The cabinet acknowledges that Dutch banks and other financial institutions are too dependent on large American tech companies for their digital infrastructure. This is evident from the response to parliamentary questions from GroenLinks-PvdA following a critical report by regulators DNB and AFM. The ministers of Finance and Economic Affairs describe the risks as "recognizable" and announce measures.
According to DNB and AFM, the financial sector's heavy reliance on American cloud providers creates a vulnerable situation. A malfunction, cyberattack, or geopolitical tension—such as American sanctions—could have direct consequences for the stability of the Dutch financial system. The cabinet therefore says that more "digital strategic autonomy" is needed.
The government emphasizes that the Netherlands cannot solve this problem alone. European projects are already underway to reduce the power of American cloud giants and strengthen European alternatives. A new European bill, the Cloud & AI Development Act, is expected in early 2026. The Netherlands is also investing €72 million in European cloud projects.
The Rijksoverheid it also wants to reduce its own dependence. The Dutch Digitization Strategy examines how a "sovereign government cloud" can be set up. Documents and emails from certain government agencies are already deliberately stored in Dutch data centers.
The government confirms that scenarios are being developed in collaboration with regulators and banks for potentially disruptive events, such as cyberattacks or geopolitical pressure. These analyses should clarify the structural risks involved and the measures that need to be taken.
In public procurement, consideration is being given to how sensitive data can be better protected. This involves examining whether and when non-European cloud providers may be excluded, although the government warns that this is legally complex. New European rules could help in this regard.
Although the political will is there, the cabinet warns that reducing dependence on American companies will take time. European alternatives are less integrated and less financially powerful than the major American players.
