No, the government is usually not allowed to do that. The government is, for example, your municipality or the UWV. If an organisation asks you for consent, you must also be able to say ‘no’, and that can be difficult with the government because you often need something from the government, such as a facility like a stair lift or benefits. So you are dependent on the government.

It is usually not necessary for the government to ask you for consent to use or share your data, because the law often states that the government is allowed to do so.

Sometimes, the law states nothing on the subject, but a government organisation still wants to share your data, because it turns out you need help. The organisation will then transfer your details to other organisations, where you can receive help. Organisations that you are unable to find yourself.

In such a case, it may be allowed. However, the organisation must explain to you clearly:

• which data of yours are shared by the organisation;
• why it does so (for what purpose);
• how that works.

You must also be given some time to decide whether you give consent for this. And, of course, you can always refuse.

Want to know more? Then read Consent and the government.

Sometimes, municipalities are obliged by law to publish information. They also publish information of their own accord, for example on their website, more often.

Does that information contain your personal data? Then the municipality will have to weigh up the interest of public information against your right to privacy before proceeding to publication. Besides, the municipality is not allowed to place your personal data on the Internet when there is no necessity for this.

De Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens kan hierover niet oordelen. Het gaat om persoonsgegevens die nodig zijn om de Kieswet uit te voeren. De Algemene verordening gegevensbescherming (AVG) is dan niet van toepassing. U leest meer over de verkiezingen en de Kieswet op de website van de Kiesraad.

Yes. As a hotel, bed & breakfast or other provider of accommodation, you are obliged to provide the night register to the municipality. You have to show the night register to the mayor or a designated official if you are asked to do so.

Mayors are therefore allowed to request the data of the lead bookers of the accommodations in their municipality. This follows from Article 438 of the Dutch Criminal Code.

No, the municipality is not allowed to do that. As a hotel, bed & breakfast or other provider of accommodation, you are obliged by law to keep a night register, though. And to provide the night register to the mayor (or a designated official) if this person asks you to do so.

You are obliged to register a number of personal data of the lead booker in a night register. This obligation can be found in Article 438 of the Dutch Criminal Code.

Yes, you can. If an organisation uses your personal data, you have a number of rights. This will ensure that you keep a grip on your personal data. These are the most important privacy rights:

• You have a right of access to your personal data.
• Does it turn out that data of you are incorrect? Or that certain data are missing? Then you can ask for rectification of your data (adjustment or addition).
• In some cases, you can also ask for removal of data.

Do you want to know what other rights you have? Check out Privacy rights under the GDPR.

Always submit your questions or complaints to the organisation that uses your personal data first. Do you have a complaint and are you and the organisation unable to work it out together? Then you can lodge a complaint with the Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA).