About 32.5% of the 17.5 million people in the Netherlands have an interest in digital accessibility of websites and web applications because they experience challenges navigating and understanding websites and web applications due to visual, hearing or motor impairments, or low literacy. That's almost 1 in 3 people!
All these people want to be able to use websites without limitations, and that's where digital accessibility comes in. Moreover, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which comes into effect in 2025, reinforces the need for digital accessibility. This legislation requires certain digital products and services, including websites and Web applications, to be accessible to all, making the digital world a more inclusive place for people with diverse needs.
For government websites, digital accessibility is already required by law through the Temporary Decree on Digital Government Accessibility. This decree, based on a European directive 2016/2102, requires government agencies to make their websites and apps accessible according to WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility is about creating websites, Web applications and digital tools that are accessible and usable by everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities. This means that digital content and navigation are tailored to diverse audiences, including people with visual, hearing, motor impairments and low literacy. By focusing on digital accessibility, we ensure that everyone can actively participate in our digital world.
Digital accessibility: The numbers
In our analysis, we looked at approximately 5,700,000 Dutch people who would benefit from an accessible digital environment because of relevant disabilities. This group includes people with visual and hearing impairments, those with low literacy, and those with motor challenges. Estimates of the number of people dependent on digital accessibility vary, with figures ranging from "more than 4,000,000" to as many as 6,141,000 individuals. At the European level, the figure is about 135 million people.
Incidentally, other users may also benefit from an accessible Web site, think of users with a broken arm, forgotten glasses or bright sunlight in the workspace. Moreover, how accessible a Web site is says something about its quality.
Digital accessibility is (very) important for websites
If you are one of those people with disabilities, it is obviously important to you that people with disabilities have as good access to the Web as people without disabilities. The more websites can ensure that their services and products are accessible and can help all users, the better it is for people with disabilities.
Of course, an accessible website has other benefits as well, consider:
- Improved user experience for all users, regardless of skill level.
- Greater reach and potential customer base as it is accessible to a wider audience.
- Positive impact on SEO, as search engines often rate accessible websites higher.
- Reducing legal risks, especially for compliance with legislation such as the European Accessibility Act.
- Increased brand reputation and social responsibility, contributing to a positive corporate image.
- Improved accessibility for the elderly and people with temporary disabilities.
- Opportunity for innovation in web design and technology through a focus on inclusivity.
- More efficient and often more intuitive navigation and interface design.
- Increased customer satisfaction and customer loyalty through an inclusive approach.
- Supporting social equity and diversity.
Web accessibility basics (WCAG 2.1 guidelines)
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), a global network of Web experts and end users, is the driving force behind the development of international Web standards. This consortium is responsible for creating the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a set of guidelines essential for making Web sites and apps accessible.
WCAG 2.1, an initiative of the W3C, focuses on ensuring accessibility for all users. The goal is to ensure that anyone, at any time, can access and use online platforms seamlessly. Structured around four fundamental principles, each with several specific recommendations, these guidelines are at the heart of W3C's efforts to make the Web more inclusive.
The first principle, "Perceptibility," emphasizes the importance of presenting information in a way that is perceptible to all users. This includes providing text alternatives to non-textual content and ensuring adequate contrast between text and background.
The second principle, "Operability," ensures that all functionalities of the website or app are operable by any user. This means that all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard and that users have sufficient time to read and use content.
The third principle, "Comprehensibility," requires that information and operation of the user interface be understandable. This means that text should be readable and understandable and that Web sites should function in predictable ways.
Finally, the fourth principle, "Robustness," focuses on compatibility with current and future user tools, such as assistive technologies. This principle ensures that content remains accessible as technologies evolve.
Taken together, these four principles form the basis of the WCAG 2.1 guidelines, which are crucial to creating an accessible and inclusive digital landscape.
European Accessibility Act (EAA): relevance to Dutch websites and platforms
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is important EU legislation that will come into force in 2025. This legislation aims to improve the accessibility of digital products and services, including websites and Web applications, to make them accessible to all, especially those with various disabilities.
For which Dutch companies is the EAA relevant?
The EAA is relevant to virtually all businesses, with the exception of smaller companies with less than €2 million in annual turnover and fewer than 10 employees. This means that the legislation applies to:
- Medium to large companies above these thresholds.
- Government agencies, regardless of size, are required to make their digital services accessible.
Why is the EAA important to these companies?
- Legal Compliance: Compliance with the EAA is a legal requirement for the companies involved. Non-compliance can lead to legal consequences.
- Accessibility for diverse audiences: By meeting EAA standards, these companies ensure that their digital content is accessible to a wide range of users, including those with disabilities.
For most Dutch companies, with the exception of the smallest, it is crucial to implement the EAA guidelines. This ensures compliance with the law and contributes to a more inclusive digital environment. Integrating "digital accessibility" and "website accessibility" into their digital strategy is essential to achieve this goal.
EEA status in the Netherlands
The most recent news on relevant local legislation is the central government article "Cabinetbill to make products and services more accessible to people withdisabilities," published in June. This bill emphasizes the importance of digital accessibility, especially for websites.
According to the central government news release, as of June 28, 2025, all new products, including digital services such as websites, must meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. There is still some ambiguity about the interpretation of "new" in this context, but it is clear that this legislation will eventually affect existing products and services as well.