AI GOVERNANCE IN NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands has been at the forefront of AI regulation in Europe, developing a comprehensive and strategic approach to address the opportunities and challenges posed by AI technologies. The Strategic Action Plan for AI, initiated in 2019, outlines the Netherlands’ approach to accelerating AI adoption and enhancing national profiling in AI. The plan involves cooperation with the Dutch AI Coalition, where companies, government agencies, knowledge institutions, and educational institutions collaborate on implementing AI actions across various sectors. The plan focuses on capitalizing on societal and economic opportunities, creating the right conditions for AI development, and strengthening the foundations of ethical AI use. This includes policies supporting AI education and skills development, fostering research and innovation, and improving digital infrastructure.

The Experimental Law on Self-Driving Vehicles, effective from July 2019, allows public road tests of self-driving vehicles without drivers present under specific conditions. This law aims to prepare Dutch roads and ensure future-proof legislation for autonomous vehicles. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management oversees this initiative. The law stipulates that traffic safety risks must be minimized, remote drivers must hold valid licenses, and tests must be confined to limited timeframes and specific road sections. Feedback on the outcomes of these experiments is provided to the Netherlands Vehicle Authority RDW.

Amsterdam’s AI Register, launched in 2020, in collaboration with Helsinki, tracks how algorithms are used in municipal services to ensure transparency, responsibility, and security. This initiative aims to improve service availability and customer experiences while adhering to principles of inclusive growth, sustainable development, and well-being.

The National Education Lab AI (NOLAI), established in 2022 and set to run until 2032, focuses on improving the quality of primary and secondary education through the use of smart technology. NOLAI brings together teachers, school leaders, administrators, teacher trainers, business professionals, and academics to develop intelligent technology for education. The lab addresses the pedagogical, societal, and social implications of AI in education and emphasizes human-centered values and fairness. NOLAI operates through two main programs: a co-creation program, which develops smart technologies in collaboration with schools and companies, and an academic program, which facilitates the co-creation process and ensures successful outcomes. NOLAI is managed by Radboud University’s Faculty of Social Sciences and led by a management team that reports to a steering group comprising representatives from education, academia, and business.

AI for the Netherlands (AINED), a result of a coalition between industry and academia, outlines goals and actions for a national AI plan. AINED focuses on promoting access to AI talent and skills, facilitating AI-driven business development, and encouraging large-scale AI use in government. It aims to create socioeconomic and ethical frameworks for AI and fosters public-private cooperation in key sectors. The Dutch government intends to finalize a comprehensive strategic action plan for AI by considering the AINED report, the EU coordinated plan, and discussions from the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI.

The AI Coalition of the Netherlands (NL AIC), launched in 2019, is a public-private partnership that includes over 400 parties from the business community, government, education, and research institutions. The coalition aims to support AI initiatives in areas of common interest, test concrete AI applications within various sectors, host a European Knowledge and Innovation Center, and bring additional researchers to work on AI programs in Dutch knowledge organizations. The coalition strives to create practical ethical frameworks, ensure data sharing practices, and defend an inclusive and human-centric approach to AI.

The Dutch government has presented a vision on generative AI, highlighting the urgent need for action in light of the disruptive yet promising potential of this technology. This vision aligns with significant investments by research institutions, private enterprises, and the government, all aimed at advancing AI in the Netherlands. The responsible governmental bodies for this vision include the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK), and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). The vision, set to span from 2024 to 2028, aims to promote human well-being, autonomy, sustainability, prosperity, justice, and safety through responsible AI applications. It seeks to create a strong AI ecosystem in the Netherlands and the EU, fostering innovation with responsible generative AI, maintaining digital and strategic autonomy, and ensuring close collaboration with stakeholders to formulate effective policies.

These initiatives reflect the Netherlands’ proactive stance on AI regulation, emphasizing the importance of ethical guidelines, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic investment in AI research and education. By fostering a robust AI ecosystem, the Netherlands aims to leverage AI technologies for societal and economic benefits while maintaining high standards of transparency, responsibility, and human-centered values.