The Dutch government quietly builds its own Git Hub alternative to escape Big Tech control and reshape how public code is managed | Tech Radar
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'That is why it is important to have full control': Dutch government launches its own self-hosted Git Hub alternative in the latest blast against US tech giants such as Microsoft
Pilot phase for code.overheid.nl limits access to a small group of institutions
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Dutch platform aims to reduce reliance on foreign-controlled repositories
Source code integrity is treated as a critical national infrastructure requirement
Forgejo selected for full access to modify and distribute code
The Dutch government has launched its own self-hosted Git platform called code.overheid.nl, aiming to reduce reliance on US tech giants like Microsoft.
The platform, built on Forgejo, is intended to become a full-fledged alternative to Git Hub and Git Lab for hosting government open-source software.
Authorities have described source code repositories as essential infrastructure, where integrity must be verifiable at all stages.
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“Hosting source code is a critical component of the Dutch government’s infrastructure. The government cannot afford the risk of code or binaries in repositories being tampered with, as people could execute them directly,” the government explained.
“The government must be certain that these binaries were created with integrity. That is why it is important to have full control over a Git forge.”
Forgejo was selected because it offers the ability to study, modify, and distribute all of its source code, which aligns with the government’s goals.
This empowers developers to engage in vibe coding, a relaxed, collaborative style of programming that thrives on open tools and community input.
Developers can do so directly on government hardware, like optimized laptops equipped for secure, local workflows.
“Forgejo offers the ability to study, modify, and distribute all of its source code. This is precisely in line with the government’s goals,” the Open-Source Program Office (OSPO) stated.
“Every investment in Forgejo enters the public domain and thereby benefits tax-paying citizens and businesses. Public money, public code.”
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Code.overheid.nl is currently in a pilot phase, meaning only a handful of government institutions can register and use it.
The gradual approach ensures that a full-fledged Git platform emerges slowly but deliberately, according to the project team.
Government developers are encouraged to participate by submitting issues and creating pull requests, essentially building the platform alongside the OSPO team.
What this means for digital sovereignty in Europe
The Dutch government has classified both Git Hub and Git Lab as risky because neither platform is under government control, and this move represents a broader European push for digital sovereignty.
The soft launch of code.overheid.nl is a meaningful step toward digital sovereignty, but the platform is not yet finished.
Only a handful of institutions can currently participate, and the platform’s long-term success depends on widespread adoption across the entire Dutch government.
Forgejo is a solid technical foundation, but building a community of contributors takes years, not weeks.
The government is asking developers to help build the platform voluntarily, which raises questions about sustainable funding and long-term maintenance.
External platforms like Git Hub are difficult to replicate, and a government-run alternative may struggle to attract the same level of contributions.
Still, for a country that values public code and transparency, this is a necessary experiment, and its outcome will be watched closely by other European nations.
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Efosa has been writing about technology for over 7 years, initially driven by curiosity but now fueled by a strong passion for the field. He holds both a Master's and a Ph D in sciences, which provided him with a solid foundation in analytical thinking.
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