Dutch Government Releases List of Public Registers with Personal Data of Citizens

The Dutch outgoing government has released a list of public registers that contain personal information of Dutch citizens. These registers include entities such as the Land Registry and the Judiciary. State Secretary Van Huffelen oversees approximately 65 public registers.

In a letter to the House of Representatives, outgoing State Secretary for Digitalization Alexandra van Huffelen revealed that she has made the register available online. This action was prompted by questions from the House following discussions on the Open Data Directive Implementation Act earlier this month. The House wanted to know which public registers hold personal data of Dutch citizens that can be accessed by anyone or a large group with minimal restrictions.

According to the overview provided by van Huffelen, there are about 65 registers distributed among various ministries. Notably, the Ministries of General Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Education, and Finance do not maintain such registers. Some well-known registers mentioned include the Land Registry and the list of judicial decisions, while lesser-known ones include the register of diving doctors and the Register of Foreign Childcare.

The overview not only indicates which ministry oversees each register but also outlines the legal basis for their existence, as dictated by laws like the Medicines Act which mandates the Register of established pharmacists. Van Huffelen notes that there are 'at least' 65 public registers containing personal data that are accessible to the public for consultation.