The Dutch Senate approved the new Archives Act on 12 May. The law will come into force on 1 January 2027, marking a significant step towards more effective and future-proof management of digital government information.
The new act aims to ensure that government information is better preserved, discoverable, and accessible. For example, authorities will now have 10 years, rather than 20, to transfer important information to an archives service.
Law better aligned with digital practices
The new Archives Act is crucial for citizens, journalists, and researchers who wish to scrutinise the government or request information. It also seeks to promote greater government transparency and improved protection of digital heritage.
The current version dates back to 1995 and was largely written for an era when information was primarily stored on paper. The new act is better suited to today’s digital reality, requiring authorities to properly manage digital information from the moment it is created, including emails, chat messages, video footage, and websites.
Greater focus on sustainable information management
Responsibilities for information management will be more clearly defined, with increased emphasis on professionalisation and training. Oversight of information management will also be strengthened, including mandatory reporting and potential fines.
According to the National Programme for Sustainable Digital Information Management (RDDI, Dutch), implementing the law will demand significant effort from government organisations in the coming period. Organisations must prepare their information management, processes, and systems to meet the new requirements for sustainable accessibility and archiving. The law applies to the entire public sector: from ministries and High Colleges of State to provinces, municipalities, and water boards.
Read the full announcement on Rijksoverheid’s website (Dutch).
