Software supplier for government
Appfront is the custom software partner for public organisations that want to build tailor-made software. We develop web applications, portals and process-support systems for municipalities, provinces, environmental agencies, safety regions, public health services (GGDs) and partnerships, built on government standards, with ownership of your source code and a clear exit strategy. No vendor lock-in, but transparent code and documentation. View software for municipalities straight away or schedule an introductory meeting.
What Appfront builds for government
Appfront develops custom software for public organisations: web applications, intranets, citizen and business portals, dashboards, inspection and supervision software, and interfaces to existing systems. This page is the overview hub for our entire public sector offering. Each target group has its own page with specific applications: municipalities, provinces, environmental services, safety regions, public health services and collaborative partnerships.
For a specific public process, custom software often fits better than an off-the-shelf package. Standard software forces your organisation into the vendor's data model and workflow; custom software follows the way you actually work, connects to your existing landscape and avoids costly workarounds. Just as important, you retain control over functionality, integrations and data, and you remain independent of any single vendor. We give you honest advice: sometimes it is smarter to configure an existing package than to build something new.
We build on the Common Ground principles of the VNG: data at the source, loosely coupled components and open standards rather than monolithic systems. As a result, our software aligns with government standards such as the ZGW APIs for case-based working, Haal Centraal and DigiD, and remains connectable, replaceable and ready for your next tender.
Custom development for your process
Web applications and portals that follow your public service process exactly, with no forced standard workflow. From case support to a citizen service desk, we build around your data model, your rules and your target users.
Connectable through standards
Compatible with ZGW APIs, Haal Centraal, StUF, DigiD and eHerkenning, so your software evolves alongside the Common Ground landscape. Explore our ZGW API integration and DigiD integration.
Ownership & exit
You own the source code and documentation, with a working build and deployment pipeline in your own repository. Another supplier or your own team can always take over; avoiding vendor lock-in is our starting point.
How we work with public organisations
Our approach is designed to remove uncertainty early and keep you in control. From a joint discovery of your process, target users and existing systems through to go-live and ongoing management, every step delivers something your organisation can understand, verify and take over itself. For a tender or market consultation, we help you define realistic, functionally specified requirements.
We map out the process, the users (staff and citizens), the existing systems and the applicable standards. Together we determine what requires custom development and what can be handled by existing components.
We design the architecture on Common Ground principles, select integrations (ZGW, Haal Centraal, DigiD) and define security, accessibility and the data model early on.
Iterative development with automated tests, logging and monitoring. You receive working interim versions throughout, so you can steer the project along the way.
Controlled go-live with handover of code and documentation, followed by ongoing management, monitoring and further development.
What we build for government
Every solution is tailored to your process, target users and existing systems. Below are the types of software we most often deliver for public organisations, always built on government standards and with attention to security and accessibility.
Case and process support
Custom applications that support a public process from start to finish, connected to your case management system via the ZGW APIs. Statuses, tasks and documents in one place, in line with case-based working, without forcing your staff into an unfamiliar workflow.
Citizen and business portals
Secure portals where residents and businesses handle matters, submit applications and track progress. With DigiD or eHerkenning for login, pre-filled data via Haal Centraal and an accessible interface compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA.
Inspection & supervision software
Applications for supervision and enforcement in the field: recording inspections, reporting findings, building case files and routing signals to the right department. Usable both in the office and on mobile, with an audit trail and role-based access.
Data and reporting dashboards
Dashboards that bring together data from diverse sources into clear management and accountability information for management, councils or boards, or for statutory reporting, with role-based access and reliable figures.
Interfaces and middleware
Integrations that make your systems work together: ZGW APIs, Haal Centraal, StUF, DigiKoppeling, BRP and BAG. We expose existing sources securely and in a standardised way, so data stays at the source and is not unnecessarily duplicated.
Maintenance & further development
Taking over existing applications, stabilising them and developing them further, even when another party built them. We document the current setup, map out integrations and provide maintenance, monitoring and extensions.
Who we build for in the public sector
The public sector cluster is broad, and each layer has its own processes, integrations and legal frameworks. For each of these target groups we have a dedicated page with concrete applications. A selection is listed below — the full target group pages are linked underneath.
Municipalities
From citizen portals and application processes to case support and internal tools — built around case-based working and integrated with DigiD and the ZGW APIs. Read more about software for municipalities.
Provinces & Environmental Services
Software for permitting, supervision and enforcement, environmental data and area processes — with integrations to national facilities. See software for provinces and software for environmental services.
Safety Regions & Public Health Services (GGD)
Applications for crisis management, incident registration, public health and inspection — usable in the field and in the office, with role-based access and an audit trail. See software for safety regions and software for public health services (GGD).
Partnerships & Joint Regulations (GR's)
Joint regulations and partnerships serving multiple organisations, with shared processes and data across administrative boundaries. Read more about software for partnerships.
Technology and government standards
We build with a modern, widely adopted web stack and to the standards used across the public sector. The precise choice depends on your existing systems and integrations — always in a way that lets your own team or a future supplier manage and further develop the software. For integrations, see our ZGW API integration and DigiD integration.
What you can expect from Appfront as a supplier
Appfront builds custom software for organisations in the Netherlands and always begins with a thorough analysis of your processes and existing systems. Software must not only work technically, but also add practical value to the public task you carry out.
On every assignment we write clear documentation and make sure your own team — or a future supplier — can understand and manage the software. No black box, but transparent code, ownership for you, and clear agreements on monitoring, maintenance and a clean exit should the collaboration ever end.
You work with a fixed point of contact who understands both the technical and the functional side. This keeps communication short, prevents misunderstandings and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during development. We also help you think ahead before an assignment, for example during a market consultation or RFI.
Explore the target group pages: municipalities, provinces, environmental services, safety regions, public health services (GGD) and collaborative partnerships.
- Transparency and clear documentation with every handover
- Ownership of source code and a working exit strategy
- Works to government standards: Common Ground, ZGW, Haal Centraal, DigiD
- Security- and privacy-conscious: GDPR, BIO and WCAG by design
- A fixed point of contact, no account managers passed around
- Ongoing maintenance and proactive further development
- A way of working aligned with your existing IT landscape
- Honest advice: sometimes configuring rather than building
Security, privacy and accessibility
Government software almost always processes personal data or politically sensitive information. Appfront builds in security and privacy by design: data minimisation, role-based access following least privilege, encryption in transit and at rest, and extensive logging with traceable data flows. We work in line with the Baseline Information Security for Government (BIO) and can align with your own information security policy and data processing agreement.
We document data flows and integrations so your record of processing activities stays complete and you can demonstrate compliance with the GDPR. For citizen-facing applications we build to WCAG 2.1 AA and the Dutch temporary decision on digital accessibility, so people with disabilities can also use your services.
Would you like to test this against a tender or project? Get in touch, and we will gladly explain our approach to security, BIO and accessibility in concrete terms.
- Working in line with the Baseline Information Security for Government (BIO)
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Audit logs with traceable data flows
- WCAG 2.1 AA and digital accessibility for citizen services
- Monitoring and alerting for anomalies
- Documentation for your record of processing activities
Further reading for procurement officers and RFI writers: procuring custom software, market consultation for software, building BIO-compliant systems and digitally accessible software (WCAG).
Frequently asked questions about government software
Answers to the questions that procurement officers, information managers and project leaders ask us most often.
Appfront develops custom software for public organisations: web applications, portals, dashboards and process-support systems for municipalities, provinces, environmental services, safety regions, public health services (GGD) and collaborative partnerships. We work from the Common Ground principles, integrate with government standards such as ZGW, Haal Centraal and DigiD, and always deliver with documentation, source code ownership and a clear exit strategy.
A standard package suits standardised processes. Custom software pays off when a process is specific to your organisation, when you need to open up or integrate an existing landscape, or when you want to remain independent of a single supplier. Custom development gives you control over functionality, data model and integrations, and avoids costly workarounds. We advise honestly: sometimes configuring an existing package is the wiser choice over building.
Yes. We embrace the Common Ground principles: data at the source, modular components and open standards rather than monolithic systems. We build on API standards such as the ZGW APIs (Case-Based Working), Haal Centraal and StUF, and on identity services such as DigiD and eHerkenning. This keeps your software integrable, replaceable and ready for future tenders.
Yes. You become the owner of the source code and documentation. We deliver into your own repository, with clear licence agreements and a working build and deployment pipeline. As a result, you are not dependent on Appfront: another supplier or your own team can take over the software, continue developing it or manage it. Avoiding vendor lock-in is a principle, not an afterthought.
Yes. We are happy to provide input for a market consultation or Request for Information, and we think along about realistic requirements and a functionally specified call for tender rather than a rigidly predetermined technical solution. In a tender, we provide substantiation on working method, security, standards and maintenance. We do not make unfounded claims: we describe demonstrable capabilities and working practices.
We build security and privacy by design: data minimisation, role-based access, encryption in transit and at rest, and comprehensive logging. We work in line with the Dutch Baseline Information Security for Government (BIO) and the GDPR, and can align with your information security policy and data processing agreement. For citizen-facing applications, we take digital accessibility into account in line with WCAG 2.1 AA and the Dutch Temporary Decree on Digital Accessibility.
Yes. We regularly take over existing applications, even when another party built them. We carry out a code and architecture review, map integrations and data models, document the current setup and draw up an improvement plan. We can then handle maintenance, further development and monitoring — with the same transparency and ownership as for new builds.
We work across the entire public sector: municipalities, provinces, environmental services, safety regions, joint health services (GGD) and joint arrangements or collaborative partnerships. Think case and process support, citizen and business portals, inspection and supervision software, data and reporting dashboards, and interfaces to existing systems. For each target group we have a dedicated page with concrete applications.
Looking for a software supplier for your public organisation?
Tell us which process you want to support, which systems and standards the software needs to integrate with, and which audience you serve. We are happy to help you think through approach, security, accessibility and management, including if you are still at the market consultation or RFI stage. A no-obligation first conversation will quickly give you a clear picture of what is possible.