'That is why it is important to have full control': Dutch government launches its own self-hosted GitHub alternative in the latest blast against US tech giants such as Microsoft

Pilot phase for code.overheid.nl limits access to a small group of institutions

by · TechRadar

News By Efosa Udinmwen published 2 May 2026

(Image credit: developer.overheid.nl)

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  • Dutch platform aims to reduce reliance on foreign-controlled repositories
  • Source code integrity is treated as a critical national infrastructure requirement
  • Forgejo selected for full access to modify and distribute code

The Dutch government has launched its own self-hosted Git platform called code.overheid.nl, aiming to reduce reliance on US tech giants like Microsoft.

The platform, built on Forgejo, is intended to become a full-fledged alternative to GitHub and GitLab for hosting government open-source software.

Authorities have described source code repositories as essential infrastructure, where integrity must be verifiable at all stages.

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Why the government wants to leave GitHub behind

“Hosting source code is a critical component of the Dutch government’s infrastructure. The government cannot afford the risk of code or binaries in repositories being tampered with, as people could execute them directly,” the government explained.

“The government must be certain that these binaries were created with integrity. That is why it is important to have full control over a Git forge.”

Forgejo was selected because it offers the ability to study, modify, and distribute all of its source code, which aligns with the government’s goals.

This empowers developers to engage in vibe coding, a relaxed, collaborative style of programming that thrives on open tools and community input.

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