Obligatory for the government, an opportunity for the business community

Government are obliged to comply with the Web Guidelines. Not by law, but on the basis of agreements. The business community has no such obligation. However, outside government the Web Guidelines can be used to ensure that a website has been built soundly.

Government: using the Web Guidelines is obligatory

Using the Web Guidelines is obligatory for municipalities, water boards, provinces and central government organisations that are subject to so-called ministerial responsibility.

Obligatory for central government

Central government organisations that are subject to ministerial responsibility are obliged to comply with the Web Guidelines. This has been laid down in the Ministerial decision on the quality of government websites, June 2006. This decision was caused by the concern expressed in the Dutch House of Representatives with regard to the poor accessibility of many government websites earlier that year. Eventually members of parliament proposed a motion, calling on the cabinet to make haste with improvement. This motion occasioned the ministerial decision. This decision is fulled based on the Web Guidelines and aims for all central government websites to comply with the Web Guidelines at the end of 2010.

Obligatory for municipalities, water boards and provinces

Municipalities, water boards and provinces are likewise obliged to comply with the Web Guidelines. This has been laid down on the administrative agreement National Implementation Programme Better Services and e-Government (NUP). At the end of 2008, this agreement was signed by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Association of Provincial Authorities ( IPO) and the Association of Water Boards. The Web Guidelines are incorporated in the NUP. The measures must result in all websites of municipalities, water boards and provinces complying with the Web Guidelines at the end of 2010.

Not a law yet, however…

As a result of these two agreements, the Web Guidelines are obligatory for all government organisations, albeit not by law. A law is a severe, administrative last resort. The Dutch government has chosen to first try and achieve the intended results on the basis of sound mutual agreements. If results lag behind, legislation may follow. This option was alluded to in the Dutch House of Representatives as early as 2009.

Agreements within the European Union

Agreements have been made about the accessibility of websites at EU level as well, but they turn out not to have the desired effect. The European Commission now considers making it a formal obligation, for instance through a European Directive.

Businesses and non-profit organisations: obligatory no, recommendable yes

The Web Guidelines are not obligatory for the business community or non-profit organisations, but they do provide a good opportunity to have a high-quality website built and keep a grip on this process. After all, the Web Guidelines have been based on the key international guidelines for quality and accessibility, supplemented by solutions by professionals in the field of website design and development that have been tested in actual practice. In other words, they are not just meant for government websites. For organisations outside government the Web Guidelines provide opportunities to link up with international accessibility guidelines and keep a grip on the quality of the website.