How does Statistics Netherlands handle your privacy?

Your personal data are safe with CBS. Individual persons are never identifiable or traceable in the statistics or publications. We also have measures in place to prevent the theft, loss or misuse of personal data. CBS will never supply identifiable data at personal level to third parties, including other government institutions.

CBS protects your data with technical measures. In addition, data are protected under the organisation’s internal regulations. The most important measures include:

• When you fill in a survey or submit data, the information is delivered to CBS in encrypted form. At CBS, the data is then stored in a secure environment. Only authorised employees are granted access to this data. They use the data to perform their work.
• Personal data are removed from the files as quickly as possible. This means researchers do not see any data such as names, addresses or citizen service numbers (BSN) in the files.
• Every CBS employee is required to observe the confidentiality obligation. Each employee signs a confidentiality agreement to this effect.
• CBS only uses the data for the purpose of statistical production and scientific research. Use of the data for any other purpose is excluded by law. CBS data are therefore never used for audits, tax inspections, legal matters or marketing and advertising.
• An independent body checks whether Statistics Netherlands complies with all privacy-related regulations and agreements.