Protection of personal data

In order to perform its tasks, DUO uses the personal data you provide. DUO complies with the directives from the Dutch Personal Data Protection Act.

For what purpose does DUO use your personal data?

DUO uses your personal data to provide the Dutch ministry of Education, Culture and Science as well as other governmental bodies, with information for policy making. This information is supplied anonymously as much as possible. Apart from this, the minister of Education, Culture and Science may ask the Central Bureau for Statistics or research bureaus to approach well-defined target groups for inquiries. In this case, DUO provides the necessary data, following strict regulations. The ministry of Education, Culture and Science also uses your data to calculate the governmental contribution to schools and universities. There are some other organizations in the field of education that also ask DUO for information. These are, among others, the Netherlands University Foundation for International Cooperation (Nuffic), the Central Organization of National Organizations for vocational training (Colo) and Consultancy agencies for Education and Profession (AOB). These data are always supplied anonymously.

Your data from other governmental bodies

DUO also receives a variety of data from other governmental bodies. From the Municipal Data Base (GBA) we receive your personal data, from the tax authorities we may receive data regarding your income, and from school, college or university we receive data concerning your education. If necessary, DUO asks for information about your parents or partner as well. We use this information for the purposes mentioned above.

Verification by DUO

DUO sometimes verifies data with other governmental bodies. This is the case with: 

• data regarding your income (with the tax authorities)
• data regarding your education (with the institute of education)
• data regarding your adress and birth (with the Municipal Data Base) 

These verifications are regulated by law.

Verifications by other governmental bodies

Other governmental bodies are entitled to ask for information because they need it for their statutory activities. Among these organizations are the Social Security Service, the tax authorities and the body responsible for child allowance. These organizations check whether or not a person is entitled to a benefit or allowance. We test every request against the appropriate laws. Finally, the ministry of Justice can make an appeal to DUO in case of a criminal investigation.

Privacy codes

A privacy code is a document which describes how an organization deals with the personal data it administers, and to which the organization is bound after publication. On the basis of the Personal Data Protection Act, DUO has a duty to report to the Dutch Data Protection Authority. DUO must indicate which files contain personal data, what the information is used for, with whom the data are exchanged and under which circumstances this occurs.