Too many people lack the digital skills needed to participate in society and benefit from the opportunities digitalisation has to offer. Digital skills are one of citizens’ most important basic needs. The Netherlands Court of Audit estimates that there are 2.5 million Dutch people with inadequate basic skills, among which are digital skills, and over 5 million Dutch adults have difficulty being aware of, critical of, and active with social media. Administrators, entrepreneurs and government and corporate employees frequently lack the skills to seize opportunities and mitigate risks.
Goals
- Everyone will have the digital skills to participate in the digital society as independently as possible.
- Children and school-leavers are digitally proficient.
- Public administrators, employers, and employees are digitally proficient and able to utilise the opportunities provided by technology and digitalisation safely and resiliently.
- Citizens understand the opportunities and risks presented by emerging technologies.
- People can seek help in their neighbourhoods for support with digital challenges in everyday life.
Results achieved by 2023
- Research by Statistics Netherlands shows that by 2023, 83% of Dutch people aged 16 to 75 have at least basic digital skills. This meets the EU target of 80% by 2030.
- Completion of the Handbook and Guidebook for setting up local help networks aimed at digital inclusion. Fourteen frontrunner municipalities have started setting up a network for local support and services.
- Tel mee met Taal and Statistics Netherlands have developed a monitor called the “National Overview of Adult Education”. The monitor tracks annual course participation and trainee characteristics in different regions with the aim of promoting basic skills.
- DigiHulplijn (digital hotline) continued: between 500–1,000 callers are assisted with their questions about digitalisation every month. The number of users has doubled since DigiHulplijn started in 2021. In addition to calling, people can now also contact us via WhatsApp.
- The 688 Digital Government Information Points (IDOs) have been reinforced. Staff refer people to digital skills courses. Municipalities and libraries can also use the funds to purchase course offerings.
- The digital skills of the Dutch population are monitored through the University of Amsterdam’s DIGCOM survey, a comprehensive survey of the digital knowledge and competencies of the Dutch, from button knowledge to critical skills and from netiquette to AI. The survey provides insight into how digital competencies develop over time and what policies should be employed.
- Completion of the Digihandig app. Digihandig is a flexible, low-threshold smartphone learning tool that enables people to practice digital skills independently, at home and in their own time. The AI Parade travelled to 35 libraries across the country to provide accessible insight into AI.
What are our forthcoming actions?
To find out the goals we are setting for the upcoming year to improve digital skills and knowledge, click here.
Indicators
- Percentage of people aged 16–75 with basic digital skills by 2025 (according to Eurostat) (target value: 80%; the value was 79% in 2021).
- Digital proficiency of children and school-leavers will be determined based on the revised curriculum.
- By 2025, an up-to-date and appropriate range of courses focused on digitalisation will be structurally available for government administrators and senior managers.
- By 2025, there will be an accessible range of courses in every labour market to teach advanced digital skills (e.g. AI) to school-leavers and career switchers.
- There are ongoing local and national activities and campaigns on various topics for the general public, the reach of which is monitored.
- Percentage of people requiring digital support who succeed in finding assistance in their neighbourhood by 2025 (target value: 90%).
