A template accessibility statement has been adopted for government websites and apps. Government organisations must update their statements by 1 October 2026 using this template. A key change is that organisations must now clearly state which exemptions apply and which accessible alternatives are available.
The template is based on the Temporary Decree on Government Digital Accessibility (BDTO, Dutch). It aims to make digital accessibility more transparent. In particular, the accessibility statement indicates how well a website or app meets accessibility standards and what improvements are planned, offering clear insight. Without an up-to-date statement, organisations are not compliant with the law.
What this means in practice
Government organisations must:
- Publish an accessibility statement for each website and app.
- Use the approved template for all statements.
- Base the statement on current, accurate data.
- Assign and justify a status (A to E).
- Clearly state legal exemptions (Dutch) along with any accessible alternatives.
- Include planned improvements and timelines.
Additionally, statements must be updated at least once a year and demonstrate progress.
How to take action
Digitoegankelijk (Dutch) offers practical tools to meet legal requirements. For example, the Completion Assistant (Invulassistent, Dutch) guides users through each step to create a compliant statement. Furthermore, the DigiToegankelijk Dashboard provides a clear overview of the accessibility of websites and apps accessibility. This way, it highlights areas that need improvement and indicates where to take action.
While not BDTO-specific, the EU Web Accessibility Directive aligns with the BDTO’s goals. Therefore, it provides a broader English-language context for digital accessibility in Europe.
