# Europe’s Push for Digital Sovereignty: The Netherlands Drops Microsoft 365 Plan
The Netherlands has officially pulled the plug on its plan to move a government agency to Microsoft 365 in the public cloud. The decision signals a broader shift across Europe toward open-source software and greater control over digital infrastructure.
## A Growing Trend Across the Continent
The move isn’t surprising when you look at the bigger picture. A recent report on open-source adoption in Europe found that 94% of organizations in the European Union consider digital sovereignty a priority. For 61% of them, it’s a top concern. The message from European governments is clear: they want technology that keeps data on home soil and under local control.
The Netherlands is far from the only country making this pivot. Switzerland’s military has announced a move to Linux and an open-source office suite. Germany has developed its own open-source office solution called openDesk. Austria, France, Germany, and Ireland have all made similar transitions. The trend is well established and spreading.
## Why the Plan Was Stopped
The original plan was to transition roughly 5,000 employees to Microsoft 365 by the end of 2026. But an independent advisory council on technology assessments raised serious concerns about the proposal. They pointed to several specific issues that ultimately derailed the plan.
**Security and data control** were at the top of the list. Sending sensitive government documents through servers located outside the country raised red flags. The proposed setup also relied on standard Microsoft encryption rather than a stronger double-key encryption option that would have given administrators more control over their own data.
**Communication tools** were another sticking point. Under the proposed Microsoft 365 configuration, end-to-end encryption would not have been turned on by default for one-on-one video calls, and it would have been entirely unavailable for group calls. For a government agency handling confidential information, this was unacceptable.
**Long-term dependency** was the final nail in the coffin. The assessment highlighted concerns about vendor lock-in, limited flexibility, and the lack of a clear plan to exit the Microsoft ecosystem if the country ever decided to move away.
## What Comes Next
The government’s replacement strategy will happen in phases. In 2027, the email and calendar system will be moved to an on-premises setup — meaning the servers will run inside government facilities rather than in the cloud. Later in 2027 and into 2028, the focus will shift to open-source solutions for personal file storage and team collaboration.
Interestingly, Microsoft Office software like Outlook will still be used for the initial on-premises email system. The open-source transition is starting with storage and collaboration tools, not with a full swap of every Microsoft application at once.
Several open-source options are being explored for the longer term. Some government agencies have already begun building a system called DAWO — a digital autonomous work environment that replaces the standard Windows desktop with a Dutch Linux distribution. Meanwhile, other possibilities include France’s La Suite, Germany’s openDesk, or a custom self-hosted combination of open-source tools that handle email, document editing, messaging, and project management.
The details of what the final setup will look like have not yet been decided, but one thing is certain: the Netherlands is committed to a path built on open technology and greater digital independence.
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## Frequently Asked Questions
**What is digital sovereignty?**
Digital sovereignty refers to a country’s or organization’s ability to control its own data, technology infrastructure, and digital operations without depending on foreign companies or foreign servers. For European governments, it means keeping sensitive information within national borders and using technology they can fully manage and modify.
**Why are European countries moving away from Microsoft and other US tech companies?**
Concerns about data privacy, government surveillance laws in the United States, vendor lock-in, and the desire to support local and open-source technology communities are all driving this shift. Many European governments feel that relying on major US technology providers creates risks to national security and independence.
**What is open-source software?**
Open-source software is software whose source code is publicly available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. This transparency allows governments and organizations to verify what the software is doing, customize it to their needs, and avoid being locked into a single vendor’s ecosystem.
**Will the Netherlands completely replace all Microsoft software?**
Not immediately. The current plan keeps some Microsoft products in use for the time being, particularly for email and calendar functions during the initial on-premises transition. The full move to open-source solutions for storage and collaboration is expected to unfold over the next couple of years.
**Is this just about the Netherlands, or is it happening elsewhere in Europe?**
This is part of a wider European movement. Countries including Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland have all taken steps toward adopting Linux and open-source software for government use. The Netherlands is simply one of the most recent and prominent examples.
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## Conclusion
The Netherlands’ decision to abandon its Microsoft 365 public cloud plan reflects a powerful and growing demand for digital autonomy across Europe. With the vast majority of EU organizations now viewing digital sovereignty as a critical priority, it is clear that governments are ready to invest in open-source alternatives that give them greater control over their data and infrastructure. While the specific tools and platforms the Netherlands will ultimately adopt remain to be seen, the direction of travel is unmistakable — Europe is moving toward a future built on open technology and self-reliance.
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