The Dutch government is taking a crucial step in modernizing our vital traffic infrastructure. With an investment of €50 million and new agreements with navigation giants, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management wants to ensure that the digital information on our roads is as reliable as the asphalt itself.
In a recent letter to parliament, Minister Robert Tieman outlines how the "digital road" has become inextricably linked to our physical living environment. For the more than 96% of travelers who now depend on digital travel information, this data has in fact become a vital utility.
The reliability of navigation systems is no longer just a luxury, but a necessity for traffic flow and safety on the national road network . Incorrect information can directly lead to traffic jams, unsafe traffic situations, and unwanted rat-running .
To strengthen this foundation, the government is allocating €50 million over the next five years:
An important innovation is closer cooperation with private parties such as navigation services and car manufacturers. A so-called "feedback loop" will be introduced. When a navigation app notices that a digital road closure is incorrect in practice, this is immediately reported back to the source. This closes the information chain and continuously guarantees the quality of the data.
The digitization of infrastructure also has immediate benefits for safety:
These national efforts are part of the revised European ITS Directive. The Netherlands is playing a pioneering role in this by working with 14 other EU member states to enforce standards for the transmission of public mobility information. From the second quarter of 2026, the new Cybersecurity Act (Cbw) must also guarantee the resilience of these digital services against cyberattacks.
"Digital information services are indispensable in our current mobility system. This offers opportunities for safety and accessibility, but also entails risks if the information is not in order."
