In January 2015, a new Libraries Act was implemented (Wet stelsel openbare bibliotheekvoorzieningen – in Dutch). This new act defined the five core functions of public libraries as: to promote reading and a taste for literature; facilitate learning; make knowledge and information available; promote art and culture; and organise social encounters and debate. The act also addresses the digitisation of the sector, which started in the late 1990s. To streamline and co-ordinate this process, the Dutch public libraries set up the foundation Bibliotheek.nl (2009). They built a digital infrastructure to create one Dutch national digital library by connecting all (digital systems of the) Dutch public libraries. This digitisation project is coordinated by the Royal Library of the Netherlands.
The evaluation of the law in 2020 showed that the physical library network had declined. There are municipalities and neighbourhoods without a public library, and too many situations where a library is present but insufficiently equipped (building, staff, collection, opening hours, activities). The Rutte IV Cabinet (2022–2024) therefore decided to include a duty of care in the law. From 2026 onwards, municipalities and provinces must ensure there are sufficient, fully functioning libraries. Funding for this duty of care will be provided through the Municipal Fund. In 2023 and 2024, the Cabinet allocated additional funds for municipalities without a public library. The special municipalities that make up the Caribbean Netherlands also received extra funding for their libraries. There is broad political consensus on these measures. At the time of writing this Compendium Profile, the law is in the consultation phase.
In the Netherlands, there is a voluntary deposit: the Depot of Dutch Publications. In consultation with the Dutch Media Federation, it has been agreed that all publishers submit one copy of each publication issued in the Netherlands to one of the depot libraries: the Royal Library of the Netherlands or the libraries of the Technical University Delft and Wageningen University for works related to exact sciences and agriculture respectively. In the Dutch Bibliography Online (in Dutch), there is a record of every submitted publication, including first issues of magazines.
Naturally, copy right and lending rights are relevant for the book sector (see chapter 6.1.6. copy right provisions).
The government implemented the Act on Fixed Book Prices (Wet op de Vaste Boekenprijs) in 2005. The act aims at maintaining a broad and diverse range of books and an extensive, geographically well-distributed network of bookshops. It does so by preventing price competition by regulating the pricing of Dutch and Frisian book- and music publications, with the exception of electronic publications and audio-books. Bookstores must apply a publisher-determined price for new releases for at least one year. The stable sales price allows publishers to invest in a diverse range of books. In addition, the law ensures that smaller regional bookstores do not have to compete on price with larger physical or online retailers.
The Dutch Media Authority supervises compliance with the act. The act is evaluated for the fourth time over the period 2019-2023). The evaluation concludes that the aims of the act have been achieved. The Minister has decided to continue the Act.
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