Digital ID in the Netherlands: DigiD and the NL Wallet

In the Netherlands you identify yourself online with DigiD, a government-run login that most residents use through the DigiD app on their phone. For businesses the equivalent is eHerkenning, and the planned public NL Wallet is meant to become the Dutch version of the EU Digital Identity Wallet. This page explains how these fit together as of October 2026.

At a glance

Item	Status
National eID or ID card with eID function	No card-based online login in everyday use; the chip of the ID card or driving licence is read by the DigiD app during the ID check
Mobile or app solution	DigiD app (login, optional ID check)
Bank-based ID	iDIN, offered by Dutch banks, mainly for private-sector services
eIDAS notification and level	DigiD notified at substantial and high; eHerkenning (business) notified at substantial and high
EUDI wallet, October 2026	NL Wallet in development, launch tied to national legislation
Responsible body	Logius (DigiD), Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (NL Wallet)

The national system

DigiD is the central login for Dutch public services: tax authority, municipalities, pension and benefit agencies, health portals and many others. It is operated by Logius, the government’s digital services organisation. The Dutch approach differs from the smart-card model used in countries such as Belgium or Germany: the identity card exists, but the everyday login is the DigiD app, not a card reader.

Under the Digital Government Act the Netherlands works with the three eIDAS trust levels, which we explain in levels of assurance. The practical effect is that a plain app login is treated as a lower level, while an app that has been linked to a verified identity document reaches the substantial level. DigiD is notified at substantial and high with the European Commission, which is what allows other member states to accept it.

How to get it and use it

You apply for DigiD on the official website; the account is linked to your registration in the Dutch population records, which is also why people without that registration often cannot simply create one. After activation you can install the DigiD app and use it to approve logins on your phone or on another device.

For services that handle sensitive personal data, the app can be upgraded with an ID check: the app reads the chip of your passport, identity card or driving licence over NFC. This needs an NFC-capable phone, and the identity document stays the source of trust. Banks offer iDIN, which reuses your online banking login to identify you to private companies; it is mainly relevant for sign-ups with retailers, insurers or similar services rather than for government portals.

The EU wallet in the Netherlands (October 2026)

The government’s public NL Wallet is intended to be the Dutch EU Digital Identity Wallet. According to the official digital government pages it is under development, will be free of charge and voluntary, and is meant to hold data from Dutch registers, credentials such as diplomas or permits, and to support selective sharing and digital signatures. The same pages say the launch follows adoption of the necessary national implementing legislation. Earlier project descriptions mention activating the wallet with DigiD and an identity document; treat that as the plan rather than a finished process.

Under EU rules every member state has to offer at least one certified wallet by the end of 2026. Independent trackers in September 2026 listed no country with a fully launched production wallet, and the Netherlands among those with developer materials but no public sandbox. Our overview of the EU Digital Identity Wallet explains what the wallet will and will not replace.

Use abroad and by foreigners

DigiD is notified, so in principle a Dutch resident can use it on services in other member states that are connected to the eIDAS network, and people with eIDs from other countries can sign in to Dutch services that have connected to the same network. In practice coverage varies by service, which is why cross-border eID deserves a closer look before you rely on it. Foreign residents who are registered in the Netherlands can usually apply for DigiD like anyone else.

Which method should you choose?

Which method fits depends on what you need to do. For everyday dealings with the tax authority, your municipality or health portals, the DigiD app is the simplest option, and adding the ID check is sensible if you regularly open sensitive records. If you only need to prove your identity to a private company such as an insurer, a bank-based service like iDIN can save you a separate registration. Business owners should look at eHerkenning rather than using a personal login for company matters. Keep your DigiD recovery options up to date, because losing access to the phone and the registered contact details at the same time is the most common cause of lockouts. Finally, do not wait for the NL Wallet to start: it is voluntary, it will be added to the existing options rather than replace them, and nothing about it is final until the legislation is adopted.

Privacy and security

DigiD is a centrally operated service, so each login is visible to the operator in some form; the planned wallet is designed to reduce that by keeping credentials on your device and sharing only the attributes a service asks for. Practical advice: use the app instead of SMS codes, add the ID check where offered, protect the phone with a screen lock, and never approve a login you did not start. Phishing pages imitating DigiD are a known risk, so only enter data on the official domain.

Official sources: the Dutch government page on the ID wallet and DigiD.