A sustainable, accessible web for all: The Web Guidelines quality model

Government bodies and companies are facing the challenge of creating websites that are optimally accessible to people as well as browsers and search engines. The Web Guidelines aid in that process.

There are internationally recognized agreements for creating web sites, known as 125 quality requirements standards warrants a significantly better website. The Netherlands government has assembled these international standards in a quality model called the Web Guidelines. This quality model comprises 125 quality requirements for the benefit of better websites.

What can I find on this site?

  • Benefits
    Why a quality model for websites? The benefits of using Web Guidelines are listed here.
  • Guidelines
    Survey of all 125 Web Guidelines.
  • Manual
    Directions for for the application of the Web Guidelines.
  • Background
    The Web Guidelines are based on a number of requirements that can offer a more in-depth insight into the information that is in the manual.
  • Tests
    You can test your site against a number of the Web Guidelines.
    Also available is a survey of how government organisations (information in Dutch) subject to the ministerial decision on the quality of government websites.
  • Questions
    For questions and advice on the Web Guidelines, you can consult the frequently asked questions or contact us.

The information on this site is suitable for government bodies and companies. This site supports the Dutch government in compliance with the administrative arrangements concerning the Web Guidelines.
This site is maintained by Overheid heeft Antwoord©.

Agreements on accessibility

Agreements on the accessibility of government websites are:

  1. Ministerial decision on the quality of government websites
  2. Declaration of municipalities, provinces and water boards. (Dutch only)


Web Guidelines version 1.3, November 2007.