Timeline of the development of the Netherlands Digitalisation Strategy
Phase 0: Start NDS
On 13 September 2024, the Government Programme (Dutch) was released, including a section on future-proof digitalisation in chapter 7. This section emphasises the government’s focus on strengthening digital infrastructure to enhance governance. The Government Programme highlights the NDS as a key instrument to steer the overall development of digitalisation across government and society.
Phase 1: the 'What'
The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) sends a letter (Dutch) to the State Secretary on 30 September 2024. This will be followed by letters from the provinces on 1 November 2024 and water boards on 25 November 2024.
- Letter by VNG – joint prioritisation ‘House of Thorbecke’ (Dutch)
- Letter from the Association of the Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO) – input from provinces for the Netherlands Digitalisation Strategy (Dutch)
- Letter of the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) – Details of the Netherlands’ digitalisation strategy for water boards (Dutch)
On 4 November 2024, a ‘diner pensant’ (a dinner for thought) takes place, bringing together scientists, public authorities, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations, and the chairpersons of the parliamentary committees of both the First and Second Chambers, among others. The aim: to help set the initial direction for the Netherlands Digitalisation Strategy (NDS). Below are some of the key outcomes of the meeting.
- Policy paper Diner pensant NDS (Dutch)
- Conversation cards Diner pensant NDS (Dutch)
- Policy paper outcome Diner Pensant NDS (Dutch)
On 7 November 2024, the State Secretary for Digitalisation and Kingdom Relations sends a letter to the House of Representatives setting out the principles, process and scope of the NDS. In it, the State Secretary emphasises the importance of collaboration and coordination to serve citizens and entrepreneurs as one government.
- Initiation letter NDS (Dutch)
During a special directors’ session on 12 November 2024, a broad exchange takes place on possible priorities. Members of the Directors’ Consultation on Digitalisation (DoD) and the CIO Council are present, with representatives from departments and local authorities. Representatives of the Work in Progress programme and the Network of Public Service Providers (NPD) have also been invited. The session aims to reach a consensus on recommendations for the Administrative Consultation on Digitalisation with local authorities on 2 December 2024 and the follow-up process of the NDS thereafter.
On 2 December 2024, an administrative consultation with fellow authorities takes place. During this meeting, the set of priorities is jointly agreed upon. Initial steps are also taken during this consultation to realise the goal of establishing a structural Administrative Consultation on Digitalisation (BO).
On 4 December 2024, a comprehensive NDS session is held with the State Secretary for Digitalisation and Kingdom Relations. This session covers political-administrative and financial management, cooperation (one government) and further elaborates on the ambition to establish an administrative consultation body. During this session, the initial outlines of a possible NDS council are sketched out.
In a collection letter (Dutch) on digitalisation dated 18 December 2024, the State Secretary informs the House of Representatives about the state of affairs regarding the Dutch Digitisation Strategy (NDS).
Phase 2: the 'How'
Between December and the end of January, various preparatory sessions will be held for each priority, involving employees from different levels of management, to identify how the various priorities can be implemented.
Between January and March 2025, a series of introductory meetings are held between the State Secretary and administrators and civil servants from local authorities and the Public Service Providers Network to discuss the NDS. The following sessions are scheduled:
- Meeting with the Information Society Committee of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (30 January 2025).
- Meeting with provincial digitalisation portfolio holders (12 February 2025).
- Meeting with the board of the Public Service Providers Network (20 February 2025).
- Meeting with the CIO Council of the Manifesto Group (7 March 2025).
- Meeting with members of the Digitalisation Council and the Digitalisation and Finance Committee (CBDF) of the Union of Water Boards (10 March 2025).
On 12 February 2025, the NDS Council is announced. Part of this process involves establishing an NDS Council, which will focus on advising on the substantive direction of the NDS and driving its implementation forward. Nathan Ducastel will serve as chair of this council.
As an experienced director-administrator in the digital domain, he will establish connections between the national government, local authorities and public service providers based on a one government approach. In doing so, he will advance the priorities of the NDS together with all parties involved. From policy to implementation.
On 20 February, Pressure Cookers are taking place for six priorities with the aim of exploring the obstacles and necessary breakthroughs in greater depth. The results are fed back to the participants for review. Based on this, a first complete version of the NDS is being written.
Administrative coordination and decision-making
On 14 March, the draft NDS is shared with consultants from the Digitalisation Workgroup and the Government-wide Policy Consultation Digital Government (OBDO) for an initial feedback round (version 1 of NDS).
On 19 March, the draft NDS is discussed in the CIO meeting and on 20 March during the OBDO ‘Dinner pensant’ (version 2 of NDS).
On 1 April, the NDS is discussed in the Civil Service Committee on Digitalisation (ACD) and during the Administrative Consultation on Digitalisation (BOD) (version 3 of NDS).
Until 17 April, a written consultation round is open in the ACD for approval of the NDS in the REDI ministerial subcommittee (version 4 of NDS).
Following this consultation and decision-making process, the NDS is sent to the REDI ministerial subcommittee (version 5 of the NDS).
Administrative decision-making
Based on this coordination, a version of the NDS was created for decision-making by committees and boards of the stakeholders involved: committees and boards of VNG, IPO, UvW, and NPD.
- A written consultation takes place within the NPD board in April.
- Discussions take place within the IPO board on 17 April.
- The matter is discussed within the REDI ministerial subcommittee on 13 May.
- On 15 May, a discussion takes place in the Information Society Committee of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) and on 19 May in the VNG Board.
- On 21 May, the Administrative Consultation on Digitisation takes place.
- On 6 June, a discussion takes place in the Administrative Affairs, Finance and Digitisation Committee (CBFD) of the Union of Water Boards.
- On 6 June, the NDS is on the agenda of the Council of Ministers (MR). Due to the fall of the Schoof-I cabinet, the NDS is not discussed in the MR.
- On 4 July, the NDS is again on the agenda of the Council of Ministers. The members of the MR agree to the NDS.
