The Netherlands Court of Audit checks whether the Dutch central government spends public funds economically, efficiently and effectively. Our statutory task is to audit the revenue and expenditure of central government. We report on our work once a year to parliament on Accountability Day (the third Wednesday in May). Parliament can use our audit opinion to grant the government discharge, thus releasing it from responsibility for its implementation of policy. We also report separately to parliament so that its members can decide on the effectiveness of each minister’s actions during the previous year.
We audit dozens of policy fields, from special needs education and the replacement of the F-16 fighter aircraft to measures to overcome the credit crisis.
The Netherlands Court of Audit consists of the Board and its staff.
The Netherlands Court of Audit has been auditing
the government’s income and expenditure for 200 years.
The key question?
Does central government spend public money economically, efficiently and effectively?
On the basis of thorough audits and facts, we express an independent opinion.
We create order and understanding.
What is going well?
What is going wrong?
And how can it be improved?
Because public money must be subject to public audit.
We analyse the consequences of political decisions
on a great variety of subjects.
Accountability strengthens trust in democracy.
That is why we audit themes that are of great financial and social importance.
All our work begins and ends from the perspective of citizens and businesses.
We follow social and technological innovations closely.
And develop new standards for the world of information management, privacy and algorithms
We constantly professionalise our working methods and communication.
Amidst the profusion of data and alternative facts,
we are INDEPENDENT and RELIABLE.
We express FAIR OPINIONS
to bring public money into focus.