In early 2025, the previous State Secretary for Digitalisation established the NDS Council. The Council brought together experts from government, academia and business, and was presented to the public in September 2025. Its purpose was to identify priorities, enhance and accelerate the implementation of the Netherlands’ Digitalisation Strategy (NDS), and strengthen innovation capacity. In spring 2026, the new State Secretary decided to adopt a different approach to advising on the NDS. The NDS Council subsequently concluded its work.
Members of the NDS Council
The NDS Council comprises 14 members and a chair, each with expertise in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, data exchange, cloud technology, and the enhancement of digital public services. Members representing government organisations also act as chairs of acceleration teams within the NDS implementation programme.
Members of the NDS Council:
- Nathan Ducastel, Managing Director at VNG-Realisatie; Chair of the NDS Council
- Arre Zuurmond, Former Government Commissioner for Information Management
- Bas Dunnebier, Chief Science and Technology Officer, AIVD
- Emily Glastra, Chair, NLdigital (Dutch Digital Technology Association)
- Inge Bryan, Independent Security Advisor
- Nitesh Bharosa, Professor of GovTech and Innovation, TU Delft
- Paul Timmers, Professor, KU Leuven; University of Rijeka; European University Cyprus
- Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi, CEO and Chair of the Executive Board, TNO
- Emine Özyenici MCM, Deputy Secretary-General, Ministry of Justice and Security (JenV)
- Hans Ouwehand, Chair of the Executive Board, CAK; Chair, Citizen and Business-Centric Acceleration Team
- Maarten Jonke, Acting Director of Information Flows and Digital Development/CIO at the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration’s Benefits Agency, and Chair of the Digital Resilience and Autonomy Acceleration Team
- Ron Kolkman, Chief Engineer-Director and CIO, Rijkswaterstaat; Chair, Cloud Acceleration Team
- Tanja van Burgel, CIO, Ministry of Finance; Chair, Digital Expertise Acceleration Team
- Larissa Zegveld, Director-General, Kennisnet Foundation; Chair, Standardisation Forum; Priority Lead, Artificial Intelligence
- René Steenvoorden, member of the UWV Executive Board, Chair of the Intergovernmental Data Consultation, and Chair of the Data Acceleration Team
In the media
- iBestuur, response NDS Council to the coalition agreement, February 2026 (Dutch)
- Special Publiek Denken, interview Nathan Ducastel on the importance of the NDS, November 2025 (Dutch)
- iBestuur, blog Nathan Ducastel, October 2025(Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid.nl, nieuwsbericht lancering NDS-Raad, September 2025 (Press release “Launch of NDS Council” on Rijksoverheid.nl, in Dutch)
- NL Digital Government, featured story NDS prioritises responsible data use, September 2025
Advice Dutch Digital Service
On 7 May, the former NDS Council presented its final report, ‘Working together, steering together!’ (eindadvies ‘Samen sturen, samen waarmaken!’(Dutch) to Willemijn Aerdts, State Secretary for Digital Economy and Sovereignty. Nathan Ducastel, Chair of the NDS Council and Director of VNG Realisatie, presented the report.
