Dutch government agencies to pilot homegrown AI model GPT-NL

Four government agencies and TNO are set to trial GPT-NL, a Dutch AI model developed by SURF, the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), and TNO. Both the NFI and TNO plan to use the system as well. Designed as an open and secure AI based on European and Dutch values, GPT-NL aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology, according to a TNO spokesperson.

GPT-NL’s development started in 2023, backed by a 13.5 million euro investment from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The model is now being tested in practice to see what it can deliver. It will not be available to private users; only organizations will potentially have access.

In July, Dutch media outlets, including ANP, said they would provide a large archive of past news articles to help train GPT-NL. Should the model be commercialized, the media organizations would be compensated.

GPT‑NL is being presented as a language model that not only excels in language tasks but also fully adheres to European and Dutch privacy and data regulations. TNO says it could be the first major language model to demonstrably comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) is actively backing the GPT‑NL project and is involved in governance frameworks designed to ensure data quality and usability.

Significant portions of GPT‑NL’s source code will eventually be released as open source, with public datasets provided under open licenses. Copyrighted material will be shared through metadata, while the model’s weights will remain accessible under a controlled license.

GPT-NL forms part of a national strategy for generative AI, through which the Netherlands seeks to innovate in line with European principles such as transparency, fairness, and responsible deployment. The initiative fits within the government’s wider AI agenda.