Data.overheid.nl is the open data portal for the Dutch Government. At the moment, around 6.000 open datasets can be found online via data.overheid.nl
Policy Context
The Dutch Government issued an Open data policy, additionally enforced by a membership to the OGP. Currently the government is working on the implementation of the PSI Directive. Data.overheid.nl is the central place were open data can be found.
Description of target users and groups
The government is encouraging open data re-users to solve societal issues which can be addressed by a smart combination of open data and technology. The primary driver is to tackle societal issues such as elderly care taking and safety issues. Solutions based on societal issues often have a stronger business case.
Description of the way to implement the initiative
Data.overheid.nl is a portal which makes open data findable for re-users. However the most important aspect of data.overheid.nl. is creating open data awareness, enabling re-use and helping re-users with finding open data for the own societal issue.
Technology solution
Data.overheid.nl is built on Drupal and CKAN as a data repository. Standards used include DCAT and OWMS (based on Dublin Core)
Technology choice: Standards-based technologyMain results, benefits and impacts
Currently 6.000 datasets are findable on data.overheid.nl. These datasets are available for re-use. The amount of re-use is growing. These developments are partly made by small innovative companies, others are using open data without being aware that they are using open data. In this way a community of open data companies is growing at a medium pace.
The biggest achievement is data awareness within Government. Efficiently managing data is becoming a very important topic, together with big-data developments. Steps to improve data management and better data quality are made and leading to open data.
Return on Investment
The re-use of open data is growing. It is not easy to give an estimation on the level of the ROI as although the effects for society can be huge, they are difficult to measure. The ROI for better public transport data can be huge by getting people faster to their destination, or choosing a better school for children can lead to less “school dropouts”. The ROI for these cases is however hard to calculate.
Track record of sharing
Exchange of information concerning the case data.overheid.nl is mainly taking placed on the national level.
Lessons learnt
- Open data needs Government support to start off
- Societal issues are the main driving force for solutions with a business case
- Open data is about OPEN and not about data