Netherlands
The CODATA member organisation for the Netherlands is Research Data Netherlands (RDNL).
Research Data Netherlands is a national coalition of data archives with a mission to promote long-term archiving and reuse of research data. The coalition was founded in 2013 by 4TU.Centre for Research Data and Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) and was joined by SURFsara in September 2014. RDNL is open to other parties.
A unified back-office
The partners in Research Data Netherlands aim to fulfil a back-office function in the process of data curation: in other words to ensure that the research data delivered to them is permanently archived. The so-called front offices (university libraries, for example) deal directly with researchers and can advise them in ensuring that research data is accommodated in one of the archives. This means that the research data is permanently accessible and available for reuse. The combining of the knowledge, skills and objectives of the partners within Research Data Netherlands creates a powerful back-office that can serve the front-offices efficiently. The front-offices and other parties, for example providers of technical infrastructure, benefit from a national expertise centre that can be accessed from a single point of contact: your partner in research data curation.
Data Seal of Approval: quality hallmark essential
The data archives associated with Research Data Netherlands all have a Data Seal of Approval or a comparable quality hallmark as a minimum. This quality standard is further testament to the shared mission of the participating parties and the coalition as a whole: promoting long-term archiving and the reuse of research data.
RDNL Flyer
RDNL is an alliance without an office building. The postal address is:
DANS
c/o Dr I.G. Dillo
P.O. Box 93067
2509 AB The Hague
The Netherlands
Main Contacts
4TU.Datacentrum
 |
Alastair Dunning
Email: A.C.Dunning(at)tudelft.nl Professional profile:LinkedIn |
DANS
 |
Dr I.G. Dillo
Email: ingrid.dillo(at)dans.knaw.nl Professional profile: ResearchGate, PURE and LinkedIn. |
 |
Dr A. (Axel) Berg
Email: axel.berg(at)surfsara.nl Professional profile: LinkedIn |
Data issues and activities in the Netherlands
- Further development of a federated national data infrastructure. See: A federated data infrastructure for the Netherlands: the front-office – back-office model (RDNL).
- Long-term preservation of data.
- Data management policies and practices. See: Start Pilot Data Management (NWO); The Netherlands Code of Conduct for Academic Practice (VSNU); Responsible Research Data Management and the Prevention of Scientific Misconduct (KNAW).
Recent highlights
- Data Management course: RDNL offers “Essentials 4 Data Support”, a course for front office data supporters. Data supporters help researchers to save, manage, archive and share their data. At the end of the course, participants will know the different stages in the life cycle of scientific research data and the corresponding management actions and facilities. The blended training is offered several times a year and the content is available under a CC-BY-SA licence.
- The Dutch Data Prize: RDNL awards the Dutch Data Prize to researchers who bring together data, document data and make data accessible to others. The prize is awarded every two years.
- The 4th Plenary meeting of the RDA, organised in 2014 by RDNL/DANS in Amsterdam.
Future activities and events
- Ongoing – RDNL will continue the research data management (RDM) training “Essentials 4 Data Support” and will award the Dutch Data Prize. Initiated by the umbrella organisation of the Dutch universities, SURFsara will support the coordination of the various Research Data Management development in The Netherlands, to increase efficiency and coherence. More
- 2018 – Dutch Data Prize. More
Past Achievements
- Data Management course: RDNL offers “Essentials 4 Data Support”, a course for front office data supporters. Data supporters help researchers to save, manage, archive and share their data. At the end of the course, participants will know the different stages in the life cycle of scientific research data and the corresponding management actions and facilities. The blended training is offered several times a year and the content is available under a CC-BY-SA licence.
- The Dutch Data Prize: RDNL awards the Dutch Data Prize to researchers who bring together data, document data and make data accessible to others. The prize is awarded every two years.
- In spring 2009, the DSA was handed over to an international Board. Currently (November 2015) over fifty data repositories have been assigned the DSA, and several European Research Infrastructure Consortiums (ERICs) promote this certification among their members. RDNL partners all have at least the Data Seal of Approval. For more information about the DSA Guidelines see here.
Further information
4TU.Datacentrum website