to use the same large scale topographic map across government. The anticipated completion date is 2015.

Netherlands Geological Information Database (BRO)

The feasibility study into designating the NGID (geological data) – possibly with the addition of soil data – as a key register is currently in progress, headed by the Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in consultation with the other ministries involved (Economic Affairs/Education, Culture and Science/Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality/Transport, Public Works and Water Management). The study has produced a clearer picture of the principles upon which a key register of Netherlands Geological Information could be based. A more informed picture of the social costs and benefits, based on these principles has been outlined. It is expected to be in service as from 1 January 2013.

The System Catalogue

The System Catalogue is an online catalogue that describes the structure of the basic registries system and the definitions of types of objects, data and messages. The definitions in the System Catalogue have been taken from the various basic registries.