Reprogramming the Dutch Government: A Digital Transformation Initiative

The Dutch government’s digital infrastructure has been described as an “old, broken-down house” by Alexander Klöpping and Onno Eric Blom, initiators of the ‘Reprogram the Government’ initiative. According to them, the system’s foundations are in dire need of renovation; yet, fear of structural collapse prevents meaningful action.

Launched in 2023, ‘Reprogram the Government’ aims to bridge the gap between tech sector expertise and public policy. In early 2024, the initiative pushed for the establishment of a ‘Minister of Digital Affairs,’ an upgrade from the current State Secretary role. More recently, it collaborated with the Parliamentary Commission for Digital Affairs to produce a position paper titled Our Digital Foundation.

In December, this position paper was presented to the State Secretary for Digitalisation as input for the upcoming Dutch Digitalisation Strategy. The document contains four key recommendations, aligning with the State Secretary’s vision for centralising digitalisation within the public sector. Broad political support suggests the conditions are favourable for meaningful reform.

A Digital Maze

One of the biggest issues outlined in the position paper is accessibility. Around 4.5 million Dutch citizens struggle to interact with digital government services. The overwhelming number of websites, apps, and forms creates a ‘reversed DDoS-attack’ effect, which is an excess of information that leaves users paralysed and unable to find what they need. For the 2.5 million people in the Netherlands with low digital literacy, this can result in stress and distrust.

A System Under Strain

Beyond accessibility, the government’s IT infrastructure suffers from outdated equipment, neglected maintenance, and a fragmented approach to expertise and talent. These shortcomings lead to strategic dependency on external providers, duplication of efforts, and outsourcing tasks that the government should manage internally.

With these challenges in mind, Our Digital Foundation puts forward four key recommendations. The most ambitious among them is the creation of ‘The Digital Office’ to act as a central body responsible for the government’s digital infrastructure.

As with any large-scale public initiative, Our Digital Foundation faces scrutiny. Some experts argue that it fails to acknowledge the progress already made, especially compared to Germany. Others caution that while the initiative increases political engagement with digitalisation, it does not offer a cure-all solution.

Daan de Koning, a critic of centralisation, believes that structural inefficiencies stem from overly complex regulations, an intricate web of public organisations, and a tangled mass of data flows. He argues that without simplifying regulations and restructuring responsibilities, simply appointing a new office will not fix the root problems. The UK’s experience with centralisation supports this view, since only 17% of British public decision-makers consider their digital transformation a success.

One element missing from the debate is European collaboration. Given the Netherlands’ relatively small size, tackling digital challenges in isolation may not be viable. A coordinated European strategy would strengthen the country’s bargaining position with major tech providers, improve policy development, and help address the IT talent shortage. However, due to the political climate, Our Digital Foundation deliberately avoids advocating for deeper EU involvement.

ADC’s Public & Society team in the Netherlands believes this initiative presents three key developments:

1. Centralised IT Procurement: Government IT demand is becoming more coordinated, impacting market dynamics. It remains to be seen how this will influence the supply side of IT and consultancy services. Will this lead to diversification of the market? Or end up playing into the hands of a select number of larger suppliers?
2. Strategic Investment Agenda: A centralised government IT strategy offers insights into future technology and standards. This leads to increased predictability and clarity about the road ahead. But is the inherent volatility of the tech sector receptive to long-term planning? And can a strategy really make a difference when the budget remains distributed among the different public organisations?
3. Government’s Stance on External Expertise: The initiative aims to retain more IT expertise in-house, with the goal of becoming more autonomous and self-reliant. But what will the transition period towards an autonomous digital government look like? Where will the line be drawn between complete self-sufficiency and leveraging scarcely available specialist expertise?

The Reprogram the Government initiative and Our Digital Foundation position paper mark a significant step forward in the Netherlands’ digital transformation. By addressing accessibility, collaboration, and IT governance, the recommendations could create a more efficient and inclusive digital government. However, challenges remain. Centralisation alone will not resolve deeper structural issues, and without European collaboration, the initiative’s potential impact may be limited.

From ADC’s perspective, these developments offer both challenges and opportunities. For a successful data-driven transformation of the public sector, we need a solid foundation. This initiative aims to create the right conditions for a digital government that all citizens are able to interact with, and that is strong enough to hold its ground in an increasingly complex digital society. Data and AI will be an integral part of the solution, but only when their societal impact and technical implications are sufficiently understood.

Interested in learning more about this initiative or ADC’s work in the Public Sector? Reach out to Timon Domela Nieuwenhuis Nyegaard (Senior Consultant).