Netherlands prepares citizens for potential internet shutdown

The Dutch government is developing a “digital emergency kit” to prepare citizens and public institutions for large-scale communication disruptions, including a potential nationwide internet outage.

The initiative was announced by Minister for Digital Economy and Sovereignty Willemijn Aerdts, who said the Netherlands has become too dependent on foreign technology providers, creating vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

In an official statement, the government warned that while the country is not at war, it is also not fully at peace. Authorities said potential adversaries are already collecting information about power cables, internet infrastructure, and gas pipelines that could be targeted during a crisis.

Another concern involves reliance on U.S. technology companies. Government agencies, schools, and municipalities in the Netherlands currently depend heavily on Microsoft software and U.S.-based cloud services. According to Aerdts, this level of dependence could leave the country exposed during geopolitical tensions or technical failures.

As a result, the government plans to accelerate the development of European digital ecosystems so that critical systems can operate independently or rely on a broader range of EU-based providers.

Officials also said citizens should be prepared to function independently for at least 72 hours during a major emergency. This scenario could include outages affecting internet access, mobile networks, emergency services, and card payments. The government has previously issued preparedness guidance, but the new measures expand planning for a potential large-scale digital crisis.