State Secretary Willemijn van Aerdts (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, EZK) announced on Monday that the NDS Council will cease its activities with immediate effect.
Broader perspectives
With the appointment of State Secretary Willemijn van Aerdts, responsibility for the digital economy, government, and society now rests with a single ministerial representative. As this portfolio expands, the need for how input and advice are organised must also evolve. Consequently, the NDS Council, the advisory body for the Netherlands’ Digitalisation Strategy (NDS), will be discontinued. A broader portfolio requires drawing on a wider network of advisors, including representatives from government, academia, the business community, civil society organisations, research institutions, and society at large. In a letter to Parliament (Dutch), Aerdts indicated her intention to streamline this advisory process. Further details will be shared with Parliament before the summer.
Commitment to the NDS remains
The State Secretary also expressed her appreciation for the dedication, knowledge, and expertise of the NDS Council members. She emphasised that her decision does not alter her commitment to the NDS or the collaborative efforts within the Executive Consultation on Digitalisation.
