Landscape of Free Software in the Netherlands
This page is in English on purpose, to enable as many people to read it. Translations are welcome and can be offered on a /<language> page, like /nl /de /fr.
This page intends to provide a nearly complete picture of organizations that support Free Software, support a related cause or are active in IT in general.
Table of contents:
Contents
- Landscape of Free Software in the Netherlands
- Civil rights organizations
- Open content creators
- Hacker Spaces
- Open Standards
- Free Software
-
Software development
- Notable applications
-
Associations
- Fronteers
- Nederland ICT
- Dutch Digital Agencies
- Software Development Network
- Future Tech NL
- NLJUG
- AmsterdamJUG
- Teqnation
- Coffee Code Chat
- Delft Developers & Designers
- Dotned
- Dutch Android User Group
- Flock
- IT Next
- Koninklijke Nederlandse Vereniging van Informatieprofessionals (KNVI)
- IOT SensmakersAMS
- Utrecht Java User Group
- Foundations
- Youth
- Companies
- Startup accelerators
- Hardware
- Security
- Media
- Hosting
- Internet
- Large software companies
- Artificial Intelligence
- Research and education
- Public sector
-
Political parties
- Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD)
- Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV)
- Christen-Democratisch Appèl (CDA)
- Democraten 66 (D66)
- GroenLinks
- Socialistische Partij (SP)
- Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA)
- ChristenUnie
- Partij voor de Dieren
- 50PLUS
- Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP)
- DENK
- Forum voor Democratie
- Piratenpartij
- Volt
- Books
Civil rights organizations
Digital rights
Bits of Freedom
- π’ Amsterdam
- π
Big Brother Awards (yearly, November)
- π Big Brother Award
- π€ associated with EDRi
- π€ Evelyn Austin
- π€ Rejo Zenger
- π€ Erik de Zwart (previous)
Waag Society
- π’ Amsterdam
- π€ Marleen Stikker
Privacy
Privacy First
Vrijschrift
- π’ Workum
Information society
ECP
- Identifies as a βplatformβ facilitating discussion through events
- π’ Leidschendam
- Supports multiple coalitions and events
- π ECP jaarcongres (yearly, November)
- Nationale Privacy Conferentie
- π yearly, January
- π’ The Hague
- π Dutch Privacy Awards
- Safer internet day (European day)
- π yearly, 11 February
- Focus on children
Netwerk Mediawijsheid
- Teach children about media
Safety Internet Centre (SIC)
- Events and information
- Focus on children
Open Domein
- Organization around the original βde Digitale Stad Amsterdam (DDS)β
Hack in the Class
- π’ Amersfoort
Hacker Hotel
- π’ Garderen
- π February 2020
Free Knowledge Institute
Open Nederland
π€ Part of International Creative Commons network https://network.creativecommons.org/
- π€ Supporter of Creative Commons Nederland
- π€ Hessel van Oorschot (Voorzitter)
- π€ Sebastiaan ter Burg (Secretaris)
- π€ Ton Zijlstra (Penningmeester)
- π€ Maarten Zeinstra (Vice voorzitter, algemeen bestuurslid)
- π€ Wietske van den Heuvel (Algemeen bestuurslid)
- π€ Johan Groenen (Algemeen bestuurslid)
Creative Commons Nederland
- π€ Supported by Open Nederland
- π€ Sebastiaan ter Burg (Chapter lead)
- π€ Hessel van Oorschot (Global Council Representative)
Online security
Expertisecentrum Online Kindermisbruik (EOKM)
- Centre of expertise of online child abuse
Accessibility
Accessibility
- π’ Utrecht
Drempelvrij
- π’ Hilversum
- Website accessibility
- Guidelines
Democracy
Netwerk Democratie
- π’ Amsterdam
Open State Foundation
- π’ Amsterdam
π« Slack https://slack.hackdeoverheid.nl/
- π
Multiple hackathons each year
- π Regular meetups
Public Code
Code for NL
- π’ Amsterdam
- π Meetups
- π« Slack (subscribe from main website)
π€ associated with Code for All https://codeforall.org/
- π€ partner of Waag Society
Foundation for Public Code
- π’ Amsterdam
- π€ Boris van Hoytema
- Started in 2019
- Organization that governmental organizations can join to collaborate on common resources like best practices.
- Work
Repo metadata standard: https://github.com/publiccodenet/publiccode.yml
- Heavily used in Italy
Standard for Public Code: guidelines for developing free software https://standard.publiccode.net/
- π Strong base in NL, especially Amsterdam, but has international (Europe) focus
Stichting Open Source & Overheid
Foundation Open Source & Government
2016 T-Dose context presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goPK9vi4e6w
- Started in 2015
- Helping government to
- Working in a consultancy manner
- π’ Amsterdam
- π€ Lennart Huizing
- π€ Ahmed Aarad
- π€ Lex Slaghuis
- π€ Astrid Oosenbrug
Vereniging Open Source Nederland
- π’ Utrecht
- Formally a foundation (contrary to the name)
Website history: https://web.archive.org/web/20010302044028/http://vereniging.opensource.nl/
- Founded in 1992 but website seems to have broken in 2006 and be down since 2007
- Organizations can join
- Focus on government and education
- Took a stance on Software patents in 2001
- π€ Joost Helberg
- π€ Ron Arts
- π€ Jeroen Baten
- π€ Luuk van Dijk
- π€ Martijn Smit
- π€ (Barbara Brouwer)
- π€ (Joep van Genugten)
- π€ (Jeroen Nijhof)
Open Source bij de Overheid .nl
- Website that collects information about free software at the Dutch government and possible software solutions
The historic webpages cover more about historic adoption: https://web.archive.org/web/20070121172928/http://www.opensourcebijdeoverheid.nl/index.php
Funding
Commons Caretakers
- π’ Amsterdam
Broader issues in society
Kennisland
- Organization to help various societal aspects
- π’ Amsterdam
Kafkabrigade
- Focused on bureaucratic disfunctional government
- Has worked in 2021 on guidance for procurement of open source software for government
- π€ Arjan Widlak
Consumentenbond
- Consumer rights organization
- π’ Den Haag
Have written about router freedom: https://www.consumentenbond.nl/internet/vrije-modemkeuze and in the past also took stance about software updates on devices
π€ associated with https://www.beuc.eu/
Open content creators
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap community (informal)
Have managed to collaborate with the Dutch Land Registry 'Kadaster' to import streets and buildings into OpenStreetMap.
π« OpenStreetMap Netherlands on Matrix: https://matrix.to/#/!wSWPWvcmGloLtbJwuI:matrix.org?via=jngle.re&via=t2bot.io&via=matrix.org
- π Monthly online meetups on Saturday
OSGeo
Local Chapter of the global Open Source Geospatial Foundation OSGeo.org
- Facilitates Geo events in the Netherlands
Meetup page for events: https://www.meetup.com/OSGeoNL
- π« IRC #osgeonl on Freenode
- π€ Just van den Broecke
- π new years drink
Tribe of Noise
- Commercializing Creative Commons music
- π’ Amsterdam
Hacker Spaces
Spaces
ACKSpace
- π’ Heerlen
Hack42
- π’ Arnhem
- π€ Jos Weyers
- π€ Arjen Kamphuis (β)
020techmakerhub.nl
- π’ Amsterdam
Camps
Eth-0
- Hacker camp
IFCAT Foundation (OHM2013, SHA2017 hacker camp)
- Hacker camp every 4 years
- π’ Maasland
- π summer every 4 years (2013, 2017, 2021 ? )
Open Standards
Open Doc Society
- For Open Standards
- π’ Amsterdam
W3C Benelux
Free Software
T-Dose
- Free and yearly event held in The Netherlands to promote use and development of Open Source Software
- Location and date have been been shifting in recent years
- π typically yearly
- π’ Eindhoven and surroundings
Open Source Event Tilburg
- One day conference
- π each year, date uncertain
- π’ Tilburg public library
NLLGG
- NL Linux User Group
- π’ Utrecht
- π
Every 2 months
- Special attention to Free Software Day
Software development
Notable applications
Notable free software in use in the Netherlands
The Foundation for Public Code has a notable role in helping public bodies open source their codebases and make it a success.
OpenZaak
- Free Software case management system for municipalities (for example to handle permit requests)
- Very much a community effort with multiple developer organizations.
Signalen
- Free Software for handling public space notifications like noise complaints
vrijBRP
- Free Software citizen administration system, for municipalities
- Originally by Procura
Source code: https://github.com/vrijBRP
Open Zaak
Associations
Fronteers
- Professional organization for front end developers
- π’ Hilversum
Nederland ICT
- Has the Young ICT Professionals (YIP)-network
- Association for IT companies
- Previous names: ICT~Office, FENIT
- Standard purchase conditions were called FENIT-voorwaarden
Dutch Digital Agencies
- events, information
- Branchevereniging. Also known as βPlatform voor Internet Bureaus Nederlandβ
- π’ Amsterdam
Software Development Network
- events, information, magazine
- Main focus seems to be .NET related tooling
- π’ Winterswijk
Future Tech NL
- mainly an event
- Mainly targetting Microsoft technology
- π’ Utrecht
- π yearly, March
NLJUG
- Dutch Java User Group
- events, information, magazine
- π’ Haarlem
AmsterdamJUG
- Amsterdam Java User Group
Teqnation
- events, information
- Networking platform for developers
- π’ Haarlem
- π
Teqnation conference
- yearly, May
Coffee Code Chat
- π’ Utrecht
Delft Developers & Designers
Dotned
- .NET user group
Dutch Android User Group
Flock
- Software engineering community
IT Next
- π’ Amsterdam
Koninklijke Nederlandse Vereniging van Informatieprofessionals (KNVI)
- Association for engineers
- Have published an open letter regarding the Corona tracing app including the requirement that the app should be published as free software.
IOT SensmakersAMS
- π’ Amsterdam
Utrecht Java User Group
Foundations
Commons Conservancy
- π’ Amsterdam
Dutch Clojure Days
- π’ Amsterdam
- π yearly, April
Youth
Coder Dojo
- Mainly at public libraries
Educode.nl
Similar in concept to https://educode.org/ but perhaps not directly tied to it
- Started in 2018
- Set up as a business to provide training material
- π’ Utrecht
CodeUur
- Literally 'code hour'
- Initiative by FutureNL
- Facilitates an hour of coding education at primary school.
- Volunteers provide the education at a nearby school, having participated in an online instruction beforehand.
FutureNL.org
- Organization to provide programming education to teachers, primary schools and secundary schools.
- π’ Den Haag
- π€ Steven Schuurman
- π€ Ronilla Snellen
Companies
Datraverse
- Focus on free software and healthy ecosystem
Dyne
- π’ Amsterdam
- Focus on free software solutions
- π€ Jaromil
NOU&OFF
Software development, consultancy and training for LibreOffice
- Started 2004
- π’ Arnhem
- π€ Cor Nouws
- π€ Barend Jonker
Squirrel consultancy
- π€ Johan Vromans
Developer of FOSS Eekboek accounting software https://www.eekboek.nl/
- Has retired in 2019
Paul van der Vlis
- Provides consultancy and Libreboot computers
- π€ Paul van der Vlis
- π’ Groningen
Sue (previously Snow)
- Large consultancy organization with a focus on open source software
- π Hosts montly events
Blender Foundation
- Developing Blender software
- Making 3d artwork like games and movies
- π’ Amsterdam
- π€ Ton Roosendaal
- FSFE has helped in releasing the original code under a Free Software license
AT Computing
- Focus on Linux training, contracting and support
- Part of Vijfhart
- π’ Velp
Open Dental Benelux
BeNeLux provider for installation and support for open source dental software originating from the US https://www.opendental.com/
- π€ Daniel S. Joffe
Kopano
- Groupware
- Successor of Zarafa since 2017
- Company around an AGPL software product
- π’ Delft
Libreplan
- Originally developed for the Spain public sector, the main development and support is now in the Netherlands.
http://www.libreplan.org/ (software)
https://libreplan-enterprise.com/ (company)
- π’ Culemborg
- Free Software planning software
- π€ Jeroen Baten (since 2013)
Yoast
Startup accelerators
Rockstart
- π’ Amsterdam
Clinic
- 'Law Incubator'
- Free advise for startups on laws about media, intellectual property and IT
- Support coming from Law students
Hardware
Fairphone
- Ethical phone: easy to repare option to flash your own OS
- Initiative started from de Waag Society
- π’ Amsterdam
Security
Dcypher
- π Dcypher symposium (yearly, October)
HoneyNed (Dutch HoneyNet chapter)
National Cyber Security Center
One Conference
- π’ The Hague
- π Yearly, September
Owasp chapter Netherlands
Privacy by Design Foundation
- Providing IRMA solution for secure but privacy friendly identity management
- π’ Nijmegen
π Regular meetups, typically in Amsterdam or Utrecht https://privacybydesign.foundation/meetings/
- π« Slack, subscribe
- Originated from the Radboud University Nijmegen
- Collaboration with SIDN
Security in Times of Surveillance (event)
- π’ Eindhoven University
- π yearly, June
Media
Tweakers.net
BNR
- Podcast 'de Technoloog'
- About technological development. Has offerd a podium for privacy and security topics.
- Podcast 'Onderzoeksraad der dingen'
- π€ Brenno de Winter
NOS
- National broadcasting foundation
- π€ Joost Schellevis
Computable.nl
- π Computable Awards 2020
Computer Totaal
Linux Magazine NL
- Outspoken for free software, also offering a podium for related opinions, businesses and organizations including FSFE.
PCM
Hosting
Associations
NL Unix User Group (NLUUG)
- Professional user group, focussed around IT infrastructure
- π’ Utrecht
- π twice a year: May, November
Dutch Datacenter Association
- π’ Amsterdam
Dutch Hosting Provider Association
- π’ Amsterdam
Vereniging van Registrars
- Assocation of registrars
- π’ Houten
Nationale Beheersorganisatie Internet Providers
- Association of internet providers
- π’ Ede
- Helps facilitate the legally required eavesdropping ('tapdienst')
Companies
TransIP
- Professional hosting provider, also used by enterprises. Made itself a name with Bladeserver based VPS with SSD storage.
Fused with Combell (Belgium) into team.blue https://www.cloudvps.nl/nieuws/combell-en-transip-bundelen-krachten-tot-teamblue/
- π€ Anscilla van de Leest (working in Marketing)
- π’ Leiden
GreenHost
- Hosting provider supportive of digital rights movement
- π’ Amsterdam
CloudVPS
- Part of Team.blue, previously part of TransIP, and Spango Internet before that.
Professional hosting provider, enabled anyone to use their OpenStack offering
Aquired by TransIP early 2019 https://www.cloudvps.nl/nieuws/transip-group-neemt-spango-internet-over/
- π’ Rotterdam
Team.Blue
- Holder of several hosting brands, including Dutch TransIP and CloudVPS
- π’ Gent, Belgium
Fuga
- Openstack provider
- Part of Cyso group
- π’ Alkmaar
DirectVPS
- Hosting including Openstack
- π’ Rotterdam
Disroot
- Foundation to offer various public online services, based on free software
- π’ Amsterdam
- Quite similar to Framasoft in their offering.
Internet
Internet New Years Event
- Organized by Internet Society, Internet Innovatie Award is handed out
- π’ Amsterdam
- π (yearly, January)
- π Internet Innovatie Award
SIDN
- Responsible for .nl domain
- π’ Arnhem
SIDN fonds
- Foundation for research and development
- π’ Arnhem
Associations
amsix (Amsterdam Internet Exchange)
- π’ Amsterdam
Internet Society Netherlands Chapter (ISOC)
ISPConnect
Stichting Digitale Infrastructuur Nederland
- Focus on digital infrastructure, based on internet-oriented organizations
- π’ Leidschendam
Stichting IPv6 Nederland (Stipv6)
- To forward the adoption of IPv6 in the Netherlands
- π’ Gouda
Research and education
GΓANT
- π’ Amsterdam
NLnet
- π’ Amsterdam
- π€ Michiel Leenaars
- π€ Jos van den Oever
NLnet labs
- π’ Amsterdam
ISPs
Freedom Internet
- π Amstelveen
The Things Network
Provides networking for LoRa network
Companies
Ripe NCC
- π’ Amsterdam
Large software companies
Adyen
Bol.com
Gitlab
Elasticsearch
Booking.com
Artificial Intelligence
NL AI Coalition
Research and education
Research organizations
ICT-Research Platform Netherlands
- π’ The Hague
ICT.Open
- Event by NWO for ICT research
- π (yearly, March)
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)
TNO
- Research organization for applied physics
- Can be equated to Frauenhofer institute
- It is an quasi-non-governmental-organization (quango), part of the government but operating independently.
Supportive organizations
Surf
- IT-collaboration in the educational system
Stichting Leergelden (generalizaton)
- Typically each municipality has such an organization that provides support in the form of goods to children of low income households, including laptops.
Schools and universities
Radboud University
- π€ Bart Jacobs
- π’ Nijmegen
Technical University of Eindhoven
- π’ Eindhoven
- Developing mechatronics including robots
- Developing software and security solutions
Twente University
- π’ Enschede
- Technical university
Delft University
- π’ Delft
- In 2020 developed a ventilator for the Corona crisis, to be released as free software and open hardware
Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica
- π’ Amsterdam
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrum_Wiskunde_%26_Informatica
- Has brought forth important IT people and organizations
Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen
π’ Arnhem & Nijmegen
- FSFE has given guest lectures in the past
Erasmus University Rotterdam
- π’ Rotterdam
- FSFE has hosted a Privacy CafΓ© for the media faculty
Codam College
- π’ Amsterdam
- Software development education
Public sector
Gebruiker Centraal
- Association for professionals in governmental online services
Started NL design system to share UI-code https://nl-design-system.gitlab.io/nl-design-system/
National government
Nederland Digitaal
- To focus on developing Netherlands digitally
- Government program
- π Conferentie Nederland Digitaal (yearly, March)
Forum Standaardisatie
- Responsible for drafting open standards guidelines
Stuiveling Open Data Award (SODA)
- To praise the use of Open Data published by the government, can be a private or public use.
- Initially set up for 5 years (2016 - 2020)
- π Stuiveling Open Data Award (SODA)
- π yearly, September
Pleio (Software and Foundation)
- Open Source discussion software intended for the communication within the public sector.
- Hosted services are offered.
- Works in a federated way, so each organization can run their own service, but can collborate across instances.
- It is developed and supported by the Pleio Foundation.
- π€ Arjan van Noort
Open Overheid
- Institute organized by the government to share knowledge around open government
- Mostly related with ministry of internal affairs (Binnelandse Zaken)
Part of the https://www.opengovpartnership.org/
- As dicted by the Open Government Partnership, a action plan is created each 2 years to improve opennes ('actieplan open overheid')
Has created an alliance for other parties to join in 2020: https://www.open-overheid.nl/alliantie-open-overheid/
Has started an online community on pleio on the subject of Open Source https://opensource.pleio.nl/
- β FSFE has contributed in 2020 to the action plan 2020-2022
Local Government
Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG)
- Association of municipalities
GDI project to coordinate common IT infrastructure https://vng.nl/rubrieken/onderwerpen/generieke-digitale-infrastructuur-gdi
Have decided in 2021 to use the Open Source Archi software for modelling software architecture, initiated by municipality of Nijmegen. (From update 27 September 2021 by Ad Gerrits on Open Source community on Pleio
Common Ground
- Project by municipalities to build a new common IT infrastructure, inspired by Estonian X-road project
- Not enforced but developed in collaboration and municipalities and other public sector organizations are free to join
VNG background: https://vng.nl/artikelen/common-ground
Stem van Groningen (Consul software)
Implementation in the city of Groningen of the Consul software for democratic participation of citizens.
- π€ Nephtis Brandsma (project lead)
- π’ Groningen
Informative news article with video (in Dutch): https://werkenaaneenoverheid.pleio.nl/news/view/54477463/groningen-bloeiende-proeftuin-voor-digitale-democratie
- Project was used for a case-study in the OSOR Sustainability Guidelines, that are being developed over the years 2019-2020.
Dimpact
- Cooperation of 38 municipalities (in 2020) since 2007 (?) to improve the service of municipalities to citizens
- Municpalities collaborate through Dimpact to procure and develop software.
- Dimpact has a neat way of procurement
Procuring with multiple municipalities but splitting into technological parts https://www.dimpact.nl/nieuws/aanbesteding-i4sociaal-gepubliceerd
Procuring an open source solution of which the municipalities become a full owner https://www.dimpact.nl/news/gemeenten-slaan-handen-in-n-en-halen-het-beste-uit-twee-open-source-producten
Open Zaak (software)
- A case management system at the heart of the operation of a municipality. Open Zaak is a free software implementation of such a system.
- Involved municipalities:Rotterdam, Haarlem, Utrecht, Amsterdam, βs-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg, Delft, Arnhem, Hoorn, Medemblik, Gemeenschappelijke Regeling SED.
- Community coordination by Foundation for Public Code
- EUPL licensed
Developed by Maykin Media under the Dimpact legal organization https://www.dimpact.nl/
They even did a public consultation to continue the project https://github.com/open-zaak/open-zaak-market-consultation
Zaakmagazijn (software)
- An open source implementation of a case system in accordance with the standards applicable for Dutch municipalities
Built by https://www.maykinmedia.nl/ for municipality of Haarlem
Public sector bodies
Kadaster
- Reponsible for geographical registration
- Launched FOSS PDOK application
Grid operators
TenneT
- π’ Arnhem
- Joined LF Energy
Alliander
- π’ Arnhem
- Joined LF Energy
Enexis
- π’ Den Bosch
- Pioneered a dongle solution for local smart meter readout with an open API.
Stedin
- π’ Rotterdam
Railway
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
ProRail
Health sector
Digivaardig in de Zorg
To improve digital skills in the health sector.
E-healthweek
- Decentralized event, starting with a centralized event in The Hague
- π’ Leidschendam
- π (yearly, January)
Political parties
Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD)
Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV)
Christen-Democratisch Appèl (CDA)
Democraten 66 (D66)
- π€ Kees Verhoeven (member of the House of Representatives 2010-2021)
GroenLinks
- π€ Kees Vendrik (member of the House of Representatives 1998-2010, member of House of Commons 2019-now)
Socialistische Partij (SP)
- π€ Arda Gerkens (member of the Senate since 2013)
Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA)
- π€ Astrid Oosenbrug (member of the House of Representatives 2012-2017)
ChristenUnie
Partij voor de Dieren
50PLUS
Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP)
DENK
Forum voor Democratie
Piratenpartij
Active in Delft, in collaboration with Studenten In Politiek (STIP) https://delft.piratenpartij.nl/
Volt
Books
Open Source binnen bedrijf en overheid
- Open Source within company and government
- published by Addison Wesley in 2003
- π€ Jeroen Baten
Open Source Jaarboek
http://www.media-update.nl/vakpublicaties/eerder-verschenen/index.html
- Four editions (2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010)
- Oriented to lawyers, so contains clear definitions and legal references.
- Publisher: Media Update Vakpublicaties.
- π€ Hans Sleurink, Jan Stedehouder, Jan Willem Broekema (editors)
Open Source software en standaarden, Jo Lahaye, 2009
- About Open Source Software and Standards
- Publisher: Pearson Benelux B.V.
- π€ Jo Lahaye(editor)
- π€ Michael van Wetering
- π€ Rob van Winden
- π€ Jeroen Visser
- π€ Arnoud Engelfriet
- π€ Walter van Holst
- π€ Jan Stedehouder
- π€ Jan Willem Broekema
- π€ Bart Hanssens