The Dutch government is taking an important step in accelerating digitization with the launch of the NDS Council. This independent advisory council consists of 14 leading digitization experts in addition to its chairman. The new council was presented at the iBestuur Conference 2025.
The Dutch Digitalization Strategy (NDS) is a joint strategy of municipalities, provinces, water boards, public service providers and the national government to strengthen the digital infrastructure of the Netherlands and address societal challenges more effectively. It has been agreed to accelerate together on six interrelated priorities: shared cloud technology, sharing and using data responsibly across government layers, responsibly using AI opportunities, putting citizens and entrepreneurs at the center, strengthening digital resilience and autonomy of government, and strengthening digital skills of civil servants.
The NDS Council provides solicited and unsolicited advice and feedback on the progress and implementation of the NDS. The advisory board consists of members from within government and external members from science, knowledge institutions and industry. The external experts have expertise and authority on topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, data sharing, cloud technology and improving digital government services to citizens and businesses. Members from within government participate as chairs of an NDS focal team for each priority.
State Secretary of the Interior Eddie van Marum emphasizes the importance of this cooperation: "The NDS is a crucial step towards a future-proof digital government. The NDS Council, with its broad knowledge and experience, is an important booster to accelerate the realization of our goals in the field of digitization. Together, we must now arrive at a concrete roadmap. What do we tackle first and how will we pay for it? If the next cabinet really wants to make strides on these dossiers, a substantial contribution is needed for digitization. This requires a joint investment, both public and private."
Nathan Ducastel, chairman of the NDS Council and director of VNG Realization, added: "Cooperation between all parties involved is essential. Only by joining forces can we successfully shape the digital transformation and ensure that no one is left behind."
The members of the NDS Council are:
- Dr. A. (Arre) Zuurmond (Former Government Information Management Commissioner)
- B. (Bas) Dunnebier (Chief Science and Technology Officer AIVD)
- E. (Emily) Glastra (President of industry association NLdigital)
- I. (Inge) Bryan (Board Chair of the Dutch Institute for Vulnerability Disclosure (DIVD))
- Prof. Dr. Ir. N. (Nitesh) Bharosa (Professor of GovTech and innovation TU Delft)
- Prof. Dr. P. (Paul) Timmers (Professor KU Leuven, University of Rijeka and European university Cyprus)
- Dr. T.B.P.M. (Tjark) Tjin-A-Tsoi (CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management TNO)
- Drs. E.L. (Emine) Özyenici MCM (Plv. Secretary General JenV)
- J.H. (Hans) Ouwehand* (Chairman of the Board of CAK, priority Citizen and entrepreneur central)
- Drs. J.J.C.M. (Jan) Gudde* (Acting Chief Operating Officer JenV, Digital Resilience and Autonomy priority)
- R. (Ron) Kolkman* (chief engineer director - CIO at Rijkswaterstaat, Cloud priority)
- T. (Tanja) van Burgel* (CIO Ministry of Finance, Digital Skills priority)
- L.M. (Larissa) Zegveld* (General Director of Kennisnet Foundation, Artificial Intelligence priority)
- Chairman Intergovernmental Data Consultation*, (to be announced, priority Data)
* Member of NDS Council from the government and chair booster team of one of the six priorities within the NDS.
