Nextcloud Becomes Member of the Dutch Open Source Business Alliance
In recent months, political shifts on the global stage have reignited debate in the Netherlands around digital autonomy. Open source technology is increasingly being recognized as a strategic tool for reinforcing Europe’s digital independence and resilience—ensuring that Dutch and EU institutions maintain control over their digital infrastructure and can respond effectively to future challenges.
But building a truly sovereign digital landscape means investing in more than just software—it requires a thriving, sustainable ecosystem. This means aligning public and private investment with best practices, community collaboration, and long-term planning. Without a coordinated approach, funding risks being spread thin across disjointed projects, leading to a graveyard of abandoned codebases and short-lived initiatives.
That’s why the Dutch Open Source Business Alliance (DOSBA) was founded—to unite open source companies and provide guidance to both government and industry on how to use, support, and contribute to open source in a sustainable way. The emphasis is on strengthening collaboration, avoiding unnecessary forks, and prioritizing upstream contributions—key steps to ensuring the long-term viability of the ecosystem.
We’re excited to announce that Nextcloud is now an official member of DOSBA, joining forces with other professional open-source companies in the Netherlands to promote open, secure, and sovereign digital solutions.
DOSBA is all about bringing together like-minded organizations that are committed to scaling the impact of open source across the Dutch digital economy. One of its main goals is to act as a bridge—helping public institutions and private companies navigate the open-source landscape and connect with reputable providers and solutions.
For Nextcloud, this step reflects our ongoing dedication to strengthening open source at both national and European levels. It also builds on our active involvement with groups like Germany’s Open Source Business Alliance (OSBA) and the pan-European APELL network.
> “We see a growing momentum for open source in the Netherlands, both in the public and private sector,” says Frank Karlitschek, CEO of Nextcloud. “By joining DOSBA, we want to support that development and help build a stronger, more connected open-source ecosystem in the country.”
> “Nextcloud joining DOSBA is a great example of how we’re bringing together key players in the open-source field,” adds Pieter Izeboud, board member of DOSBA. “Their experience and European perspective are valuable assets to our mission to establish open source as a serious and professional choice in the Netherlands.”
We look forward to collaborating with our fellow DOSBA members—sharing knowledge, strengthening cooperation, and playing our part in the further growth and professionalization of open source in the Netherlands.
