Cybersecurity in the Netherlands: Current State, Future Vision, and Strategic Considerations
Date: 14-03-2025, Author: M. Juffermans
Cybersecurity has become a cornerstone of national security, economic stability, and societal resilience in the Netherlands. As one of the most digitized countries in the world, the Netherlands faces unique challenges and opportunities in this domain. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of cybersecurity in the Netherlands, the desired future position, dependency on the United States, the dangers of a lack of critical awareness, current vulnerabilities, solutions from the Dutch market, costs and benefits, and a practical list of do’s and don’ts for organizations and policymakers.
Current State: Where Do We Stand?
The Netherlands is a leader in digitalization, boasting a robust digital infrastructure, high internet penetration (94% of the population in 2023), and an economy heavily reliant on technology-driven sectors such as logistics, finance, and healthcare. However, this position also makes the country a prime target for cyber threats. The “Cybersecurity Assessment Netherlands 2024” (CSBN), published by the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV), paints a concerning picture: cyber threats are increasing, driven by both state actors and cybercriminals, while resilience lags behind.
Key observations:
- Threat Landscape: The Netherlands faces direct cyberattacks (e.g., ransomware, DDoS attacks) and indirect impacts from global incidents, such as the CrowdStrike outage in July 2024 that affected 8.5 million devices worldwide.
- Resilience: Despite efforts by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Dutch Cybersecurity Strategy (NLCS) 2022-2028, implementation of measures remains slow, particularly among SMEs and non-critical sectors.
- Dependency: Many Dutch organizations rely on U.S.-based technologies (e.g., Microsoft, AWS, Google) and cybersecurity solutions (e.g., Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike), introducing geopolitical and operational risks.
The Cyber Security Council warned in 2024 that current government investments (approximately €300 million annually) are insufficient to keep pace with growing threats. This contrasts starkly with the estimated €10 billion in annual damages caused by cybercrime, according to MKB-Nederland.