Open Source Government

City of Amsterdam to Experiment with Open Source

December 26th, 2006

The City of Amsterdam will be testing out open source software in two administrative districts, the housing department and one of its borough offices. Amsterdam is one of ten Dutch cities to sign the "manifesto for open software in government"

"Earlier this year, a study ordered by the (Amsterdam) city council showed that an ‘open’ software strategy leads to more independence from suppliers," the city said in a statement. "In addition, the use of open software can lead to better exchange and storage of information, without unacceptable financial or logistical risks."

The test is scheduled to run during the first half of 2007, and, if successful, the rest of the city may start using open source software, the city statement said.

It said it didn’t plan to stop using Microsoft software entirely in any case, but "it is the expectation that a new contract with … Microsoft will be smaller." The current contract expires in at the end of 2008.

Entry Filed under: FOSS Wins, Microsoft, Amsterdam