Dutch Data Protection Authority releases privacy templates for SMEs

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) has released two practical templates designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comply with privacy regulations. These documents include templates for a processing register and a privacy statement.

Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and MKB-Nederland, the tools aim to reduce regulatory pressure on entrepreneurs. The templates are tailored for ten specific sectors: education, hospitality, retail, IT, logistics, production, services, real estate, healthcare, and construction.

A processing register allows companies to track what personal data is being handled, such as customer addresses or employee identification. This documentation assists in creating privacy statements, managing data processing agreements, and responding to data subject rights or potential data breaches. The privacy statement templates are intended to help businesses explain to customers how their data is used, which the authority suggests can build consumer trust.