The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is Directive (EU) 2019/882 of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services. Each EU member state transposes the directive into its own law. In the Netherlands that is the Implementatiewet toegankelijkheidsvoorschriften producten en diensten, the Dutch implementing act, which has applied since 28 June 2025. It amends several existing laws, including the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek).
Does the law apply to my online shop?
Under Dutch law, the rules for e-commerce services to consumers are in Articles 230fa to 230fd of Book 6 of the Dutch Civil Code. An e-commerce service is a service at a distance, through a website or app, with which a consumer concludes a contract. It must meet the accessibility requirements of the directive, and the provider must explain how it does so.
Under Article 6:230fc, the obligation does not apply to businesses with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or annual balance sheet total of no more than 2 million euros. The requirements also do not apply where compliance would fundamentally alter the service or impose a disproportionate burden. The law contains transitional rules for existing services.
Example
Say an online shop with 25 employees sells kitchen appliances to consumers. In principle it falls under the law. A sole trader whose shop stays below the turnover threshold is exempt.
Common mistake
Thinking the law only applies to government bodies. The rules for e-commerce services apply to businesses that sell online to consumers. The WCAG standard describes how to make a website technically accessible.
This entry is not legal advice and describes the Dutch implementation; other EU countries have their own implementing laws. More in The European Accessibility Act: does it apply to your website or shop?