Is the Netherlands switching from Windows to Linux?
The Netherlands has started a pilot to reduce its reliance on Microsoft. The DAWO programme (Digital Autonomous Work Environment for Government) covers desktops, office software and cloud, and press coverage describes a pilot built on NixOS. It is early: Dutch government bodies still depend heavily on US providers.
- Announced
- Pilot
- Rolling out
- Widely deployed
Scope: Central government pilot. Updated Oct 6, 2026.
What operating system does Dutch government use?
- NixOS-based desktop
Reported base of the DAWO pilot.
The Netherlands’s Linux timeline
- Jan 2026
NOS reports that 67% of Dutch government domain names are linked to a US cloud provider, with Microsoft hosting almost half.
- Apr 2026
A first pilot of the sovereign work environment begins.
- 2026
The government announces plans to invest more in sovereign software, motivated in part by US sanctions that left the International Criminal Court in The Hague unable to use Microsoft Office.
What is still unclear
This is a general picture, not a measurement.
- The NixOS detail comes from press reports on the pilot; plans may change.
- There is no announced date for a government-wide rollout.
Could the Netherlands switch to Linux in the future?
What to watch next:
- Pilot results and the timeline for expanding it
- Parliamentary votes on open-source requirements
Sources
The Netherlands: common questions
Is the Netherlands switching to Linux?
It is piloting a sovereign work environment (DAWO) that is reported to use a NixOS-based system. A government-wide move has not been announced.
Why is the Netherlands moving away from Microsoft?
Reasons given include digital sovereignty and the case of the International Criminal Court, which lost access to Microsoft Office after US sanctions.
Other countries
Want to try it yourself? Read how to switch from Windows to Linux.