The popular identification app itsme, which has been used successfully in Belgium for years, is moving to the Netherlands. The app allows users to securely and easily identify themselves to online services, without having to rely on separate passwords or SMS verifications. With the arrival of itsme, the Netherlands gains a user-friendly alternative to digital identification, which is also widely supported by banks, governments and other organizations.
In the long term, itsme will succeed iDIN, the current identification service of Dutch banks. The Netherlands is thus taking the next step towards a uniform and more secure digital identification system. Thanks to itsme, users will soon be able to log in, sign documents and confirm their identity with a variety of services, both nationally and internationally, with one app.
Already a household name in Belgium
itsme gives people one secure digital identification method so that they do not have to share copies of their ID repeatedly or need a separate login for each service. The company wants to make it as simple as possible for the user: identification is done with three taps on the phone.
itsme took over the iDIN service at the end of 2025, allowing it to help millions of Dutch people identify themselves with hundreds of organizations in one fell swoop, such as asr, PostNL, BKR and PSV. More companies in the Netherlands are expected to join itsme in the near future. The app is a household name in Belgium: more than 80% of the adult population uses it to identify themselves online, in both companies and government, and more than 1 million identification actions are carried out every day. This gives it a status comparable to that of DigiD in the Netherlands.
“The challenge today is not technology, but trust and simplicity. Online trust starts with the certainty that your data is protected and that you know who you are doing business with. With itsme we show that secure digital identification does not have to be complicated at all.” – Tom Van Den Bosch, CEO of itsme.
Safe and widely applicable
itsme wants to restore confidence in online identity. It does this, among other things, by operating within very strict security frameworks and broad applicability: the app has the highest level of reliability according to European rules for digital identification, and can also be used, for example, to gain access to the EU Digital Wallet which will be gradually introduced across Europe from the end of this year. In addition, itsme gives users more control over how they share their data and with whom. In the app they can see which organization requests which data and they can decide for themselves whether they agree. This is in line with a clear wish among Dutch people: 58% want more control over which organizations have and use their personal data.
Less likely to drop out
Itsme also has advantages for organizations that need to identify their users. The service entails significantly fewer risks than a proprietary identification process and provides more certainty about who is on the other end. In addition, in Belgium it appears that people are much less likely to drop out when they log in via itsme due to the recognisability and clarity. And Dutch users are also looking for one recognizable identification method.
Next step after iDIN
iDIN was founded in 2016 by Dutch banks to provide internet users with a secure way to identify themselves to other companies. Aniek Berendsen, Director of Fraud at ING in the Netherlands: “For years, Dutch people have relied on iDIN for secure online identification. With itsme, we are taking the next step together: a solution that is in line with European regulations and responds to the growing need for innovation and ease of use. itsme helps people to navigate with confidence in an increasingly digital society and makes safe online use of services easier, without unnecessary friction.”
How do you use itsme?
itsme is available in the App Store and Google Play Store, and is free to download and use. Users link their identity to the app once with their passport or ID card and a selfie. Itsme then works directly with affiliated companies and services. The user opens the app, checks which company requests which data and approves the action with a personal code, fingerprint or facial recognition. This process takes just a few seconds.
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