The Dutch Senate’s Digitalisation Committee was briefed by experts on the Netherlands Digitalisation Strategy (NDS). On 3 February 2026, academics, implementation bodies, and interest groups shared their insights on the conditions, challenges, and risks of the NDS. How can the NDS be effective? And what does it require from the Senate?
Experts shared their views, and senators posed questions about procurement procedures and the Senate’s role in digital implementation reviews. They also discussed how the NDS is being implemented at the municipal level and ways to protect fundamental rights.
Can it be more efficient?
Frank Robben, from Belgium’s Crossroads Bank for Social Security, demonstrated how government can operate more efficiently. For example, by managing source data in a decentralised manner. According to Robben, this approach results in reliable, user-friendly, and privacy-compliant public services.
Bram Klievink, from Leiden University, argued that digitalisation has become the backbone of government policy. He believes the NDS’s effectiveness depends on how the government handles 3 key tensions:
- Between central control and local implementation
- Between innovation ambitions and outdated IT systems.
- Between policy and the realities of practice.
Klievink did not call for new structures, but for realistic choices, a focus on feasibility, and clear priorities.
Fundamental rights at the core
Rick Lawson of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights also spoke. While supporting the NDS, he emphasised that fundamental rights must be central from the outset. Lawson also warned against weakening EU digitalisation rules under the guise of innovation.
Nathan Ducastel, chair of the NDS Council, argued that the NDS needs less ambiguity and more standardisation. He also highlighted the Senate’s role, including introducing generic standards and digital assessments for new legislation.
