Time for digital acceleration: additional investments necessary

The Netherlands faces a crucial choice: invest in digitalization or risk the government falling behind in global technological and geopolitical developments. To protect and strengthen the countrys digital foundation, at least 1 billion euros extra per year is needed until 2030, according to an initial estimate. This is stated by State Secretary Eddie van Marum, responsible for Digitalization, in a letter to the House of Representatives.

Urgency

Digital systems form the invisible backbone of our society and are a prerequisite for a strong government, a resilient Netherlands, and a future-proof economy. To seize opportunities, the Dutch Digitalization Strategy was launched last July. This is the first government-wide strategy to break through fragmentation in IT policy and accelerate our digital tasks. Without structural investments, there is a risk that services will stagnate, vulnerability to cyberattacks will increase, and the Netherlands will lose its competitive position.

Eddie van Marum, State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations, responsible for digitalization: “We talk little about it, but if critical computer systems fail, everything comes to a halt. Digitalization is not a choice, but a necessity. If the next cabinet really wants to take steps, at least 1 billion euros extra per year is needed for digitalization. These additional investments are necessary in the coming years not only for good services to citizens and entrepreneurs and to increase our resilience and security, but also to ensure that the Netherlands keeps running and our data is protected. If we do not act now, we will pay the price later – in money, time, and trust.”

In the letter to Parliament, van Marum provides, with a status document, an initial insight into the scale of the required investments. The document was created in collaboration with other departments, local governments, and the network of public service providers (NPD).

A detailed investment agenda with an elaboration on how much money is needed for what to achieve acceleration will follow in the second quarter of 2026.

About the NDS

Last July, the cabinet launched the Dutch Digitalization Strategy (NDS). This strategy is a joint plan of municipalities, provinces, water boards, public service providers, and the national government to strengthen the digital foundation of our country. The NDS emphasizes six priorities on which all government organizations accelerate together as one government, including cloud, artificial intelligence, digital resilience, and digital autonomy.

View the letter to Parliament here: Status of Investment Agenda NDS | Report | Rijksoverheid.nl