The digitalization of the Dutch government is in full swing. Municipalities, provinces, safety regions and national agencies are investing in data-driven public services. Yet beneath this progress lies a growing dependence on technology developed and managed outside Europe.
This dependence carries risks. Consider the loss of control over data, the impact of foreign legislation such as the American CLOUD Act, and vendor lock-in that makes switching difficult and hinders innovation.
Yet this situation also presents an opportunity. It compels conscious choices: investing in solutions that comply with European legislation, support public values and contribute to a robust, flexible digital infrastructure. Dutch and European technology companies increasingly offer transparent, high-quality alternatives developed with local expertise, hosted on Dutch soil and tailored to the specific needs of the public sector.
Those who invest in digital autonomy today are choosing not only security and agility, but also innovation capacity, economic development and collaboration on their own terms.
Dealing consciously with dependencies
Many solutions currently used by government organizations are built on technology developed outside Europe. Sometimes this technology is supplied by Dutch parties, but the software runs on platforms that fall under foreign jurisdiction. Even when data is physically stored in the Netherlands, the underlying infrastructure or software may still be subject to foreign legislation, such as the American CLOUD Act.
This dependency extends beyond cloud infrastructure alone. Software applications themselves, such as geographic systems, decision-making dashboards or monitoring tools, are often built on foreign technology. In many cases, the source code is not transparent or adaptable, and functionalities or terms of use can be changed unilaterally. For a government that wants to maintain control over its digital processes, this is a vulnerable position.
Users and procurement officers are often unaware of this. The presentation of “Dutch applications” with local hosting sometimes conceals an American foundation. Implementation and consulting firms also play a role here: they help governments, semi-public organizations and utility companies set up solutions that are actually based on non-European technology. Driven by convenience, speed or habit, long-term choices are made that reduce the scope for innovation, security and autonomy.
Moreover, this challenge applies not only to government. Organizations in critical infrastructure, such as water companies, energy providers, telecom and mobility services, also use similar technologies. Their systems are equally crucial to the functioning of our society. Strengthening digital autonomy is therefore not a sectoral challenge, but a national imperative.
Those who invest now in reliable, future-ready solutions are laying the foundation for structural agility and sustainable control over the digital chain. This creates room for innovation, strengthens public trust and stimulates the Dutch knowledge economy.
New direction from policy and European legislation
These dependencies have been the catalyst for new policy initiatives. In March 2025, the Dutch House of Representatives adopted several motions to strengthen government digital autonomy. The State Secretary for Digitalization has indicated that migrations to foreign cloud services will be halted unless there are compelling reasons. Work is also underway on a Dutch sovereign government cloud as part of the Digitalization Strategy 2025. And in procurement processes, more room is being created for European solutions and open source software, within legal frameworks.
In addition, European regulations are setting increasingly higher standards for data management and supply chain responsibility. The Data Act gives users more control over their data and sets limits on data sharing between providers. The new NIS2 directive requires governments and critical sectors to implement stricter measures around cybersecurity and supply chain risk management. These laws underscore that control over software and data is not a luxury, but a necessity.
The standards and frameworks are available. This is the moment to make strategic choices that provide both legal certainty and lay the foundation for a future-ready digital infrastructure.
The golden cage and lock-in risks
Beyond legal and technical risks, vendor lock-in is also a concern. Many organizations work for years with a single vendor for specific applications, from geo-information to operational dashboards, making switching complex and costly. This “golden cage” causes innovation to stagnate and organizations to remain dependent on the roadmap of a single (often foreign) party.
At the same time, there is a growing supply of Dutch technology partners that can provide transparent, scalable and legally compliant solutions. This increases freedom of choice and strengthens the government’s innovation position.
Balance between public infrastructure and the market
Digital autonomy does not mean there should be one standard solution. A diverse range of options actually strengthens government flexibility. In the Netherlands, the number of companies offering alternatives is growing: developed with Dutch developers, hosted within the Netherlands, and based on transparent standards.
For example, Argaleo develops digital twins for policy and safety challenges. The software is fully developed and hosted in the Netherlands, with Dutch developers and full control over source code and data flows. ICT Group / TriOpSys offers mission-critical IT solutions from its own Dutch cloud environment for control rooms, water authorities and provinces, including security, management and compliance under national legislation.
WeCity is building an open ecosystem for smart cities. Instead of closed platforms, they work with standardized, transparent solutions that cities and businesses build together. And SPOTinfo delivers 3D information and digital maps for safety applications, with full control over data and hosting within the Netherlands.
By actively making room for these players in procurement, pilots and partnerships, the government can demonstrate that it is serious about digital independence. It does not always have to be grand and all-encompassing. A phased approach, in which systems are gradually replaced or hosting is diversified, already contributes to a more robust digital landscape.
Room for multiple solutions
When strengthening digital autonomy, it is important to maintain a healthy balance between public services and private applications. The government must safeguard public values through generic platforms, but building end solutions, such as dashboards, analysis tools or digital twins, can be handled effectively by the Dutch business community.
Too much in-house development leads to risks: limited development capacity, lengthy projects and high costs. At the same time, the Dutch tech landscape already offers a rich ecosystem of companies working with open standards, European legislation and transparent software. These SMEs and scale-ups are sometimes wrongly equated with large foreign players, when in fact they contribute to innovation, employment and strategic autonomy.
An inviting partnership, in which the government builds reliable basic infrastructure while businesses develop applications that run on it, is a logical and sustainable course. This strengthens not only our digital independence, but also our technological strength and export position.
Time for conscious choices
Digital autonomy does not have to be an abstract goal. It is a concrete opportunity for the Dutch government to invest in quality, security and knowledge development within its own borders. By making more conscious choices for vendors that develop, host and maintain software in the Netherlands, and by creating room for such parties in procurement, we can make our digital infrastructure future-ready.
The conditions are in place. The urgency is shared across politics and policy. Now is the time to put this course into practice. Not out of fear, but from a position of strength. And with the confidence that Dutch technology is ready for it.
From intention to action
Any government or public organization that wants to contribute to digital autonomy can take steps today. When starting new procurement processes or projects, ask the right questions, not only about price and functionality, but also about the origin, governance and technical integrity of the solution.
For example, work with a straightforward, concrete list of requirements that goes beyond sustainability or SDG goals alone. Consider technical and legal criteria such as the location of development and hosting, use of open standards, interoperability, exit strategies and compliance with legislation such as GDPR, NIS2 and the Data Act.
By systematically asking these questions, a level playing field is created for Dutch and European technology, and digital autonomy becomes not an ideal on paper, but a reality in practice.
Let this be the moment when governments do not just say they are steering toward autonomy, but also make it visible in their choices. From confidence in their own capabilities and with an eye for public values.
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