Can you use your website without your mouse? Can you understand the content if you're colorblind? For 15% of the Dutch population - more than 2.5 million people - these aren't hypothetical questions but daily reality. Website accessibility isn't just about "doing the right thing", but about reaching a much larger audience and improving your SEO rankings.
Why accessibility is a business opportunity, not a burden
Dutch businesses often think that accessibility is complex and expensive. The opposite is true. Accessible design principles lead to better user experiences for everyone, not just for people with disabilities. That's why forward-thinking businesses in North Brabant invest in professional accessible web design.
An advisory firm in Eindhoven increased their website conversion by 67% through accessibility improvements. Their secret? By making their website accessible for screen readers and keyboard navigation, they also improved the overall user experience. The result: more visitors, better Google rankings, and access to a previously unreachable doelgroep.
The Dutch accessibility landscape
In the Netherlands, website accessibility is not only ethically important but also legally required for government organizations since 2020. More and more private companies are following this example, as they realize that accessible websites:
- Reach 15% more potential customers
- Perform 23% better in search engines
- Have 34% lower bounce rates
- Present significantly fewer legal risks
Practical accessibility principles anyone can implement
1. Keyboard navigation - Make your website operable without a mouse
Many Dutch visitors use only the keyboard for website navigation. Ensure all interactive elements are reachable via Tab, Enter, and arrow keys. A webshop in Breda discovered that 12% of their visitors primarily used keyboard navigation - by optimizing this, they increased their conversion by 89%.
Practical keyboard tips:
- All links and buttons must be focusable
- Implement logical tab order
- Show visual focus indicators
- Skip links for quick navigation
2. Alt texts and descriptive content
Screen readers literally read websites aloud to blind and visually impaired users. Therefore, images must have descriptive alt texts that convey meaning, not just what's visible. Instead of "office photo" use "Team of 5 advisors in modern meeting room in Tilburg".
Effective alt text guidelines:
- Describe the function, not just the appearance
- Keep it brief but informative
- Avoid "image of" or "photo of"
- Use empty alt text for decorative images
3. Color contrast and visual accessibility
Dutch visitors with color blindness (8% of men, 0.5% of women) must be able to use your website without problems. Use sufficient color contrast, don't rely solely on color to convey information, and test your website with color blindness simulators.
A marketing agency in North Brabant improved their website accessibility by not only making their call-to-action buttons green but also adding an icon. Their conversion rate increased by 23% because more visitors could recognize the buttons.
4. Responsive and scalable design
Many Dutch visitors use zoom functionality to enlarge text. Your website must remain functional at 200% zoom. Use relative units (em, rem) instead of fixed pixels, and test regularly at different zoom levels.
Dutch accessibility tools and resources
For Dutch businesses, specific tools and resources are available:
- Accessibility statement generator (required for government sites)
- Dutch accessibility guidelines (based on WCAG)
- Local accessibility testing services
- Dutch screen reader software (like NVDA-NL)
SEO benefits of accessible design
Google values accessible websites because they provide better user experiences. Accessibility improvements like:
- Descriptive alt texts help with image SEO
- Proper heading structure improves content hierarchy
- Video transcripts add textual content
- Better mobile usability increases mobile rankings
A consulting firm saw their Google rankings rise an average of 15 positions after accessibility optimization, because their content became more understandable for both search engines and visitors.
Accessibility testing - Check your website systematically
Use automated tools like axe DevTools or Wave, but don't forget manual testing. Test your website with real users, use a screen reader, and navigate only with your keyboard. A local restaurant discovered that their reservation system scored perfectly on automated tests but was unusable for real screen reader users.
Essential testing checklist:
- Automated accessibility scan (baseline)
- Keyboard navigation testing
- Screen reader compatibility
- Color contrast verification
- Mobile accessibility testing
Legal compliance - Risks and benefits
While Dutch legislation primarily requires government organizations, legal pressure on private companies is growing. More and more companies are being sued for inaccessible websites. Proactive accessibility implementation prevents legal risks and shows social responsibility.
Accessibility for Dutch SMEs - Practical implementation
For local businesses, accessibility doesn't have to be overwhelming. Start with the basics:
1. Add meaningful alt texts to images
2. Check color contrast of text and background
3. Ensure logical heading structure (H1, H2, H3)
4. Implement keyboard navigation
5. Test with accessibility tools
A step-by-step approach works best. An advisory firm in Tilburg implemented one accessibility improvement weekly and saw their overall website performance gradually improve without major investments.
ROI of accessible web design
Investing in accessibility delivers measurable business results:
- 15% larger audience reach
- 23% better SEO performance
- 34% lower bounce rates
- Significantly fewer legal risks
- Improved brand reputation
A marketing agency in 's-Hertogenbosch invested €7,800 in accessibility improvements and generated €28,000 in additional revenue within 6 months through increased conversions and better rankings.
Your accessibility roadmap
Website accessibility isn't a one-time checklist but a mindset that thinks accessibility-first. Start with a thorough audit of your current website, identify the biggest barriers, and implement systematic improvements.
Focus first on high-impact adjustments like alt texts and color contrast. Then you can implement more complex elements like advanced keyboard navigation and aria labels. Our
web design specialists help you create an accessible website that is not only inclusive but also performs better and generates more customers.
The question isn't whether you need accessibility, but how many potential customers you're missing by not implementing it. What steps will you take today to make your website accessible for everyone?