Netherlands Accessibility Legislation: Scope, Fines & Reporting

The Netherlands regulates digital accessibility through the Commodities Act Decree on Accessibility Requirements, which mandates digital accessibility for people with disabilities from 28 June 2025. The latest amendments to the decree were made on 3 May 2024.

The decree is overseen by the Consumer & Markets Authority (ACM). It targets various digital services and hardware, excluding private use and infeasible cases.

Scope of application

The regulation mandates that a range of digital content and services must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Specifically, this includes:

• Consumer computer hardware systems
• Self-service terminals: payment, automated teller, ticketing, check-in machines
• Interactive consumer terminal equipment for:
  • Audiovisual media access
  • E-readers
  • Electronic communications
• Audiovisual media access
• Transport services (websites, mobile apps, e-tickets, informational screens)
• Banking services
• E-books
• Dedicated software
• E-commerce

As an additional point of consideration, regulations also apply to emergency communications with the European emergency number “112”.

Exceptions

The regulation excludes several categories of content.

• Pre-recorded time-based media published before 28 June 2025
• Office file formats published before 28 June 2025
• Online maps and mapping services, provided that essential information remains accessible digitally — this also extends to navigational maps
• Third-party content that is not under the control of the economic operator
• Archived content that has not been updated or edited after the specified date

Fines and penalties

In the Netherlands, strict adherence to accessibility regulations is enforced to ensure equal access for all users. Non-compliance with these regulations may result in significant financial penalties for organisations that fail to meet the required standards.

Such infringements fall under the fifth category of criminal offence, and the fine can amount to as much as 103,000 euros.

Reporting

The Netherlands follows the EU-wide mandate for accessibility statements on private sector websites and digital services. These statements are essential for maintaining transparency and accountability.

The statement must be publicly available on the organisation’s website and must:

• Provide clear information on the accessibility status of the digital services — whether they meet the required standards, or an outline of existing accessibility issues.
• Detail the measures taken to improve accessibility, including any ongoing efforts or plans for remediation.
• Specify how users can report accessibility problems and request assistance.

Together these keep organisations accountable and transparent in their commitment to accessible digital experiences.

Complaints

Users who encounter accessibility barriers, or who wish to submit a complaint regarding non-compliance, may contact the competent authority — the Consumer & Markets Authority (ACM):

• Email: acm-post@acm.nl
• Website: consuwijzer.nl

Getting compliant with QualiBooth

Meeting the Dutch requirements takes two things: evidence that your products and services conform, and a published accessibility statement that holds up to scrutiny.

QualiBooth scans continuously against WCAG success criteria, so a barrier never sits long enough to turn into a penalty, and manual audits by people with disabilities cover what automation cannot. When it is time to publish, our accessibility statement generator produces a statement with the accessibility status, remediation plans and feedback route the decree requires.

For the latest and most accurate information on Dutch digital accessibility requirements, refer to the official documentation provided by the Netherlands government.