Thanks to support from the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) is enhancing municipalities’ implementation capacity in 2026. This is accomplished by funding 8 pilots that were rated highest for added value, simplicity, and feasibility.
Each pilot is provided with a €200,000 financial contribution to adapt their solution for local implementation by the end of this year. The aim is for well over 100 municipalities to reuse these solutions by the end of 2026.
Learning by doing
The 8 pilots demonstrate innovation, digitalisation, labour-saving practices, and digital expertise, aligning with the principles of the Netherlands’ Digitalisation Strategy (NDS). They actively test good ideas and innovative solutions in real-world situations. The knowledge and experiences gained are widely shared, and the design promotes reuse.
Eightfold value
The selected pilots are:
- Nijmegen/Leiden – Learning and development platform & challenges for smart prompts
- Deventer, on behalf of the OpenStad community – User-friendly engagement tools (OpenStad)
- Concensus/GBTwente – ‘Check Your Home’: Collecting secondary property characteristics
- Utrecht, on behalf of the Service Delivery Platform/G4 – Responsible and consistent data access
- Oost Gelre, on behalf of the KISS community – Efficient and effective customer contact
- Arnhem – The ‘Destruction Cockpit’
- ’s-Hertogenbosch, Zaanstad, Amsterdam, and Ede – A proof of concept for the digital sovereign workplace
- Venray – Innovative solutions for authentic contact
Would you like to track the progress of these 8 pilots? The VNG provides regular updates on the latest developments and results on the Dutch-language Pilots Implementation Capability 2026 project page.
Get started
The pilot teams will start implementing their proposals as soon as possible. Their aim is to have the solutions ready for reuse by the end of 2026. The VNG supports them by sharing its expertise, connecting them with other municipalities, and showcasing the results through conferences, webinars, and articles.
