The Netherlands is seeking a European-based operator to host the DigiD national identity system after blocking a US acquisition of its current provider, Solvinity. With a Dutch alternative bid falling short, the government must secure a non-US host before a 2026 EU deadline for critical digital infrastructure.
The government is under pressure to find a European operator after a domestic bid for Solvinity failed to meet requirements. Solvinity, which manages infrastructure for 16 million citizens, remains in a state of ownership uncertainty following the state’s formal block of a US-led acquisition.
A looming 2026 EU deadline drives the search, requiring member states to maintain national or European alternatives for critical digital infrastructure. Dutch officials argue that reliance on Solvinity leaves the country vulnerable to external jurisdiction.
The urgency follows the May 26 decision by State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts to prohibit US-based Kyndryl from acquiring Solvinity. The Dutch Investment Screening Bureau (BTI) cited risks to public interest and digital sovereignty, specifically the US CLOUD Act, which allows US authorities to access citizen data or potentially freeze government services during diplomatic disputes.
While the government blocked the US bid, the failure of a subsequent Dutch bid created a gap in national strategy. Expert Bert Hubert warned that without a sovereign European host, legal risks associated with US-owned infrastructure persist regardless of where data is physically stored.
The Dutch government is now identifying a viable European operator to ensure the long-term stability of the DigiD system. This transition follows the Kyndryl block and the failed domestic bid, leaving the infrastructure in ownership uncertainty as the government seeks to align with EU requirements by 2026.