The Dutch cabinet has decided to extend its contract with IT company Solvinity, the firm responsible for keeping DigiD operational, despite growing opposition in the House of Representatives over the company’s planned takeover by a US corporation, according to newspaper Het Parool.
State Secretary for the Interior Eric van der Burg confirmed that Logius, the government agency behind DigiD, will be allowed to extend its agreement with Solvinity by two years, until 2028. According to Van der Burg, the decision wasnecessary to safeguard the stability of the Dutch government’s digital services. ‘Therefore, I took the decision thatLogius may extend the contract with Solvinity by two years. The signing of this extension will take place in early May2026,’ Van der Burg said.
Concerns over takeover
The extension comes at a politically sensitive moment, as the US technology company Kyndryl is in advanced talks to acquire Solvinity. MPs, privacy experts and civil society groups have warned that Dutch citizens’ sensitive data couldbecome accessible to US authorities if the takeover proceeds.
Het Parool reports that critics fear foreign ownership could jeopardise the continuity and independence of the Netherlands’ digital infrastructure. Earlier this week, the House of Representatives backed a motion by PRO MP Barbara Kathmann urging the cabinet ‘not to renew the DigiD contract with Solvinity in 2028 if the takeover by anAmerican company goes ahead’. The motion received support from all parties except JA21. The InvestmentAssessment Office (BTI), operating under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, is still examining whether the acquisition could pose risks to national security.
Privacy warnings and legal challenge
Concerns have also surfaced within Logius itself. Earlier this month, De Volkskrant revealed that Logius’ chief privacyofficer warned that US authorities could ‘switch off DigiD for an extended period and issue secret information requests’ if the takeover moves forward.
The controversy also led to summary proceedings initiated by three anonymous Dutch citizens seeking to block or delay the contract extension. The plaintiffs argued their privacy rights could be undermined if DigiD and MijnOverheid remainhosted by Solvinity under American ownership. The judge rejected the claims on 13 May, though the detailed reasoningbehind the ruling will be only published two weeks later.
Parliament and citizens push back
Opposition to the extension has intensified in recent weeks, with critics arguing the cabinet waited too long to seek alternatives to Solvinity. Some opponents believe the delay effectively left the government with no practical option but toextend the existing agreement.
The three citizens behind the summary proceedings also argued that parliament had limited opportunity to respond because the House of Representatives was already in recess when Van der Burg announced he would move forward with signing the extension.
DigiD considered essential
The plaintiffs had requested a one-month delay to give parliament more time to explore the possibility of a Dutch buyerfor Solvinity. However, Van der Burg insisted postponement was not feasible, writing that ‘the continuity and security ofLogius’ services will be jeopardised’ without an extension.
DigiD and MijnOverheid are regarded as a crucial part of the Netherlands’ digital infrastructure. The MijnOverheid website and app allow citizens to access government services and communicate securely with public institutions online, including the Tax Office, municipalities, the car registration service, healthcare providers, insurance companies and many others. DigiD is the service that enables a safe login procedure to access MijnOverheid and many other government-related services.
Although the contract extension has now been approved, the acquisition itself has not yet been finalised. Thegovernment could still block the takeover if the ongoing BTI investigation concludes that it threatens national security or public interests.
Written by Nicole Bea Kerr