The Netherlands is implementing and testing an open-source solution intended to replace Windows and Microsoft 365 on computers used by the government sector. This project, named Autonomous Government Digital Workplace (DAWO), uses the NixOS distribution as its foundation and integrates various functionalities, including collaboration tools, cloud services, device management, and office suites.
According to reports from Dutch media, initial tests are taking place on a small scale within public entities. Currently, eight municipalities are involved in a coordinated evaluation by the Dutch Municipalities Association (VNG), although there is no defined timeline yet for the definitive replacement of Windows or Microsoft 365.
The development of this project was formally initiated by the Dutch government in July, with the goal of establishing a standardized workplace environment. This standard aims to give the public sector greater control over systems, software, storage, backup processes, and the tools used by IT teams.
The choice of NixOS as the base is strategic, as one of its main features is the ability to standardize software configurations, which facilitates the implementation of the same environment across multiple computers. However, the proposal goes beyond a simple migration from Linux to replace Windows; it encompasses a broader set of operational services, such as administration tools and collaboration applications.
The project also strives to simplify the transition for professionals accustomed to using Windows machines. During the tests, the new platform has already demonstrated functionality on older notebooks that had been decommissioned.
This initiative is intrinsically linked to the European debate on digital sovereignty, which seeks to reduce dependence on international suppliers. In the Netherlands, this concern intensified after sanctions imposed by the United States on members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), located in The Hague, a city approximately 56 km from Amsterdam.
This incident served as a warning about the inherent risks of essential services being subject to the decisions of other governmental administrations. It is relevant to note that the ICC itself has already decided to replace Microsoft tools with open-source alternatives in part of its infrastructure.
However, this movement is more widespread in Europe, and the Netherlands is not the only one adopting this trend. Denmark has announced the replacement of Windows and Microsoft 365 with Linux and LibreOffice in part of its administration, while France is advancing the incorporation of Linux into public equipment.
Additionally, Switzerland began, at the beginning of the month, a pilot program involving three thousand employees to evaluate an open alternative to Microsoft 365. Recently, the open-source application suite Euro-Office also launched a desktop application.
Those responsible for the project have not yet released a formal implementation schedule. Developers expect the first stable version of DAWO to be achieved sometime in 2027, without a specific monthly commitment. Until then, tests must determine whether the environment meets the demands of public agencies and what compatibility and training barriers need to be overcome. Wider adoption will also depend on the ability of government applications to operate outside the Windows ecosystem and the availability of substitutes for Microsoft's integrated services.