Ministers plans to overhaul the way citizens identify themselves when logging on to government websites, acting home affairs minister Stef Blok said in a briefing to parliament on Monday.

Currently people have to use an official number or DigiD to fill in their tax return online or deal with other issues. However, this system is becoming outmoded and has security issues, so the entire system needs a shake-up, Blok said.

He plans to update the DigiD system and introduce new options for accessing official websites. One option could be the iDIN system which is used by Dutch banks for internet banking. ID cards and driving licences are other options, the minister said.

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The government also hopes a multi-ID option would make the system less vulnerable to technical problems. If, for example, the DigiD system was down, people could opt for an alternative, Blok said.

He has allocated €36m to implement the new system and pilot studies will get underway over the next few months.

‘All methods will have to meet strict privacy, security and user friendly conditions,’ Blok said.