© CBS / Nikki van Toorn

Our course

Mission and core values

In this dynamic environment, CBS occupies a unique position. Its mission is to compile and publish reliable, coherent statistical information which meets the needs of Dutch society. This mission forms the basis for the core values of CBS:

  • reliable
  • objective
  • society-oriented

This position and mission are shaped by the statutory duty assigned to CBS: creating an independent and objective map of society by producing reliable statistics, reporting on its findings and performing its work efficiently and accurately.

The statistics produced by CBS are a public good; public access is therefore a fundamental element of its statistics. As also prescribed by the European Statistics Code of Practice, CBS actively publishes all results of its statistical research on its website. Open data are made available through StatLine. In line with the Open op Orde action plan, CBS also invests in public access to its administrative information in order to respond promptly to requests from citizens and enterprises.

Looking to the future

A vision for the future is contained in the CBS Multi-annual Programme 2024-2028 (MAP24-28). This document identifies a number of key themes that reflect CBS’ mission to provide data on topics of major importance to society. Furthermore, the primary aim of policy is and will continue to be broadening access to data while maintaining the existing high standards of data and operations.

Societal challenges and priorities

CBS aims to become more flexible in order to make statistical contributions to addressing a number of major societal challenges such as housing, subversive crime, climate and sustainability. We put these social challenges at the centre of our programming. We aim to enter into data alliances with other operators that manage information on specific themes as fully and clearly as possible. How we do this is set out in our annual plans. This approach gives us the flexibility to respond to events as they arise.

The following topics will be central to our approach in the coming years:

  • Housing
  • Climate and sustainability
  • Digitisation
  • Knowledge and the economy
  • Globalisation and value chains
  • Inequality and poverty
  • Demographic development
  • Security and subversive crime
  • Pandemic preparedness
  • Labour market

An overview of our Multi-annual Programmes and Annual reports can be found here.

The Caribbean Netherlands

Since the relevant constitutional reform came into effect on 10 October 2010, CBS has been responsible for the provision of statistical information about the three islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. With a view to exercising this responsibility, a separate multi-annual programme about the Caribbean Netherlands is drafted and subject to periodic evaluation. The most recent edition is the Multi-annual Programme on the Caribbean Netherlands 2020-2023.