Digital connectivity in the Netherlands

Summary of digital connectivity development in the Netherlands

The Dutch Digitalisation Strategy and the Connectivity Action Plan comply with the Gigabit Society targets. The Netherlands is one of the top ranking member states in terms of digital connectivity coverage and aims to remain the European digital leader providing high-quality connectivity that serves a wide range of demands and is available at competitive prices anytime and everywhere. The Digital Economy Strategy supports expanding reliable and strong digital infrastructure.

National digital connectivity strategy and policy

Responsible authorities

• In the Netherlands, several public authorities - including local municipalities, regional provinces and, the  Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat), at national level - are responsible for digital connectivity development in the country. The national Broadband Competence Office (BCO) of the Netherlands is the Department of Digital Economy and Sovereignty.
• The Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure implements the laws and regulations in the area of the digital infrastructure.
• The Authority for Consumers and Markets (Autoriteit Consument & Markt) oversees fair competition, and consumer protection in the energy, telecommunication, transport and postal services sector.

Main aims for digital connectivity development

The Dutch Digitalisation Strategy was updated in 2021 and states what is needed to get the Netherlands ready for the digital future. The challenge for the government is to speed up and support the digital transition in public sectors and to strengthen further privacy protection, cybersecurity, digital skills and fair competition.

The Connectivity Action Plan refines the objectives of the Dutch Digitalisation Strategy and outlines the government’s efforts to remain the European digital leader. The plan goal is to provide high-quality connectivity that can serve a wide range of demands and is available at competitive prices anytime and everywhere. In this plan, the Dutch government supports the EU Gigabit Society targets. All households should have the opportunity to access digital connectivity networks of at least 100 Mbps and a vast majority should be taking advantage of 1 Gbps.

The Digital economy strategy (Nov 2022, Strategie Digitale Economie) lists “Expanding reliable and strong digital infrastructure” as one of the main pillars and intends to close the digital divide in the outlying areas. The objective is that by 2030 all end users should have access to at least 1 Gbps and that all populated areas should have access to 5G or an equivalent mobile technology.

The State of Digital Infrastructure report examines the state of the digital infrastructure, maps out the importance of it and the policy implications with regards to observed trends.

The Netherlands Digitalisation Strategy (NDS) 2025 is a comprehensive, nation-wide initiative designed to accelerate the digital transformation of government services and strengthen the country's digital foundation.

Main measures for digital connectivity development

• The Dutch digital connectivity strategy opts for a market-based infrastructure roll-out. It also puts key emphasis on the role of local and regional actors in coordinating and simplifying the process. Most of the digital connectivity infrastructure roll-out is done by private operators autonomously. Here, removing barriers and facilitating the exchange of information and best practices among stakeholders are the principal tasks of local governments to stimulate investment by operators.
• Roadmap for the implementation of the Connectivity Toolbox: Various efforts have been made to coordinate between local and national governments regarding permit granting procedures. Next to information and knowledge sharing, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy created a taskforce of national and local authorities, to develop a uniform approach to permit-granting procedures for antennas and access to physical infrastructure for small cells. The government also introduced the possibility to establish digital connectivity coordinators and develop guidelines on fees.
• The map on the speed of fixed internet connections shows the percentage of residential addresses across the country with an internet connection of at least 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps.

National and regional digital connectivity financial instruments

The Netherlands’ recovery and resilience plan supports digitalisation of education by a EUR 209 million investment in the information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and sectoral knowledge infrastructure of the education system.

Data on digital connectivity development and technologies in the Netherlands

For the latest data on digital connectivity coverage, subscriptions and penetrations, coverage of different digital connectivity technologies check the Digital Decade country reports. 

National and EU publications and press documents

English

• Dutch Digitalisation Strategy
• Broadband Investment Handbook
• Study on National Broadband Plans in the EU27
• Connectivity Action Plan

Dutch

• Nederlandse Digitaliseringsstrategie 2021
• Actieplan Digitale Connectiviteit
• Strategie Digitale Economie, November 2022

Contact information

BCO Netherlands (national Broadband Competence Office): Department of Digital Economy and Sovereignty (Departement van Digitale Economie en Soevereiniteit)

Contact via email
Website

Authority for Consumers & Markets (Autoriteit Consument & Markt)

Contact via email
Website