The Hague draws a line on U.S. tech, but dependence remains deep

The Dutch decision to block the acquisition of IT provider Solvinity by the U.S.-based Kyndryl marks a new phase in The Hague’s thinking on digital sovereignty. For the first time, the government intervened so explicitly to prevent American ownership of infrastructure underpinning core state services such as DigiD and MijnOverheid — systems used by millions of citizens. The move is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader shift: the Netherlands is actively trying to reduce its dependence on American IT and tech. But at the same time, that dependence remains deeply embedded — and in some areas is even growing.