The Netherlands is currently in the research phase. Unlike some other members of the European Union, the Netherlands appears to be largely deferring to the European Central Bank’s work on its CBDC (referred to as the digital euro). De Nederlandsche Bank provides some information, but it is all predicated on the European Central Bank’s work.

Human Rights and Civil Liberties Concerns

The Netherlands does have significant concerns regarding the treatment of human rights and civil liberties, according to some reports. Furthermore, it must be said that the ability of the government to abuse a CBDC directly is debatable because the CBDC that would be used in the Netherlands would be provided by the European Central Bank—representing the European Union.

For additional information on concerns regarding violations of human rights and civil liberties, see the following reports by Amnesty International, Financial Tyranny Index, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Privacy International, and the U.S. Department of State. For additional information on concerns regarding the risks of CBDCs, see the following webpage and report by the Cato Institute: The Risks of CBDCs and Central Bank Digital Currency: Assessing the Risks and Dispelling the Myths.

For additional information regarding metrics, the methodology page explains each of the data points and provides their respective sources.