Generic Digital Infrastructure (GDI)

The Generic Digital Infrastructure (GDI) comprises a set of standards, agreements (systems), and facilities that are utilised by all public service providers to deliver digital services to citizens and entrepreneurs.

Building blocks that form the delivery of digital services

The GDI is the government’s digital infrastructure, comprising various building blocks that collectively underpin the (central) government’s digital service delivery. These basic digital components are used throughout the entire public sector. Therefore, the GDI provides the foundation for public services to citizens and businesses and also enables collaboration among public organisations.

Part of MIDO

The GDI is an integral part of the Long-Term Programme for Digital Government Infrastructure (MIDO). Public service providers collaborate as a unified government within MIDO to modernise the GDI and improve service delivery.

4 domains, 3 types of building blocks

The GDI consists of 4 domains: access, interaction, data exchange, and infrastructure. Each domain contains a number of building blocks. There are 3 types of building blocks: agreements (systems), standards, and provisions. The functions of the GDI are preferably realised through generic agreements and standards. If the intended objectives are not achieved this way, provisions are introduced.

• Agreement (system): Rules agreed, recorded, and published by parties (government, business, and academia) for the establishment of a generic function.
• Standard: A set of rules describing how people should develop and manage materials, products, services, technologies, tasks, processes, and systems.
• Provision: A grouping of services offered to users, aimed at promoting uniformity and efficiency within government.

The domains

Access

This domain focuses on agreements, standards and provisions for establishing digital identities of (non-)natural persons and determining the authority to act digitally on their behalf.
Building blocks: DigiD, DigiD Authorisation (DigiD Machtigen), eHerkenning, eIDAS, BSN-koppelpunt (Dutch), PKI-overheid and Citizen Service Number Management Facility (BV BSN). Find out more about this building block on Logius’ website (Dutch).

Interaction

This domain covers agreements, standards, and provisions for interactive communication with citizens and entrepreneurs, as well as the digital delivery of official government service publications.
Building blocks: MijnOverheid.nl, Message Box for Citizens, Message Box for Businesses, BusinessGov (Ondernemersplein), Digitoegankelijk (Dutch), Overheid.nl, Registry of Government Organisations (Register van Overheidsorganisaties (Dutch), Samenwerkende Catalogi (Dutch). Find out more about this building block on Logius’ website (Dutch).

Data exchange

The focus of this domain is on the secure, reliable, and standardised exchange of data between government organisations, citizens, and entrepreneurs.
Building blocks: Digimelding, Digilevering (Dutch), Digikoppeling (Dutch), Digipoort (Dutch), Stelselcatalogus, Standard Business Reporting (SBR) and e-Invoicing. Find out more about this building block on Logius’ website (Dutch).

Infrastructure

This domain encompasses the agreements, standards, and provisions for the transportation, storage, routing, monitoring, control, and security of data exchange, including connections to the exchange.
Building blocks: Diginetwerk (Dutch), NORA (Dutch), Open Standaarden (Standaardisation Forum, Dutch). Find out more about this building block on Logius’ website (Dutch).