Dutch authorities and public sector organisations are required to be open: actions and decisions must be transparent and capable of reconstruction by the government and local and regional authorities. This requires that information is findable, without doubts about its accuracy or authenticity, and must be provided within legal frameworks and deadlines. It is not yet fully possible with today’s information management. This damages confidence in the government’s capabilities and goodwill and restricts the “new political culture”.
Goals
- Public sector information is permanently available for disclosure through uniform and open standards because systems and work processes are properly organised, and a cultural shift has taken place (including an organisation-specific approach).
- Citizens’ and organisations’ requests for the disclosure of public sector information are dealt with in a timely and complete manner in accordance with the Open Government Act (in Dutch, Wet open overheid or Woo) through adequate guidance, work processes, and easy-to-find information.
- The government acts based on openness. The process for active disclosure of government information (this initially concerns the 17 information categories under the Woo) has been adopted and implemented. We also disclose information proactively. This requires a different methodology; systems, work processes and culture are set up accordingly.
Results achieved by 2023
- The Multiyear Plan for Openness in Information Management in central government sets out priorities and measures. Government organisations are also implementing organisation-specific measures included in their own supplemental action plans. Municipalities, provinces and water authorities have also created an overarching action plan.
- Government organisations annually measure the maturity of their information systems.
- A Government Commissioner for Information Management has been appointed and started encouraging the government as a whole to implement the necessary changes regarding information management.
- An Advisory Board on Openness and Information Management has been set up to monitor, mediate and provide solicited and unsolicited advice.
What are our forthcoming actions?
To find out the goals we are setting for the upcoming year to improve information management for open government, click here.
Indicators
- Maturity of information management in government organisations (measured annually by a maturity measurement). (The goal is for maturity to be between 3 and 4 (on a scale of 4) in all organisations by 2026.)
- Percentage of Woo requests handled within the statutory and/or agreed period within government.
- Percentage of administrative bodies disclosing Woo information categories on the Woo index.
