Open Government, Netherlands API

Free to Use Varies (check documentation)

Overview

The Open Government Netherlands API (data.overheid.nl) provides free access to Dutch government datasets through a SPARQL and REST interface, covering topics like legislation, geography, public finance, and environmental data. No authentication is required for read access, so you can start querying immediately. It is one of the most technically advanced open government portals in Europe, supporting linked data formats alongside JSON.

💡

Beginner Tip

For straightforward JSON access, use the CKAN API at https://data.overheid.nl/data/api/3/action/package_search to search datasets. If you want to explore linked government data, the SPARQL endpoint at https://data.overheid.nl/sparql is also available.

Available Data

Response fields: overheid nl
Open Government, Netherlands data via REST API
JSON-formatted response data
Freely accessible without authentication

Example Response

JSON Response
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "result": "Data from Open Government, Netherlands",
    "description": "Netherlands Government Open Data",
    "timestamp": "2025-01-15T10:00:00Z"
  }
}

Field Reference

success Whether the CKAN API request was processed without errors
result.count Total number of Dutch government datasets matching the query
result.results[].title Dataset title, typically in Dutch
result.results[].organization Dutch government body responsible for the dataset
result.results[].resources Available data files and API endpoints for the dataset
result.results[].license_title Open license name under which the dataset is published

Implementation Example

// ⚠️ Note: This URL may be a documentation page. Check official docs for actual API endpoint.
const url = "https://data.overheid.nl/en/ondersteuning/data-publiceren/api";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Response is in Dutch only Metadata fields like title and description are provided in Dutch by default
Accept Dutch-language responses and use a translation API if needed, or filter by dataset tags in English where available
400 Bad Request on SPARQL endpoint The SPARQL query has a syntax error or references a non-existent graph URI
Validate your SPARQL query using an online validator before sending, and start with a simple SELECT * WHERE {} LIMIT 10 to confirm connectivity
result.count is lower than expected Some datasets are restricted to registered government publishers and not publicly listed
Use filters like fq=res_format:JSON to narrow your search to publicly available datasets in a specific format

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 0/30
⚡ Speed 5/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 15/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 1488ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Government
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

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