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Breaking Away From Big Tech Dependency
Right now, nearly all of the Dutch government's digital systems run on cloud infrastructure operated by American companies — Microsoft, Amazon, and Google among them. That reliance carries a real risk. Under U.S. legislation, American authorities have the legal right to access data controlled by American firms, regardless of where in the world that data is physically stored. Experts have flagged this as a serious vulnerability, warning that essential government services and critical sectors could be severely disrupted if access to those platforms were ever cut off.
The contract with STACKIT directly addresses that concern. Under the agreement, all Dutch government data must be stored within the European Union, and authorities retain the right to audit whether the company is actually honoring that commitment. The deal also includes a protective clause tied to ownership changes — drawing lessons from the current uncertainty around Solvinity, the software firm that hosts DigiD. If STACKIT were ever acquired by a foreign entity, the Dutch government would have the power to modify or walk away from the contract entirely.
A Strategic Shift Toward Digital Sovereignty
Senior government figures were direct about what this agreement represents. Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel described it as a meaningful step in strengthening the country's digital resilience and reducing dependency on providers operating outside Europe.
State Secretary for Digital Economy and Sovereignty Willemijn Aerdts framed it in even broader terms. "Digital autonomy means that we can make our own choices and are not dependent on a single type of provider," she said, adding that stimulating the European technology market was a deliberate part of the strategy. The agreement opens the door for central government organizations to access cloud services from a European provider under favourable conditions — a practical shift that also sends a clear signal about where the Netherlands wants its digital future to be anchored.
