Netherlands Digital Economy Strategy

November 2022

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Strategies and Action Plans

The Netherlands Digital Economy Strategy, launched in 2022, outlines the main opportunities and risks of digitalization, with a focus on the new digital economy strategy. The strategy emphasises the importance of digital solutions that benefit everyone, drive growth and support competitiveness and productivity, digital development that focuses on security, responsibility, and ethics, collaboration between the public and private sectors, public data as a common good, and shaping digital development globally.

The strategy is built on five key pillars aimed at enhancing digital capabilities and infrastructure by 2030:

  1. Accelerating SME digitalization: The goal is for at least 95% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reach a basic level of digitalization, with 75% adopting advanced technologies such as cloud computing, AI, and big data.
  2. Stimulating digital Innovations and skills: Objectives include bolstering the national base of knowledge and innovation in crucial digital technologies like AI, blockchain, and quantum technology through public-private partnerships. Additionally, the strategy aims to cultivate 1 million digitally skilled citizens by integrating digital learning into educational and retraining programs.
  3. Creating the right preconditions for well-functioning digital markets and services: This involves establishing dynamic regulations for digital markets, ensuring fair competition, and providing legal protections for consumers in the digital space.
  4. Maintain and strengthen a secure, reliable and high-quality digital infrastructure: The strategy commits to achieving full connectivity with 1 Gbps broadband networks across the nation, including areas currently lacking adequate service, and to ensure complete coverage of 5G technology in populated regions.
  5. Strengthening cybersecurity: The focus here is on improving the cyber resilience of businesses, setting cybersecurity standards for digital products and services, and educating the public on cybersecurity issues.