The Netherlands is digitising. Researchers in the SSH-domain (social sciences, humanities, law, economics & business administration) are increasingly working with large amounts of data, including media files, population registers, questionnaires, archives, experimental data and public administrations. Without well-organised digital infrastructures (DI), these sources remain fragmented and researchers are unable to conduct top-level research.
This is where the National Consultation on Digital Infrastructure SSH (LBDI-SSH) comes in. The platform was established in 2023 by the SSH-council to create an overview, stimulate synergy and provide direction for the digital future of SSH-research. In addition to representatives from ODISSEI and CLARIAH, the platform also includes representatives from NWO, the eScience Centre, SURF and DANS. At the end of 2025, Pearl Dykstra will be appointed as the new chair. In this interview, she explains the course that the LBDI-SSH will take in the coming years.
‘I am happy to contribute to the greater good’
Pearl Dykstra is professor emeritus of Empirical Sociology, former scientific director of ODISSEI and former vice-chair of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisers to the Cabinet of European Commissioners. She believes that the chairmanship of the LBDI-SSH fits in well with her motivation to contribute to cooperation and progress:
“I like to contribute to the greater good. For me, fulfilment lies in working together and getting things done.”
She believes that this joint effort is sorely needed: within the Dutch SSH-domain, a wide range of parties are working on digital infrastructures – from ODISSEI, CLARIAH, KNAW and NWO to museums, archives, libraries, planning agencies, universities and ministries. The LBDI-SSH plays a coordinating role and advises the SSH-council on opportunities, blind spots and priorities.
The importance of a ‘Digital SSH’
What exactly are ‘digital infrastructures’? Dykstra:
“DI – in addition to digital data collection, this also includes software, the methods, tools, secure environments, computer interfaces, data centres…”
She distinguishes between two types of data when using DIs:
1. Ready-Made Data (RMD)
Ready-made data refers to existing datasets that have been collected for purposes other than research, such as government documents, company logs or social media activity, which can be reused for new analytical purposes.
These are sources about history, culture, social relations, paintings, water management – data that needs to be made accessible. You need digital infrastructures for that.
2. Custom-Made Data (CMD)
This approach is often associated with traditional social science research, where data is collected through surveys or experiments designed around a specific question.
Digital SSH as a connecting link
Matthew Salganik, author of ‘Bit by bit: Social research in the digital age’ (2018), discusses in his TEDxPrincetonU lecture entitled ‘Beyond Big Data’ that hybrid strategies combining both types of data offer significant advantages. For example, researchers can enrich big data sources with additional, tailor-made information to improve accuracy and relevance. This combination of approaches is increasingly seen as a powerful method, enabling both scalability and precision.
A strong DI-SSH makes it possible to combine these types of data securely, always within strict safeguards. Dykstra points to social issues where SSH-infrastructures can be of value:
“The Digital SSH that is being developed offers insight into climate issues, the energy transition, and also the theme of health, for example.”
‘Digital SSH’ therefore does not imply exclusivity. Ideally, SSH acts as a connecting link between the arts, sciences and technology and is linked to disciplines such as health, climate and information sciences.
What the LBDI-SSH wants to achieve
The LBDI-SSH is working on a long-term strategy for an integrated Digital SSH, including agreements on how new projects will connect with existing infrastructures such as ODISSEI and CLARIAH.
Dykstra’s ambition as chair
Dykstra is focusing on collaboration, synergy and structural funding. She hopes that more and more researchers will start using digital infrastructures and contribute to building them. She therefore advocates adding an extra profile to ‘Recognition and Rewards‘:
“‘There needs to be a profile for ‘working on DI’. This is scientific work – it makes the work of researchers easier and contributes to the development of knowledge.’
Digital infrastructures as the foundation of science
The SSH-domain cannot do without data, Dykstra emphasises:
“‘”Think of the technical work of linguists, statistical models of sociologists, political scientists, Large Language Models, advanced models of economists… Lawyers now also need data focused on legislation and how it is experienced by people.”
In doing so, she positions Digital SSH not only as a technical necessity, but as an integral part of the urgent issues facing the Netherlands.
A call to the field
She concludes the interview with a clear message to researchers and partners:
“‘”Show ownership. If you identify something, take action – towards NWO, the KNAW and LBDI-SSH… so that we continue to grow and develop as a community.”
Comments, suggestions and questions can be shared with the LBDI-SSH (LBDI-SSH@uu.nl). The secretary of the LBDI-SSH will be happy to assist you.
Conclusion
With the arrival of Pearl Dykstra as the new chair, the LBDI-SSH will have an experienced leader at the end of 2025 who is committed to collaboration, synergy and structural progress. Her ambitions – better accessibility of data, recognition for DI work and broader integration of SSH in major societal challenges – are well aligned with what the Netherlands needs in the coming years.