Bert Hubert posted again on Monday about the risks posed by American cloud providers and the vulnerability of our data. His reference to a historical innovation – Radio Kootwijk – and the idea to establish a ‘Cloud Kootwijk’ in 2025 received broad support within the Dutch IT industry.
This emphasizes that we as a country and industry are actively thinking along and providing concrete solutions. We want sovereignty over our data, not just in the context of email, video calling, or chatting, but also in how data is processed and protected within our borders.
Secure, sovereign, and always available – that’s what Bert Hubert advocates for in his article. But how do we achieve this in practice?
Chunk Works pioneers smart distributed data management
At Chunk Works, we’ve developed innovative data management solutions for data in transit, at rest, and in use. We officially launched our software in late 2024. Through our networks, we’re now in discussions with various governments and organizations domestically and internationally to realize our vision of digital sovereignty and security.
With Cloud Kootwijk as a thought experiment, and Bert’s call as a catalyst, it’s time to think radically differently. We must not only move away from outdated cloud models but develop an entirely new infrastructure strategy that is flexible, distributed, and resilient. This means infrastructure that isn’t dependent on traditional central data centers but can be dynamically deployed across multiple locations. By using innovative technologies like chunking, zero-trust architecture, and autonomous systems, we can build a future-proof Cloud Kootwijk that withstands geopolitical, technological, and operational challenges.
A distributed Cloud Kootwijk redefines digital sovereignty
Why pin Cloud Kootwijk to one physical location? Why rely on multi-cloud environments with traditional backups that we know aren’t scalable and are often vulnerable? The future lies in decentralization and autonomy.
Our data management solution offers a platform where Cloud Kootwijk isn’t a single data center, but a distributed network of Cloud Kootwijk locations spread across the country. These locations can collectively manage themselves without human intervention, intelligently scale up, and simultaneously optimize storage capacity. This not only makes data safer but also more accessible and efficiently managed.
We often hear this sounds too ambitious. But as Bert himself says: “bring the demo, not the memo”. And that’s exactly what Chunk Works achieves.
Let’s be honest: the traditional cloud model is simply no longer sustainable. We must move forward. With innovative software, we can overcome hardware limitations and utilize existing infrastructures without expensive investments. And crucially: we’re building infrastructure that can seamlessly migrate to post-quantum security without disruption and with its own built-in timeline. This isn’t distant future music – this is a reality we can implement today.
Cloud Kootwijk as the Delta Works of our digital infrastructure
When setting up Cloud Kootwijk, let’s not treat it as a static concept, but as the Delta Works of our digital infrastructure. Just as the Delta Works protect the Netherlands from water threats, a distributed Cloud Kootwijk must protect our digital landscape from dependency and (future) vulnerabilities. Let’s create architecture that is dynamic and resilient, serving as a digital bulwark for sovereign data management. This means:
- Chunking data – encrypting and splitting files that spread across a network of storage servers.
- Post-quantum security – effortlessly switching between traditional encryption and post-quantum encryption without major changes.
- Scalable decentralized infrastructure – ability to scale up quickly where needed, without downtime or costly migrations.
- Simplicity instead of complexity – replacing traditional cloud architectures with a self-maintaining system that’s minimalist in management.
- Data spread across multiple data centers – ensuring critical data remains available at the edge and we’re prepared for all scenarios that could negatively impact our data.
Despite the good efforts of initiatives like Gaia-X and IPCEI, we’re too late for implementing their recommendations. But why wait? The technology and knowledge are available, the urgency exists, and the call for digital autonomy grows louder. We have the opportunity to put the Netherlands on the technological map with truly sovereign infrastructure.
The digital revolution
For all organizations striving for digital sovereignty: the transition to autonomous infrastructure is now within reach. Let’s build together toward a future where not only governments but also companies and institutions have full control over their data. This is not a project by a single entity; it is a collective movement.
Cloud Kootwijk is more than a historical symbol. It can be the blueprint for the future of our digital infrastructure. Let’s join forces and turn this vision into action. Because sovereignty over our digital infrastructure isn’t a luxury, it’s an absolute necessity.