Digitalisation has profound implications for how we live, work, and play. This is why digitalisation is a starting point for many of the government’s ambitions. The government aims to use digital technology responsibly and provide good services to citizens and entrepreneurs. In a launch letter presented to the House of Representatives this week, State Secretary for Digitalisation and Kingdom Relations Zsolt Szabó introduces the upcoming Dutch Digitalisation Strategy (Nederlandse Digitaliseringsstrategie, abbreviated NDS).
Citizens and entrepreneurs are entitled to comprehensible and accessible government services and communicating with government bodies should be easy. In his launch letter, the State Secretary emphasises that the government therefore aims to serve people as 1 government rather than as separate organisations.
To enable serving people in the Netherlands as a more unified government, collaboration between Central Government, provinces, municipalities, water authorities and public service providers needs to be intensified and improved. Alongside clear guidelines for how digital technology can contribute to our society. The NDS will give this substance. As coordinating minister on Digitalisation, State Secretary Szabó is taking the lead in this process.
Digitalisation strategy affects society as a whole
In the upcoming months, the State Secretary will discuss the new strategy with multiple parties ranging from academics and entrepreneurs to executive bodies. In a first session on 4 November, they discussed several topics such as services to citizens and entrepreneurs, the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), working together as 1 Government and secure data exchange through, among other measures, more standardisation.
The NDS aims to tie together existing digitalisation plans and set priorities. The strategy will provide a clear overview of topics on which to focus and what goals it seeks to achieve. At the same time, the government will have to respond to new technological developments. Therefore, modifications will be made each year if developments in digital technology so require.
Work in phases
Initial work on the NDS has already been initiated. The final version is expected to be presented to the Chamber in the spring of 2025. From September to November this year, the main focus of work lies in starting up and prioritising (phase 1: ‘what’). From December, focus will be on detailing and formalising (phase 2: ‘how’).
