A sustainably accessible web for everyone: Guidelines for the accessibility and sustainability of government websites
This website states the requirements principals must make of their web developer in order to create an accessible website. The manual shows how web builders can concretely implement these requirements. Furthermore, the manual states how to check whether the site complies with the requirements set.
This is an archived version
The current version of the Web Guidelines is 1.2. It became available in August 2006.
This archive contains the English translation of version 1.1 from November 2005. An English translation of version 1.2 is not yet available.
Version 1.2 was made available after a formal decision by the Netherlands' Council of Ministers. On 30 June 2006, they agreed to the 'Central Government Website Quality Act'. The addendum lists the requirements to which all new websites must comply that are issued by the central government. These requirements are identical to the Web Guidelines, with the addition of one requirement:
Guideline R.pd.2.9:
Build a website that conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 1.0) of the W3C.
Another important change in version 1.2 is that the distinction between a 'minimum set' and an 'optimum set' of Web Guidelines was abolished: version 1.2 consists of only one set to which websites have to comply.
This version 1.1 remains availbale for reference purposes only; it no longer has a formal status.
The starting point for the provision of information and service by the government is that this should be accessible to everyone, and furthermore effective and efficient. The same naturally applies to information and services offered through the internet.
In practice, however, there are a number of factors that have a negative influence on the accessibility, effectiveness and efficiency of government websites. Too often, when websites are being created, technical choices are made that exclude visitors or groups of visitors in advance.
The Web Guidelines will make a contribution not only to accessibility, but also to a significant increase in the sustainability and compatibility of government websites.
How does this manual work?
This website contains a great deal of information. In order to
understand what information is relevant to you, it is important
that you are aware of what elements are present and what
relationship these elements have to one another. 
