The House of Representatives Committee on Digital Affairs has existed for 5 years, culminating in a celebration in early September with a debate at the international press centre Nieuwspoort in The Hague. The committee’s establishment reflects recognition of digitalisation as a serious political issue. The Netherlands’ Digitalisation Strategy (NDS) was highlighted at Nieuwspoort as a key milestone in its short history.
To mark the committee’s fifth anniversary, 3 panels reflected on its past, present, and future. The discussions featured prominent political figures, both current and former, including former members Kees Verhoeven and Hawre Rahimi, former State Secretary Zsolt Szabó, and current committee member Barbara Kathmann.
Digitalisation on the agenda
Verhoeven reflected on his days in parliament and the limited understanding of digitalisation at the time. “For every digitalisation law, multiple committees had to be involved.” Politics also lacked expertise on the topic. Rahimi, who joined parliament as an ICT entrepreneur, aimed to improve knowledge on the issue. His motto was: “Either I stay quiet, or I get involved.” Today, digitalisation is a regular part of parliamentary discussions. But this doesn’t mean the work is finished: “We’re never done,” Rahimi stressed. Verhoeven added, “Digitalisation has become an increasingly urgent issue.”
NDS emergence as milestone
In 2019, a temporary committee on digital affairs was established, and in 2021 it became permanent. The committee was tasked with 5 themes: Emerging and Future Technologies, Digital Rights and Data Ethics, Digital Infrastructure and Economy, Online Safety and Cybersecurity, and Digitalising Government and Oversight. Last year, the committee added digital sovereignty as a sixth theme. Liesbeth Holterman of Cyberveilig Nederland delivered a brief retrospective with figures, concluding that the committee has matured and now focuses more on vision and strategy than on building knowledge.
On the milestone slide, the NDS was shown under the 2025 column. Szabó explained its origins during his time as State Secretary for Digital Affairs: “I tried to address the fragmentation with the NDS.” In 2024, the national government, provinces, municipalities, water authorities, and implementing organisations (Zbo’s) jointly identified 6 priorities. These still form the core pillars of the NDS. Szabó: “The goal was to move forward together as a unified digital government, pooling the resources of all collaborating organisations to focus on these priorities.” He remembered the week when the NDS was about to be approved, just before the cabinet fell. “We were going to celebrate its approval here at Nieuwspoort.”
Focus, focus, focus
Szabó does not aim to take the current State Secretary’s position but appreciates that she also views the NDS as a vital tool. He emphasised the importance of the NDS in his advice to the standing Committee on Digital Affairs: “Focus, focus, focus. Don’t diverge. If your digital efforts are scattered across many initiatives, some will be overlooked. Stay focused and act united as 1 government. The NDS represents accelerating together, which is essential as the world moves faster. The priorities for 2024 remain relevant. Avoid getting bogged down in debates about minor details.”
Regaining control over digitalisation
Kathmann did not view digitalisation narrowly. She always considered its wider societal implications, including how AI affects society and influences voting patterns. “Digitalisation, and AI specifically, doesn’t have to be imposed on us; we can shape and control it.” She emphasised the importance of collaboration, not only among governments but also between the government, the market, and various societal organisations that strengthen the Netherlands. “Our successes stem from working together, uniting efforts, and urging political action to ensure the cabinet recognises what matters and invests accordingly.”
