Nearly 14.4 million residents aged 14 and older in the Netherlands used DigiD to access online public and health services in 2024.
New data published by the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek shows that 38 percent of users now log in using the DigiD app combined with a one-time identity verification check.
This verification step involves scanning a passport, identity card, or driver’s license to confirm that the person logging in is truly the document holder.
Shifting away from basic passwords
Another 17 percent of users utilize the DigiD app without completing the additional document check, while just over 30 percent still log in using a username, password, and SMS code.
Basic logins using only a username and password have almost entirely disappeared, representing just 1 percent of overall usage as government portals phase out lower security options.
About 14 percent of users do not rely on a single preferred method, choosing instead to switch between different login options depending on the service.
Demographic differences across age groups
The adoption of advanced app security varies significantly by age and household structure.
Among residents aged 65 to 80, slightly over 27 percent use the app with the identity check, and that figure drops to 13 percent for those over 80.
By contrast, between 38 percent and 47 percent of users under age 65 rely on the identity check option.
Families with children living at home are also more likely to use the app with document verification, reaching over 45 percent among couples with children.
Usage patterns in Amsterdam
For Amsterdam residents, DigiD remains essential for managing municipal affairs with the Gemeente Amsterdam, including applying for parking permits, arranging waste passes, and checking local taxes.
It is also required when logging into national platforms, healthcare providers, and housing services.
The statistical agency noted that roughly 1.1 million people in the Netherlands either do not have a DigiD account or did not use one throughout the year.
