The Netherlands launched DAWO, a NixOS-based digital work environment for government, after U.S. sanctions on the ICC cut off access to Microsoft services. The initiative aims to reduce vendor dependency across Dutch government agencies by building a sovereign digital stack on reproducible, open-source infrastructure, with eight municipalities currently piloting the system.
The Netherlands is launching DAWO, a government initiative to migrate from Windows to Linux and other non-EU software, following similar moves by Denmark, France, and Switzerland. The shift was prompted by US sanctions on the ICC that disrupted Dutch government access to Microsoft services, highlighting the need for digital sovereignty. As European governments increasingly adopt Linux and open-source alternatives, the trend could create a momentum effect across the EU.
The Dutch government is developing DAWO, an alternative to Microsoft based on NixOS, aimed at strengthening digital autonomy through open, replaceable IT building blocks. The initiative brings together government, industry, and open source communities to improve collaboration, security, and verifiability of public sector technology.
DAWO is a Dutch government initiative that combines public values and technology to strengthen digital autonomy, improve collaboration, enhance security, and foster innovation through replaceable, inspectable IT building blocks rather than single products.