ID documents become mandatory in the Netherlands

Under a new law that came into effect on 1 January 2005, all Dutch citizens and residents aged 14 and above must now carry a valid ID document at all times.

Valid forms of ID are a passport, a driving license, a Dutch or European ID card, or a residence permit. In practical terms, the new law will force many Dutch citizens to carry an ID card. Indeed, about 330,000 young people aged 14 to 18 do not have a passport or a driver’s licence, while many citizens who only have a passport do not feel it’s safe or convenient to carry it with them at all times.

»Young people, unlike adults, are much more likely not to have a passport or driving licence. So, they need to get themselves a new document for this purpose. And it’s been shown that there is a quite a large number of young people behind a lot of the trouble that occurs, particularly so in the larger towns and cities. And we want that to change», said Interior Minister Johan Remkes. The Dutch Government secured parliamentary backing last year for the new ID law amid concerns about crime and public disorder that have dominated the country’s political debates in the last few years.

According to press reports, over 225,000 applications for national identity cards have been filed in the last two months in the Netherlands. Many people waited until the last minute to apply for a card, and ID card supplier Sdu Identification struggled to ensure every applicant would receive its card within five days. Meanwhile, dozens of people have already been fined since 1 January for failing to produce valid identification document when asked to by the police.

Meanwhile, the Government is still working on the introduction of biometric e-passports and e-ID cards, as well as on the introduction of a unique administrative identification number for citizens based on the current social security number. Both documents will feature a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip storing biometric data. In the case of the ID card, the chip will also offer the possibility of storing digital certificates, which will enable holders to securely access transactional e-government services.

A six-month pilot test of the future biometric passport and ID card was launched in August 2004 by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom relations. The test, during which at least 15,000 volunteers are to be issued with an e-passport or e-ID card, is meant to refine the process of collecting citizens’ fingerprints and facial pictures and of issuing the electronic documents. It is also aimed at informing a decision on the choice of biometric identifiers and technologies, due to be taken during 2005. According to current Government plans, the e-ID card should replace the current ID card by 2007.

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Source : eGovernment News - 05 January 2005