This update was published on 1 May 2026, following the State Secretary’s response.
State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, EZK) announced on Monday that the NDS Council, the advisory body for the Netherlands’ Digitalisation Strategy (NDS), will cease its activities with immediate effect.
Broader perspectives
With the appointment of State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts, responsibility for the digital economy, government, and society now rests with a single ministerial representative. As this portfolio expands, the way input and advice are organised must also evolve. Consequently, the NDS Council will be abolished. With a broader remit, the minister emphasises the need for advice from a wider network, drawing on expertise from government, academia, business, civil society, knowledge institutions, and the public. In a letter to Parliament (in Dutch), Aerdts stated that she intends to organise this form of advice more effectively. She will share the detailed implementation with the House before the summer.
Commitment to the NDS remains
The State Secretary also expressed her appreciation for the NDS Council members’ commitment, knowledge, and expertise. She added that her decision does not affect her dedication to the NDS or the collaboration within the Administrative Consultation on Digitalisation.
Response from the NDS Council Chair
“The State Secretary for Digital Economy and Sovereignty, Willemijn Aerdts, has informed the NDS Council that she will not sign the decree to renew the council. Instead, she will restructure how advice is provided, while respecting the council’s achievements and the talented group of people who contributed to it. She and Gerdine Keijzer-Baldé, the council’s facilitator, conveyed this message to all members in a thoughtful and personal phone call.
While I’m naturally disappointed that this model won’t continue, I also see opportunities to share our insights in new ways. We’ll be doing just that shortly with an upcoming advisory report on digital public services. We’re grateful for the chance to contribute during the NDS’s early stages and are pleased to see the cabinet’s continued commitment to the strategy, now with a stronger ministerial focus.
Balancing the continuity of public services with the urgent need for a digital turning point, towards greater autonomy, remains a major challenge. It will require political attention and careful policymaking. We hope this shift will unlock opportunities for Dutch businesses and help drive the transitions we urgently need.”
