Better Internet for Kids

Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest monitoring information for the Netherlands.     

According to the Digital Decade 2025: Country reports, the Netherlands maintains its position as a global leader in digital innovation, underpinned by a mature tech ecosystem that includes 32 unicorns as of early 2025. The nation’s digital economy is robust, with 80.8% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) achieving at least a basic level of digital intensity, significantly surpassing the EU average. According to the State of the Digital Decade Eurobarometer 2025, public sentiment reflects high engagement, with 79% of citizens stating that digitalisation simplifies daily life. However, there is a near-universal demand for increased protection of minors online and stronger action against disinformation. The government has implemented comprehensive policies, including the 2022-2028 Dutch Cybersecurity Strategy, a 2024 package to counter disinformation, and specific guides on AI Regulation to align businesses with the EU AI Act. 

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in the Netherlands.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report. 

BIK policies

This concerns how national-level policies relevant to the BIK agenda are organised, managed, and supported by evidence and stakeholder input.

Policy frameworks

Policy frameworks describe the overarching goals that shape policies for a better internet for kids. 

In the Netherlands:

• This topic is an important and emerging policy priority partially covered in national/regional laws, regulations and policies.
• There are separate, dedicated policies which address the topic of children and the digital environment (protection, empowerment, and participation).

• The BIK+ strategy is an important influence on policy development on children and the digital environment.

• National/regional policies and policy documents explicitly recognise children's rights in the digital environment.

Policy design

Policy design asks whether evidence and research support BIK-related policies and whether systems are in place for monitoring and evaluating those policies.

In the Netherlands:

• Quantitative data on some aspects of children’s digital activity is collected regularly as part of broader surveys.
• Some but not all aspects of children’s experiences of risks, harms and digital well-being are included in regular surveys.
• Information is regularly gathered to inform policies on children and the digital environment. However, this relies primarily on third-party sources, and there are limited opportunities to commission new data on children's digital activity.
• There are occasional special initiatives to gather evidence about children and the digital environment. 
• Policies undergo systematic and regular monitoring and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of actions in different contexts (for instance, to take account of new technologies or emergent risks).

Policy governance

Policy governance examines how policies are coordinated at the governmental level, whether other implementation bodies are involved in their delivery and coordination.

In the Netherlands:

• The lead ministry, public agency, or regulatory authorityoperates on an informal, ad hoc basis, depending on the requirements at any given time.
• Coordination occurs across relevant departments and stakeholders through more informal arrangements.
• One or more programmes of action is/are underway supporting children’s online safety and participation in the digital environment. However, these lack accountabilities, such as defined timelines, assigned responsibilities or key performance indicators (KPIs).

Stakeholder involvement

Stakeholder involvement enquires how different stakeholders can participate in policy development.

In the Netherlands:

• Stakeholders are involved through various existing groups or platforms across different government branches. While opportunities for engagement exist, they are not centrally coordinated, and stakeholder participation may vary in consistency or influence.
• Public consultation occurs, but it is irregular, infrequent, or limited in scope.
• Children are listened to directly in the policy development process but are not formally involved in decision-making.

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in the Netherlands.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report. 

BIK+ actions

Pillar 1 – safe digital experiences

Safe digital experiences refer to actions taken to protect children from harmful and illegal online content, conduct, contact, and risks as young consumers and to improve their well-being online through a safe, age-appropriate digital environment created in a way that respects children’s best interests.

Pillar 2 – digital empowerment

Digital empowerment involves actions that ensure all children, including those in vulnerable situations, acquire the necessary skills and competences to make sound choices and to express themselves safely and responsibly in the online environment.

Pillar 3 – active participation, respecting children’s rights

This includes actions that promote young people's active participation and respect for their rights through such activities as fostering innovative and creative safe digital experiences for young people and ensuring they have a say in policies governing the digital environment.

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for the Netherlands.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report. 

BIK+ index 2026: The Netherlands

The BIK+ index has been developed to provide an aggregated at-a-glance overview of the levels of implementation across the two dimensions, BIK policies and BIK+ actions, in the Netherlands compared to the EU27+2 average. Values are shown in per cent.

Please note, the data used in this page and the corresponding country profile was collected in January 2026.