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Major IT issue again for Amsterdam municipality: leasehold system insufficiently secured

Major IT issue again for Amsterdam municipality: leasehold system insufficiently secured

The City of Amsterdam is grappling with a severe security issue in its outdated land lease (erfpacht) ICT system after technical support lapsed in October. Alderman Alexander Scholtes has apologized for the delayed communication regarding these risks and the failure of previous modernization plans, as the city now searches for an urgent, viable solution.

The City of Amsterdam is facing significant security risks with its outdated ICT system responsible for processing land lease (erfpacht) payments and calculations. Technical support for the aging software ceased in October, leaving its future functionality uncertain. Although Alderman Alexander Scholtes stated that there are currently no direct consequences for homeowners, he has apologized to the city council for being poorly informed by officials about the critical state of the system, which has been in need of replacement since 2015.

An external investigation recently concluded that the city's previous plans to upgrade the infrastructure were unfeasible, adding to a history of digital project failures within the municipal administration. While officials were aware of the technical vulnerabilities as early as March 2026, this information was not relayed to the responsible leadership in a timely manner. The city is now evaluating options to secure the existing system while searching for a long-term solution, though the total costs and timeline for these emergency measures remain undetermined.

Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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