Independent count · measured again every Monday
Understand the accessibility law.
See where the Netherlands stands.
Since 28 June 2025 the European Accessibility Act has applied to web shops, banks and many other services. The official explanation is scattered and legalistic. Here you find it all together: plain-language explanation, a weekly count across seven sectors, answers from regulators and help to fix it. Free, independent and without a sales pitch.
Right now — of the Dutch web shops checked publish an accessibility statement. Next measurement: Monday morning.
Rather ask something first? Ask your question anonymously.
Seven sectors, one question: is the statement there?
Every Monday morning we automatically check whether organisations have an accessibility statement in their footer: web shops, financial institutions, telecom providers, passenger carriers, media services, e-book platforms and travel companies. Each sector has its own dashboard and its own regulator. The figures are never more than a week old.
—
have no statement yet. We count — web shops, every Monday.
Open the web shop monitor → Financial · supervision: AFM—
of banks, insurers and payment services have no statement yet. We count — institutions, every Monday.
Open the financial monitor → Telecom · supervision: ACM—
have no statement yet. We count — telecom providers, every Monday.
Open the telecom monitor → Passenger transport · supervision: ILT—
have no statement yet. We count — carriers, every Monday.
Open the transport monitor → Media & streaming · supervision: CvdM—
have no statement yet. We count — media services, every Monday.
Open the media monitor → E-books · supervision: ACM—
have no statement yet. We count — e-book platforms, every Monday.
Open the e-books monitor → Travel · supervision: ACM—
of tour operators and online travel agencies have no statement yet. We count — travel companies, every Monday.
Open the travel monitor →~94%
of the 100 largest web shops have accessibility shortcomings. The ACM established this in March 2026. Our count shows every week whether that changes.
Read about supervision and fines →Is your web shop wrongly listed, for example because you fall outside the EAA? Object to being listed.
Loading... (web shop measurement; each sector has its own measurement date on its monitor page)
A statement being present doesn't mean a site is actually accessible. It's a first sign of awareness, nothing more. Read how we measure.
Understand the EAA, without panic or jargon
Who the law applies to, who supervises, the fines, and what really works. The knowledge base is currently in Dutch.
Does my website fall under the EAA?
Far from every site is covered. Check it with a few questions.
Read more → Supervision & enforcementWho supervises, and what are the fines?
The ACM is the main player. Fines up to € 900,000 or 1% of turnover, plus a notification duty.
Read more → Supervision & enforcementThe EAA and the financial sector
What the AFM does, and what banks, insurers and payment services must arrange.
Read more → In practiceHow to write an accessibility statement
What belongs in it, where you publish it, and what it is not.
Read more → Myths & misconceptionsWhy overlays don't solve your problem
One line of code doesn't make your site accessible. So what does?
Read more → In practiceWhat subsidies are there?
No national fund, but a number of municipalities. Which ones, and for what.
Read more →Rather go to the source? The source overview lists regulators, legislation, lawyers and trade media, searchable by type.
The EAA is about more than your website
Self-service terminals, payment machines, e-readers, e-books and electronic communication are covered by the law too. Look at every digital channel where a customer does something with you, not just the homepage.
From obligation to accessible site
Accessibility is a process, not a button you switch on. In three steps you know where you stand and what needs doing.
-
1
Find out if the law applies
Not every site falls under the EAA. A few questions tell you whether you need to act, and whether the micro-exemption applies to you.
Do the scope check → -
2
Have it tested
An independent audit maps what doesn't work for people with a disability. An overlay or automated tool finds only part of it.
Why overlays fall short → -
3
Fix it and keep it up
Repair the problems in your code and content, publish an honest statement and test again. That keeps your site accessible.
Write your statement →
Asking questions and finding help
Ask us your question, without alarming the regulator
Many entrepreneurs have questions but hesitate to come forward. Ask your question here anonymously. We put it to the right regulator on your behalf and publish the answer, without your name.
Ready to fix it?
The knowledge base explains in plain language what the law requires, how to write an accessibility statement and why quick fixes don't work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the European Accessibility Act?
The European Accessibility Act requires commercial organisations that offer products or services to consumers to make their digital channels accessible. In the Netherlands the law has been in force since 28 June 2025. One of the requirements is publishing an accessibility statement on the website, describing how accessible the service is and what steps the organisation is taking.
Does the EAA apply to my web shop too?
Not every site is covered. The law targets businesses that sell products or services to consumers online. Micro-enterprises offering services, with fewer than ten employees and less than two million euros in turnover, are exempt. In doubt? A few questions usually make it clear.
What are the fines if I do nothing?
The ACM supervises web shops and can impose fines up to € 900,000 or 1% of annual turnover. For the financial sector the AFM is the regulator. A notification duty has also applied since October 2025. No enforcement cases are known yet in the Netherlands, but the first procedures are already under way in France and Germany, among others.
Is an accessibility statement enough?
No. A statement describes how accessible your site is, but does not make it accessible. The law requires that your site actually works for people with a disability. The statement is the finishing touch of the work, not the solution. An honest statement also names what does not work yet and when you will fix it.
Do accessibility overlays work?
A single line of code that adds a button or widget does not solve the underlying problems. Overlays often even introduce new barriers and are usually switched off by experienced assistive-technology users. Real accessibility comes from fixing problems in the source code and content, not from adding a layer on top.
How does the EAA Monitor measure this?
Every Monday the monitor automatically checks the footer of Dutch web shops, financial institutions, telecom providers, carriers, media services, e-book platforms and travel companies for a link to an accessibility statement. We look for keywords such as toegankelijkheid and accessibility in link text and URL. Note: a link does not mean the site is actually accessible. It is a first indication of awareness and compliance.
Not seeing your question? Ask it anonymously and we'll look into it.