Home » WCAG » WCAG and legislation

WCAG and legislation in the Netherlands

Digital accessibility is important for everyone. Whether you're creating a website for a municipality, a healthcare institution, or an online store, people should be able to use information, regardless of their disability or situation. In the Netherlands, there are regulations for this. The WCAG guidelines play a key role in this. This article explains how WCAG and Dutch legislation relate to each other, what is mandatory, and for whom.

What is WCAG?

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These are international guidelines that explain how to make websites and apps accessible to people with disabilities. This includes blind and partially sighted people, deaf and hard of hearing people, people with dyslexia, motor disabilities, or low digital literacy.

The most commonly used version is WCAG 2.1 Level AA. These guidelines are technical, but provide clear objectives: information must be perceivable, usable, understandable, and robust. (You can read more about this in our article on the four principles of WCAG.)

Why are there rules about accessibility?

Digital accessibility is a human right. Everyone should be able to participate independently in society. Information and services are increasingly only available digitally: from filing taxes to scheduling a doctor's appointment. Without accessible websites and apps, people become excluded.

To prevent this, there are laws that make digital accessibility mandatory, both in the Netherlands and in Europe.

Digital Government Act

The Temporary Digital Government Act (Wdo) has been in effect in the Netherlands since July 1, 2020. This law requires government organizations to make their websites and mobile apps accessible according to WCAG 2.1 AA.

Who is covered by this law?

The obligation applies to:

  • ministries and executive agencies,
  • provinces and municipalities,
  • water boards,
  • courts,
  • police and safety regions,
  • educational institutions,
  • healthcare institutions with a public task.

Semi-governmental bodies and organisations with a social task may also fall under this law.

What should you do as a government organization?

  1. You must develop your website or app according to WCAG 2.1 AA.
  2. You must publish an accessibility statement on the website (according to the Dutch government model).
  3. You must have an accessibility study carried out regularly.
  4. You need to have a plan to resolve bottlenecks.

Supervision is carried out by the Digital Government Directorate (part of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations).

Other laws affecting accessibility

In addition to the Digital Government Act, there are other laws and regulations that support or mandate digital accessibility.

1. General Equal Treatment Act (AWGB)

This law prohibits discrimination based on disability. This also applies to websites and digital services. If an organization offers an inaccessible website, it can be considered indirect discrimination. Everyone must be treated equally, including online.

2. Equal Treatment on the Grounds of Disability or Chronic Illness Act (WGBH/CZ)

This law requires, among other things, education, public transportation, and work to be accessible. Digital information and communication also fall under this.

3. European directives: European Accessibility Act (EAA)

From June 28, 2025, commercial businesses must also comply with accessibility requirements, based on the European Accessibility Act. This applies, for example, to:

  • online shops,
  • banks,
  • transport companies,
  • providers of e-books or apps.

The EAA is therefore an important addition to Dutch legislation, as it is primarily aimed at government authorities.

What does this mean in concrete terms?

Are you a government organization?

Then you are already required to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA. You must be able to demonstrate this with a current accessibility statement and an accessibility assessment report.

Are you a commercial company?

Then you're not (yet) legally obligated to use WCAG. But starting in 2025, this will change for certain sectors. Moreover, it's always worthwhile to design for accessibility:

  • You reach more customers.
  • You comply with the GDPR (privacy law).
  • You demonstrate that you conduct business in a socially responsible manner.

Who checks compliance?

For government bodies, there is oversight from the Ministry of the Interior. The Digital Government Directorate assesses whether websites and apps comply with the regulations. In some cases, people can also file a complaint with the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights or through the complaints procedure of the relevant government organization.

Starting in 2025, commercial parties will be subject to European oversight through the EAA. Member states must appoint supervisors to monitor compliance. In the Netherlands, it is not yet finalized who will be responsible.

Why start now?

Waiting until a law forces you to do something isn't wise. Accessible design takes time and attention. The sooner you start, the better you can adjust accordingly.

Moreover, accessibility helps everyone:

  • Elderly people with less digital experience,
  • people who are temporarily disabled (e.g. broken arm),
  • people with low literacy or a different mother tongue,
  • and also search engines (SEO!).

Tips for implementing WCAG in your organization

  1. Raise awareness – Explain to colleagues what digital accessibility is and why it is important.
  2. Get your website tested – Start with a basic check (for example with WAVE) and then run a manual audit.
  3. Create an accessibility statement – ​​If you fall under the Digital Government Act, this is mandatory.
  4. Work according to WCAG from the start – This will prevent expensive adjustments later.
  5. Engage with people with disabilities – Ask people with disabilities for feedback on your site or app.

Summary

In the Netherlands, there are clear rules for digital accessibility:

  • The Digital Government Act obliges government bodies to make websites and apps accessible according to WCAG 2.1 level AA.
  • Other laws such as the AWGB, WGBH/CZ and GDPR underline the importance of digital inclusion.
  • From 2025, the European Accessibility Act will also apply to commercial companies.
  • WCAG is therefore not just a guideline: it is the basis for legal obligations and inclusive design.

Need help implementing WCAG or conducting an audit? Feel free to contact us. We're happy to help.