Dutch Micro-data Services and Access Conditions

Statistics Netherlands (CBS abbreviated in Dutch) is the national institute that publishes reliable and coherent official statistics in the Netherlands. CBS also serves the European community and provides statistical info on the Netherlands. 

In the last decade Statistics Netherlands has opened its extensive databases to the research community and policy institutions, under certain confidentiality agreements and conditions. Dutch researchers have shown a significant interest in using this huge number of datasets on a range of subject areas. In the last 10 years the number of active users of the micro-data services increased from about 10 to more than 600 researchers from all over Europe. Also, with the help of the Data without Boundaries project[1] the outreach to international community increased significantly. In the UK there are only a handful participating universities who have secure access to Dutch micro-data: Oxford University, University of Edinburg, University of Bath, University of Essex and University of Exeter. 

Authorised institutions can conduct their own research using microdata from Statistics Netherlands (hereafter CBS). This microdata are linkable at the level of individuals, companies and addresses, and are made available to researchers under strict confidentiality conditions. To obtain access for research purposes, an application form should be filled in and submitted. As a rule, the complete results of the research conducted with microdata must be made directly available to interested parties at no charge. 

In general, the following organisations may be granted access to CBS microdata: 

  • Dutch universities 
  • Institutes for scientific research 
  • Organisations for policy advice or policy analysis 
  • Statistical authorities in other EU countries 
  • Other research institutions authorised to work with the microdata 

If an organisation does not have authorisation to work with the microdata, an application can be made using the following link: Application form for organisations. The following conditions must be met to be granted access: 

  • The primary mission of the institution is to conduct statistical or scientific research. 
  • The researcher will publish the results of their research. 

There are two options for accessing the microdata: 

  • By visiting the office ‘on site’ in either The Hague or Heerlen. 
  • By working from within your own organisation through a secured internet connection (remote access). 

The Microdata Services Department (MSD) of the CBS provides extensive support to researchers who are interested in using microdata. This support may involve email correspondence or face-to-face meetings. MSD also offers to prepare customised datasets and algorithms to link various datasets, subject to certain fees based on hours of work. It is also possible to commission brand new research or expand on an existing survey. Researchers can select the datasets from a wide range of subject areas in line with their own interest and will only be given access to the data that is needed for their research. It is also possible to upload one’s own datasets and link these with CBS microdata. The CBS will provide a secure online working environment in which the researcher can store draft versions, syntaxes, and output. All the microdata will remain in this secure CBS environment. If the researcher wishes to export (draft) results from the secure environment, the export will be carried out by CBS after verification that the results do not obtain any data that permits the identification of individuals. More details can be found in output guidelines. 

The main subject areas included in the Microdata catalogue are as follows: 

  • Labour and social security 
  • Enterprises 
  • Financial and business services 
  • Population 
  • Income and expenditure 
  • International trade 
  • Manufacturing industry and energy 
  • Macroeconomics 
  • Construction and dwellings 
  • Health and welfare 
  • Trade, hotels and restaurants 
  • Agriculture 
  • Nature and environment 
  • The Netherlands, regional data 
  • Education 
  • Government and politics 
  • Prices 
  • System of Social Statistical Datasets 
  • Security and justice 
  • Traffic and transport 
  • Leisure and culture 

[1] Data without Boundaries is a large consortium, with 29 partners belonging to the European Statistical System (10 national statistical institutes), to the CESSDA (11 data archives) and to the research community (7 universities and an enterprise involved in methodological research). Accessed on Nov 7, 2016 at http://www.dwbproject.org.