European Accessibility Act: be accessible to all your customers
The clock is ticking. From 28 June 2025, digital accessibility will no longer be just a nice-to-have; it will become a legal requirement. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) means your webshop must be usable for all users, including those with disabilities. This applies to all organisations with a webshop, a turnover of over 2 million, and more than 10 employees.
In previous insights, we already discussed what the new legislation entails, its impact, and shared 5 practical steps towards an accessible webshop. With the deadline approaching, postponement is no longer an option.
1 in 3 people in the Netherlands has a disability. This isn’t a niche, this is your target audience.
Is your webshop already live?
Then you must be able to demonstrate that you have taken steps towards digital accessibility before 28 June 2025. Everything doesn't need to be fully in order yet, but you must be able to show that you're working on it. Think, for example, of an accessibility statement in your footer and a concrete improvement plan.
Will your webshop go live after 28 June 2025?
Then stricter requirements apply. New or fully renewed webshops must be fully EAA-compliant from day one. No transition phase, no postponement. As of 28 June: building = accessible by default.
What does digital accessibility actually mean?
To comply with the EAA, your webshop must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at level AA. This covers four core principles:
- Perceivable
Make sure your content is available to everyone, whether someone is reading, listening, or using assistive technology. For example, by using alt texts for images, clear headings, and transcripts for videos. - Operable
Your webshop must be easy to use for everyone, whether you click with a mouse, navigate with the keyboard, or use voice commands. - Understandable
Avoid unnecessary jargon or abbreviations and use clear, accessible language. - Robust
Ensure your webshop functions reliably on every device, in every browser, with or without assistive tools. That requires smart code and sustainable choices. No hacks or quick fixes, but futureproof technology.
What if your webshop doesn’t comply?
The Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM) will oversee compliance in the Netherlands. The exact fines aren’t known yet, but will likely be in line with other European regulations such as GDPR — think of a percentage of your turnover.
Time for action
- Audit: Have us carry out an accessibility scan. We’ll give you a clear to-do list with concrete input for development, design, and content. This way, you’ll know exactly where to start and can show that you’re actively working towards a more accessible platform.
- Training: Make sure teams are aware of the guidelines.
- Implementation: Your content and marketing teams play an important role in making improvements. Think about accessible text, subtitles for videos, clear call-to-actions, and alt texts for images.
- Monitoring: Accessibility isn't a one-off task. Keep testing and improving.
- Accessibility statement: Publish a page to show that you’re actively working on improvements.
Business benefits
Accessibility isn’t just a box to be ticked by June 2025. It’s an ongoing process that opens doors to a wider audience, increases customer satisfaction, improves usability, and boosts SEO results, as search engines prioritise inclusive, accessible web pages.