History 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.

The Netherlands has a long running history of Free Software and related subjects. Still the adoption of Free Software by the government is lacking as this page shows. This page focusses on the public sector for which the efforts have been well documented.

1977

1977 Start of Hobby Computer Club (HCC)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby_Computer_Club

• Has an 'Open Source' group

1978

1979

1979 Opening of Computer Collectief (ComCol) store

• Located in Amsterdam
• Seller of books and software including Linux distro's.

• Declared bankruptcy in 2011 after some previous company restructuring: https://tweakers.net/nieuws/77540/computercollectief-maakt-doorstart-na-faillissement.html

1980

1981

1982

1982 Creation of NLnet

• Creation of NLnet as a project under the concept of developing an European network (EUnet)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLnet

• 👤 Teus Hagen

1983

1983 Start of Netherlands Local Unix User Group (NLUUG)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLUUG

1984

1985

1985 Start of Microcomputer Club Nederland ?

• Start end end dates are uncertain.
• Operated in the 80s.
• Published magazines. Not sure how that related to free software.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcomputer_Club_Nederland

1985 Start of AT Computing

• Unix (now Linux) consultancy and training

1986

1987

1987 First release of MINIX

• MINIX was a microkernel for which the source code was available for educational purposes.
• It iniatiated a software community, including Linus Torvalds.
• MINIX was released under a free software BSD license in 2000.
• 👤 Andrew S. Tanenbaum

1988

1988 First release of Vim

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vim_(text_editor)

• 👤 Bram Moolenaar

1989

1989 Start of NLnet foundation

• After 1982 creation of NLnet

1989 Start of magazine Hack-Tic

• 👤 Rop Grongrijp

1990

1991

1991 First release of Python

• First release of the Python programming language. Initially built at the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI).

• In 2000 it was released under a GPL-compatible license
• 👤 Guido van Rossum

1992

1993

1994

1994 Start of Community internet project De Digitale Stad

• https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Digitale_Stad

• 👤 Marleen Stikker

1994 Start of ISP XS4ALL

• Originating from Hack-Tic

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XS4ALL

• 👤 Rop Gonggrijp

1994 Start of Maatschappij voor Oude en Nieuwe Media (now: Waag Society)

• 👤 Marleen Stikker
• 👤 Caroline Nevejan

• https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waag_Society

1995

1995 Start of Webwereld

• News website

• https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webwereld

• Ended in 2020 after which the articles were moved to https://www.computerworld.com/

• Famous for 'lektober' when in October of 2011 for the duration of a month, each day a privacy leak was published by Brenno de Winter.
• 👤 Brenno de Winter (journalist)

1996

1996 Creation of NL Linux User Group (NLLGG)

• https://nllgg.nl/

1997

1997 Start of NLnet Foundation

1998

1998 First release of Postfix

• 👤 Wietse Venema

1998-09 Start of Tweakers.net

• https://www.tweakers.net/

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tweakers

• 👤 Femme Taken
• Community-focused tech website with plenty of room for Free Software on the forum and in news articles.

1999

1999 Question PM Lambrechts

2000

2000 Start of Bits of Freedom

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bits_of_Freedom

2001

2002

2002 Start of Blender Foundation

Community project around the 3D engine to buy the source code after bankruptcy.

• FOSDEM 2020 talk: https://fosdem.org/2020/schedule/event/blender/

• Economic paper "Blender and the Street Performer Protocol:Freak success or first of a trend?A Case Study of Open Source Economics.", Neus 2020 https://download.blender.org/documentation/pdf/Neus-Blender-SPP.pdf

• Release under GPL by FSFE support (👤 Loic Dachary)
• First Blender conference that year
• 👤 Ton Roosendaal

2002-08 association of municipalities warns about lock-in with software vendors

• Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG)
• Binnenlands Bestuur, «Gemeenten willen zich ontworstelen aan wurggreep software-leveranciers», 2 augustus 2002

2002-11 GroenLinks party plan 'baas over de eigen bits'

• The green party GroenLinks publishes a plan in which they take the stance that the government should adopt Open Source Software.

• GroenLinks web publication news article (archive.org), plan (html archive.org), report (pdf archive.org)

• News article https://tweakers.net/nieuws/24353/groenlinks-wil-open-source-bij-overheid.html

• Microsoft publicly responded against the stance by GroenLinks https://tweakers.net/nieuws/24388/microsoft-nederland-protesteert-tegen-groenlinks-plan.html

• 👤 Kees Vendrik (PM, GroenLinks)

• 👤 Rens van Tilburg (Scientific bureau GroenLinks)

• Commentators
  • 👤 Michel van der Bel (CEO Microsoft Nederland)
  • 👤 Maurice Wessling (Bits of Freedom)
  • 👤 Joost Helberg (Chairman of Vereniging Open Source Nederland (VOSN))
  • 👤 dhr van Veen, Hoofd Informatiebeleid, Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG)

2002-11 Motion by PM Vendrik

• Submitted 20 November 2020

• https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-28600-XIII-30.html

• Based on the action plan by GroenLinks published earlier

• Minutes at the second chamber https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/h-tk-20022003-1513-1518.html

• 👤 Kees Vendrik (PM, GroenLinks)

• Refers to publication by municipalities earlier in the year: Binnenlands Bestuur, «Gemeenten willen zich ontworstelen aan wurggreep software-leveranciers», 2 augustus 2002

2003

2003 Start program OS&OSS

2004

2004 Questions to the minister

• Questions by Martijn van Dam about the adoption of open source software by the government and a recent news article that Microsoft is hading a known vulnerability.

• News about posed questions: https://tweakers.net/nieuws/31377/kamerlid-legt-ministerraad-vragen-over-open-source-voor.html

• Answers: https://tweakers.net/nieuws/31871/minister-beantwoordt-kamervragen-over-open-source.html

• News about the vulnerability https://tweakers.net/nieuws/30991/microsoft-waarschuwt-voor-veiligheidslek-in-windows.html

• 👤 Martijn van Dam (PM, PvdA)
• 👤 Minister Thom De Graaf van Bestuurlijke Vernieuwing en Koninkrijksrelaties (D66)

2005

2005 Release of Eekboek accounting software

• https://www.eekboek.nl/

• Commonly used in the Dutch Free Software community for accounting

2006

2006-03 Start of College for standardization and Forum standardization

2006 Continuation of OS&OSS program under a new name: OSOSS

2007

2007-03 Rejected motion by Aptroot and Vendrik

2008

2008-01 Start actionplan Nederland Open in Verbinding (NOiV)

2008-11 Enforcement of new instruction for procurement of ICT services or products

2009

2009-01 First progress report of NOiV

2009-06 First ODF plugfest in Royal library in The Hague

2010

2010 Start of Linux Magazine

• http://www.linuxmag.nl/

• Outspoken for free software, also offering a podium for related opinions, businesses and organizations including FSFE.

2010-05 Motion Gerkens for a research by the Court of Audits

2010-07 Second progress report NOiV

2011

2011 ? Start of BNL

• Mark Lamers starts the BNL Local Group

2011-03-15 Report open standards by the Court of Audits

• https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/detail?id=2011Z04816&did=2011D12016

2011-11 7th ODF plugfest in library in Gouda

2012

2012 Start of parliamentary inquiry into ICT projects at the government

• https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parlementair_onderzoek_ICT-projecten_bij_de_overheid

• Temporary committee looking into projects and their failure
• Final report in October 2014
• 👤 Ton Elias (VVD), voorzitter
• 👤 Hanke Bruins Slot (CDA)
• 👤 Manon Fokke (PvdA)
• 👤 Paul van Meenen (D66)
• 👤 Paul Ulenbelt (SP), ondervoorzitter
• 👤 Harm Beertema (PVV) - Stepped out of the committee before the end

2012 Start of Internet4All foundation

To further projects relating to internet.

• https://stichtinginternet4all.nl/

• Originates from the XS4ALL internet provider

2013

2013-01 Start of Fairphone

• Originated from the Waag Society, started with a crowdfunding effort.

• https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairphone

• https://www.fairphone.com/en/

• 👤 Bas van Abel
• 👤 Tessa Wernink
• 👤 Miquel Ballester

2013-10 New coordinators for FSFE BNL

• https://blogs.fsfe.org/hugo/2013/11/welcoming-maurice-to-the-core-team/

• Maurice Verheesen joins the FSFE Core team to coordinate the Dutch activities.
• Felix Stegerman joins in the role of Vice-Coordinator

2014

2014-01-21 News article on free software adoption by City of Ede

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/document/dutch-city-ede-spends-92-percent-less-its-peers-software-licenses

• Positive news article about how Ede ends up spending way less on software licenses by choosing free software.

2014-10-15 Report by parliamentary inquiry committee ICT

• https://www.tweedekamer.nl/sites/default/files/field_uploads/33326-5-Eindrapport_tcm181-239826.pdf

• https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parlementair_onderzoek_ICT-projecten_bij_de_overheid

• Concludes that the government has lost control over ICT projects, and suggests improvements:
  • Creation of a temporary ICT authority: BIT (Bureau ICT-toetsing)
  • The parliament should gain a better understanding in the technical execution and duration of ICT-projects.
  • A more central steering of ICT policy by making a single minister responsible for it.
  • To support all ICT projects in the government with a projectorganization, including 'Non-ministerial government departments (NMGDs)' ('zelfstandige bestuursorganen (ZBOs)').
  • Improvement of procurement and contractmanagement surrounding ICT projects.

2014 Grid operator Alliander publishes Open Smart Grid Platform

• Communication platform for control of infrastructure. Initial focus on public lighting.

2015

2015-03-06 Launch of CodeForNL foundation

• https://www.codefor.nl/

• Supported by: Waag Society, Gemeente Amsterdam, Code for All
• Manifest article at the end of 2014 based on the report by the ICT committee.

2015-10 11th ODF plugfest in Royal library in The Hague

• Organized by OpenDoc Society. Hosted by Logius and Forum Standaardisatie.

• Logius Director Steven Luitjens and Forum Standaardisatie chairman Nico Westplam van Hoorn have spoken for the adoption of ODF.

2015 Motion Oosenbrug and Gesthuizen

• https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/detail?id=2015Z06310&did=2015D12833

• Direct PDF link https://www.tweedekamer.nl/downloads/document?id=2015D12833

• Requests:
  • Correctly handle open standards in all procurements before the end of 2015
  • Develop exit strategies that enables termination of software relationships within 5 years to and prevents dependence on a single vendor
  • Set out the requirements for each procurement in such a way that open source applications have an equal opportunity and to explain the choice for a close source application

2015 Start of Bureau for ICT review (BIT)

• Bureau ICT-toetsing (BIT)

• https://www.bureauicttoetsing.nl/

• After the report by parliamentary inquiry commission ICT late 2014.
• Independent review for projects concering more than 5 milion euro.
• 👤 Sander van Amerongen (ad interim suppervisor, previously PwC)
• Staff for coordinating the review process and a changing team of experts

2016

2016 Launch of IRMA project

Project originating from the Radboud University of Nijmegen to provide a better means for authentication. Later the Privacy by Design foundation was created to support this effort.

• https://privacybydesign.foundation/

2016 Launch of PDOK geodata service

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/solution/pdok-public-services-map/about

2016-08 DUO and municipality Ede want to move away from Oracle databases

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/proprietary-licences-both-fru

2016-09 Dutch tax office looking for Linux-on-mainframe supplier

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/dutch-tax-office-looking

2016-12 Article about governmental data centre software

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-government/news/dutch-govt-data-centre-sets-o

2017

2017 Start of Foundation for Public Code

• https://publiccode.net/

2017-03 Start rollout DWR-Next government desktop environment

https://www.rijksictdashboard.nl/projecten/415438

• Microsoft Windows 10
• Microsoft Office
• Skype for Business
• Adobe pdf reader

2017-04 Europe is dependent on Microsoft

• https://tweakers.net/nieuws/123385/europese-landen-zijn-te-afhankelijk-van-microsoft-voor-it.html

• http://www.tagesspiegel.de/weltspiegel/it-in-der-oeffentlichen-verwaltung-europas-fatale-abhaengigkeit-von-microsoft/19628246.html

2017-04-18 Studygroup advise to speed up government digitization

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/egovernment/news/study-dutch-govt-should-reve

• https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2017/04/18/rapport-van-de-studiegroep-informatiesamenleving-en-overheid-maak-waar

2017-05 Government publication on current state

• https://www.rekenkamer.nl/publicaties/rapporten/2017/05/17/staat-van-de-rijksverantwoording-2016

• Page 78: ongoing investigation into Open Source as a way of increasing government transparency.

2017-07 Government pulls the plug on citizen administration system

• Based on a report by the Bureau Ict Toetsing (BIT)

• https://nos.nl/artikel/2181664-plasterk-stopt-met-geldverslindende-vernieuwing-bevolkingsregister.html

• https://www.computable.nl/artikel/opinie/overheid/6056388/1509029/bit-liquideert-brp.html

• Finally released as free software: https://github.com/MinBZK/OperatieBRP

• 👤 Minister Ronald Plasterk (PvdA)

2017-08-16 National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) tool for cleaning network traces

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/dutch-ncsc-publishes-pef-netw

2017-09-01 Consultation for changing market regulations

• https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/wijzigingmarktenoverheid

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/economic-booster

2017-10 Gartner research Open Source Software publication

• https://kennisopenbaarbestuur.nl/rapporten-publicaties/onderzoek-open-source-software/

2017-12 Budget debate 2018

Vraag van Verhoeven tijdens de begrotingsbehandeling Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties van 16 november 2017 (Handelingen II 2017/18, nr. 23, item 6, 9 en 12).

• https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/plenaire_verslagen/detail/886cd7e2-f53a-4ebe-995f-5c99878b3f1b#idbfd4a3c2

• https://www.tweedekamer.nl/debat_en_vergadering/plenaire_vergaderingen/details?date=16-11-2017#2017A03685

2018

2019

2019 Electrical grid operators Tennet and Alliander join Linux Foundation Energy

https://www.lfenergy.org/

2019 Creation of Freedom ISP after battle over XS4ALL brand

• https://freedom.nl/

• Starting with a e-mail, expanding to internet services
• Has commited to financially support Bits of Freedom

2020

2020-04 Corona apps

Government wanting to have a variety of apps for dealing with the Corona virus. Initially the requirement was public source code (no free license required) assuming vendors had working solutions. As it turned out the solutions were not ready, the health Minister set Open Source as an additional requirement going forward.

2020-04 Open Source by default letter

Letter by the minister of internal affairs to the Parliament.

• https://fsfe.org/news/2020/news-20200424-01.en.html

• https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2020/04/17/kamerbrief-inzake-vrijgeven-broncode-overheidssoftware

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/legal-barrier-be-removed

• https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/digitally-inclusive

2021

2021-08 Router Freedom in NL

• https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20210805-01.en.html

2021-09 Effort to get QR-apps in F-Droid

• https://github.com/minvws/nl-covid19-coronacheck-app-android/issues/24

• Effort by supporter Felix Stegerman

2021-11 Passing of 5 principles in municipality of Delft for digital sovereignty

• Effort by Piratenpartij Delft by supporter Jan Vlug in collaboration with coalition party STIP (STudents In Politics).

• Proposal: https://delft.raadsinformatie.nl/document/10240009/1

• Reply by college: https://delft.raadsinformatie.nl/document/10549498/1

• iBestuur press coverage: https://ibestuur.nl/nieuws/delftse-principes-voor-digitale-soevereiniteit

2022

2022-01 Follow-up on principles of sovereignty in Amsterdam and Borne

• Supporters Geert-Jan and Jos put in the effort to raise it in their municipalities

• Amsterdam questions: https://amsterdam.raadsinformatie.nl/document/11006204/1/14%20sv%20Vink%20Sourcing%20en%20Open%20Source%20Strategie

2023

2023-01 Market regulator ACM decides not to act on complaint about municipality using open source

• https://www.security.nl/posting/779964/ACM%3A+onderzoek+naar+gemeenten+die+broncode+aanbieden+niet+in+maatschappelijk+belang

• No reason to think that the municipality sharing code as open source interferes with the market
• Decision made at the end of 2022, between Bloqzone and municipality of Nijmegen

• https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/acm-verklaart-het-bezwaar-tegen-prioriteringsbesluit-ongegrond

• https://www.acm.nl/system/files/documents/besluit-acm-bloqzone.pdf

More research needed

Placeholder for some items that are prominent part of the Free Software history but cannot be placed on a timeline.

• Book 'Het internet is stuk' by Marleen Stikker has multiple historical references.

Glossary