Netherlands leads large EU countries in digital government

The Netherlands has taken a strong position within the European Union in terms of digital government, as indicated by the eGovernment Benchmark 2026. The country ranks eighth out of all EU member states, making it the highest-performing member state with a population exceeding 15 million. This position underscores the progress in digital public services, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and the adoption of digital tools by citizens and businesses. The technological foundations of the Dutch digital government are robust, particularly in the area of cybersecurity. A significant 79% of government websites comply with common security standards, considerably higher than the EU average of 47%. However, this focus on security faces challenges in digital innovation and the implementation of artificial intelligence within government agencies. A significant challenge for the Netherlands, and the broader EU, is increasing digital sovereignty. More than half of Dutch government websites utilize infrastructure from non-European providers, creating potential dependency. To reduce this dependency, there is an increasing focus on developing European alternatives for technology and services. Furthermore, cross-border service provision must be significantly improved so that services that are successful nationally also become accessible to international users. This requires interoperable solutions for identity management, digital wallets, and the exchange of important documents. Although the Netherlands leads in web accessibility, the emphasis is increasingly shifting to the quality and usability of digital services.