NRGD Annual report 2025

What began in 2010 as an ambitious quality register for the criminal justice system has grown into a firmly established quality assurance organisation within the administration of justice. For fifteen years, we have worked together with experts, criminal justice partners and international colleagues towards one clear objective: reliable, transparent and independently assessed forensic expertise in the courtroom.

The forensic field is evolving technologically, legally and socially. The NRGD evolves with it. In this annual report, you can read how, throughout 2025, we continued to strengthen standards, assessment procedures, recognition and the resilience of forensic experts.

Our sincere thanks go to everyone who has contributed over the past fifteen years to the quality and independence of forensic expert work in the Netherlands. We look back with pride and look ahead with confidence.

Henk van den Heuvel
Chair of the Board of Court Experts (NRGD)

This annual report provides an overview of the main developments and activities. For additional information, subscribe to the NRGD newsletter.

About the NRGD

The NRGD is the quality assurance organisation for forensic expertise within the Dutch legal system. Collaboration is central to its work, both nationally and internationally. The NRGD ensures that forensic experts and their reports comply with applicable national and international standards. In doing so, the register contributes to confidence in forensic expertise within the administration of justice.

As an independent and transparent organisation, the NRGD promotes and safeguards the quality of forensic expertise. It also stimulates the further development of the forensic field as a whole. Its core activities focus on regulation, advice and knowledge exchange.

In close cooperation with experts and criminal justice partners, the NRGD develops quality standards for a broad range of fields of expertise. For each field, uniform, objective and transparent requirements are established with regard to knowledge, experience and professional attitude.

Quality is safeguarded through the assessment of experts against these standards prior to registration. Every five years, registered experts are reassessed on the basis of the standards in force at that time. In addition, the NRGD may recognise training programmes. The Board of Court Experts decides on admission to the register and may, where necessary, remove experts from the register if they no longer meet the applicable standards.

Results and Developments in 2025

• 15th Anniversary Symposium: In a Changing Landscape
• Appointment of a new Board member representing the Police
• Joint study by Maastricht University and the NRGD: The Use of Experts by the Defence
• Opening of the field of expertise Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
• Updated Assessment Framework for Legal Psychology (Version 3.0)
• Addendum to the NRGD Code of Conduct concerning the use of AI
• Round Table Meeting with criminal justice partners
• Recognition of NFI fields of expertise: Weapons and Ammunition, Gunshot Residue and Toxicology
• Publication of the draft Assessment Framework for Radiology
• Presentations at the European Academy of Forensic Science Conference (EAFS)
• Project: Strengthening the Resilience of Experts
• Revised Assessment Advice Form for assessors
• Survey on new fields of expertise
• Completion and publication of ISO standards
• Training course for international assessors from Northern Ireland, Belgium, Ireland, Finland and Scotland

Fields of expertise

Since its establishment in 2010, the NRGD has, in close cooperation with the forensic community, developed standards for and opened 14 fields of expertise comprising 20 subdisciplines:

• Forensic Psychiatry, Psychology and Orthopedagogy, with four subdisciplines
• DNA Analysis and Interpretation, with four subdisciplines
• Handwriting Examination
• Drugs, with two subdisciplines
• Forensic Toxicology
• Forensic Examination of Weapons and Ammunition
• Assessment under the Weapons and Ammunition Act
• Forensic Pathology
• Digital Forensics, with six subdisciplines
• Legal Psychology, with three subdisciplines
• Forensic Medical Examination, with two subdisciplines
• Gunshot Residue Examination
• Forensic Financial Investigation
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Radiology is currently under development as a field of expertise.

Further development of standards and assessment procedures

Forensic Psychiatry, Psychology and Orthopedagogy (FPPO)

To further enhance the uniformity and transparency of its assessment procedures, the NRGD engaged Cito, a Dutch organisation specialising in educational assessment and testing, to provide expert advice. It was decided to start with the field of expertise FPPO, after which the remaining fields of expertise will follow in phases. In consultation with the assessors, the assessment form and the accompanying work instruction for FPPO were revised and refined. One of the improvements is the introduction of scoring for each individual assessment criterion. Since 1 April 2025, assessors have been working with the revised assessment form. Scoring each criterion separately makes the underlying considerations more transparent and contributes to a more clearly substantiated final assessment.

In the second quarter of 2025, the NRGD and the Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (NIFP) jointly organised meetings for NIFP feedback providers and NRGD assessors. The aim was to explore how both roles can reinforce one another in promoting the quality of Pro Justitia reports. The meetings focused on the exchange of experiences and the discussion of case studies. Participants responded positively to the initiative. The concept will serve as the basis for a broader session for all feedback providers during the NIFP Quality Days in 2026.

From 6 to 9 March 2025, the NRGD attended the Forensic Masterclasses Davos, a conference for Pro Justitia report writers. The NRGD also participated in the NIFP Quality Days for feedback providers and in the annual Pro Justitia Report Writers’ Day. In addition, the NRGD attended the symposium marking the 75th anniversary of the Pieter Baan Centre (PBC) and the TBS Conference. These activities help the NRGD stay connected to developments, experiences and emerging issues within the professional field.

Digital Forensics (DFO)

In 2025, the Assessment Framework for Digital Forensics (DFO) was substantively revised and strengthened. This was done in consultation with national and international experts and the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI). Particular attention was paid to defining the boundaries of the field of expertise and to determining where technical procedures transition into forensic interpretation. The importance of thorough reporting and reproducibility was also further emphasised. Experts are expected not only to describe their findings, but also to make explicit the underlying assumptions, limitations and uncertainties. This strengthens the transparency and reviewability of forensic examinations.

With this development, the NRGD aligns itself with international developments, including insights from ISO 21043 and publications by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The revised Assessment Framework places particular emphasis on systematic methodologies, validation and transparency.

At the same time, the project with Cito was continued, focusing on the assessment of experts without relying on traditional expert reports. Together, the parties are developing assessment instruments that reflect the complexity of the discipline and evaluate not only technical skills but also analytical and interpretative capabilities.

Forensic Financial Investigation (FFO)

In 2025, an FFO peer consultation meeting was organised, during which assessment procedures and developments within the field were discussed.

The NRGD also further intensified its cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Institute of Chartered Accountants (NBA). As part of this collaboration, the NRGD delivered a presentation to the NBA’s Forensic Accountants Working Group, providing information about the register, admission requirements and the Assessment Framework for Forensic Financial Investigation. This contributed to greater awareness of the field of expertise and to the further positioning and embedding of forensic financial investigation within the criminal justice context.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA)

In 2025, the field of expertise Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) was officially opened.

Following approval of the Assessment Framework at the end of 2024, the assessment of assessors commenced in 2025. The first experts have now been successfully registered. This marks another step in strengthening forensic quality within this specialised field.

Within BPA, three phases are distinguished:

• Documentation
• Classification
• Evaluation

NRGD-registered BPA experts have been assessed on all three phases.

To increase international visibility, the NRGD presented the field of expertise at the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI).

Legal Psychology

In 2025, the Assessment Framework for Legal Psychology (Version 3.0) was adopted.
Key changes include:

• Removal of the subdiscipline Deception Detection (009.2).
• Strengthening of scientific substantiation requirements: the Assessment Framework now more explicitly requires that conclusions and sub-conclusions be supported by recent scientific literature.

These changes ensure that the Assessment Framework is more closely aligned with current scientific knowledge and developments.

Forensic Medical Examination (FMO)

In 2022, the field of expertise Forensic Medical Examination (FMO) was opened within the NRGD. Dutch forensic medicine occupies a distinctive position internationally, as forensic physicians conduct examinations of both living persons and deceased individuals. This dual orientation makes the discipline both broad in scope and complex in nature.

The field of expertise FMO, as standardised by the NRGD, initially focuses on two core subjects:

• Injury Examination
• Sexual Offence Examination

Within both subdisciplines, the emphasis is on the forensic interpretation and reporting of medical findings, involving both adults and minors, and relating to both living and deceased persons.

In 2025, the first experts from the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) were registered through the recognition route. This means that experts who have successfully completed a recognised training programme can be admitted to the register following an administrative assessment. This approach prevents unnecessary duplicate assessments and shortens the registration process without compromising quality standards.

The NRGD is currently exploring whether other training programmes and institutions may also qualify for recognition. In doing so, it continues to strengthen and broaden the quality framework within the field of forensic medicine.

Ad Hoc expertise

Since 2020, the NRGD has offered a set of five tools for experts working in fields of expertise that have not been standardised by the NRGD and that have little or no experience reporting within the criminal justice system, as well as for those who commission their work.

These tools include an e-learning module, a reporting template and the opportunity to receive feedback on a report from an experienced NRGD assessor. To date, almost 30 requests for feedback have been received. Evaluation of the initiative shows that experts are highly positive about this tool and the other support instruments available.

The tools are freely accessible through the NRGD website. In 2025, the webpage dedicated to ad hoc expertise continued to attract consistently high visitor numbers.

Recognition of training programmes

The NRGD's recognition policy is an important instrument in safeguarding the quality of forensic expertise. The policy is based on a clear principle: when an organisation can demonstrate that it provides a robust training programme and an independent examination process that meet NRGD standards, recognition can contribute to both efficient and sustainable quality assurance.

Recognition is granted only after a thorough, multi-year process. This process includes the following requirements:

• An independent visitation committee assesses the training programme and examination process (initially, after two years, and subsequently every five years).
• An NRGD-appointed representative serves on the examination board.
• This representative supervises compliance with NRGD standards.
• The representative maintains an independent position in relation to the training organisation.
• The representative holds veto rights if the required quality standards are not met.
• The recognised training programme is required to submit periodic progress reports.

This creates a hybrid system of quality assurance: delegating responsibility where possible, while maintaining individual assessment where necessary. The NRGD remains ultimately responsible for quality while avoiding unnecessary duplication of assessments.

Recognition of NFI training programmes

In 2023, 2024 and 2025, several visitations were conducted at the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI). These visitations were carried out by independent committees consisting of national and international experts.
As a result, recognition was granted for the following fields of expertise:

• DNA
• Forensic Pathology
• Drugs
• Forensic Medical Examination
• Forensic Examination of Weapons and Ammunition
• Gunshot Residue Examination
• Forensic Toxicology

These recognitions have ensured that a substantial part of the NFI's core forensic expertise is now structurally embedded within the NRGD quality assurance system.

The visitations not only resulted in formal recognition but also contributed to the further development of curricula, examination procedures and quality assurance mechanisms. In this way, the recognition policy serves a dual purpose: safeguarding quality while simultaneously stimulating further professionalisation.
Another strong example of the effectiveness of the recognition system is the two-year Pro Justitia training programme offered by the Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (NIFP).

New Fields of Expertise

Radiology

Forensic Radiology forms part of forensic post-mortem investigations. Radiological examinations may be conducted when a death has occurred under suspicious circumstances. The findings of such examinations may be decisive in determining whether further investigation into the cause of death is required. Radiological examinations may also be performed at the request of a pathologist as part of a judicial autopsy.

In 2025, the draft Assessment Framework for Radiology was published for public consultation. The feedback received is currently being processed. The field of expertise is expected to be opened for registration in 2026.

A register of experts for the entire judiciary

The judiciary has repeatedly expressed the need for a quality register that covers not only criminal law but also civil and administrative law. Expanding the scope of the NRGD requires legislative amendment. Despite ongoing efforts, it once again became clear in 2025 that insufficient priority is currently being given to this development.

The NRGD remains committed to advancing this objective.

Mediation

On 6 July 2022, the Dutch House of Representatives adopted the Ellian–Knops motion, requesting the government to promote the development of a single central register for mediators.

The NRGD considers that placing mediators within an existing, independent quality assurance organisation serving the judiciary would most directly reflect the intention of the motion and address the need for uniform standards, transparent assessment procedures and public oversight.

The NRGD therefore remains available to support the implementation of this mandate.

State of implementation

The NRGD strives to carry out its statutory responsibilities as efficiently and effectively as possible. By identifying both internal and external challenges and actively addressing them, the NRGD continuously works to improve its processes, services and quality assurance activities. In doing so, it is important not only to reflect on achievements already realised, but also to anticipate developments that may affect the register in the future.

Capacity and growth of the register

In 2019, the NRGD received additional funding in recognition of the growth of the register up to that point. Since then, the register has expanded further with the addition of five new fields of expertise. This expansion has resulted in ongoing structural activities, including the development of standards, assessment and re-registration procedures, maintenance of assessment frameworks, support for assessors and the monitoring of quality.

However, this expansion of responsibilities has not been matched by a proportional structural increase in staffing levels, despite the continued growth in both the scale and diversity of forensic expertise. With a workforce of 11 FTE, the NRGD carries out both its existing and newly added responsibilities. The maintenance of 14 fields of expertise and 20 subdisciplines places a continuing burden on the organisation. As a result, available staff capacity is increasingly under pressure.

In addition, the NRGD is increasingly valued for its broader role in stimulating quality developments, for example in relation to ad hoc experts and emerging applications of artificial intelligence.

To safeguard continuity, the NRGD continues to invest strongly in efficiency and digitalisation. Examples include:

• Optimisation of internal work processes;
• Use of digital systems for assessments and case file management;
• Use of translation software provided through the Ministry of Justice and Security instead of external translation agencies;
• Application of the recognition policy to avoid unnecessary duplicate assessments.

While these measures contribute to efficiency, they can only partially mitigate the structural pressure on organisational capacity.

Advisory role and quality assurance in a changing landscape

The Ministry of Justice and Security has asked the NRGD to contribute to the development of conditions for quality assurance and future-proof oversight within a broader forensic landscape in which public, semi-public and private organisations operate alongside one another.

To support this work, the NRGD has developed a research proposal, which will be carried out in 2026 in cooperation with an external partner.

Financial pressure and prioritisation

In 2025, it became clear that no additional funding would be made available for the expansion of the NRGD's responsibilities. On the contrary, the NRGD is facing budgetary constraints and required cost-saving measures.
In consultation with the Ministry, it was therefore decided not to open any additional fields of expertise for the time being. This decision was made in order to continue safeguarding the quality and diligence of activities within the existing fields of expertise. Expanding the register without adequate supporting resources and conditions could compromise the NRGD's core mission.

This prioritisation means that, in the coming period, the NRGD will focus on:

• Maintaining and updating existing fields of expertise;
• Ensuring timely and thorough registration and re-registration procedures;
• Strengthening information management and compliance;
• Safeguarding independence and quality within a changing forensic landscape.

As forensic science and technology continue to expand and as societal and legal expectations regarding quality and transparency increase, it remains essential that quality assurance keeps pace with developments in the field.

The NRGD remains committed to fulfilling its statutory responsibilities to the highest standard. At the same time, it emphasises that the sustainable safeguarding of quality requires appropriate and long-term structural conditions and resources.

Advisory role

International / ISO

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent international organisation that develops standards to ensure that producers and users of products and services have a common understanding of the requirements that must be met. This is equally relevant to forensic science: how evidence should be collected, how traces and materials should be examined, how findings should be interpreted, and how forensic reports should be prepared.

After thirteen years of international consultation and collaboration, ISO 21043 was finalised. The publication of this standard marks an important step in the worldwide professionalisation of forensic science.

Throughout the development process, the Dutch criminal justice partners—the Police, the Public Prosecution Service and the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI)—together with the NRGD, played an influential and coordinated role. By combining expertise, diplomacy and determination, they helped shape key decisions within the standardisation process. The legal expertise represented within the Dutch delegation made a significant contribution and was widely recognised and appreciated by international partners. The Netherlands played a particularly leading role, providing two of the three lead editors responsible for drafting the standard.

At the end of June 2025, the final result was published as a broadly supported global standard. The standard reflects not only international consensus, but also the progressive nature of Dutch forensic practice. As an example of successful cooperation across the criminal justice chain, the process demonstrates what can be achieved through sustained and consistent commitment at the international level.

The legal profession

In 2025, the results of a study conducted jointly by the NRGD and Maastricht University were published in the Netherlands Journal for Legal Professionals (Nederlands Juristenblad) . The exploratory study serves as a starting point for more targeted follow-up research and shows that the defence encounters a number of obstacles when engaging forensic experts.

The study indicates that the defence perceives itself to be at a disadvantage compared with the Public Prosecution Service and the judiciary. One of the main obstacles identified is financial in nature. In addition, the study found that awareness of the NRGD and its role is limited among defence lawyers.

The publication of the article prompted the NRGD to strengthen its engagement with the defence community and to provide more information about its work, including through presentations and lectures for criminal defence lawyers.

Knowledge sharing

Newsletter, articles and social media

The NRGD aims to actively inform criminal justice partners, experts and other stakeholders about developments in forensic science and forensic expertise. To support this objective, a post is published on LinkedIn every week. In 2025, the number of followers on the platform grew to more than 2,000.

As part of the NRGD's 15th anniversary celebrations, a round table discussion was organised, with participation from, among others, representatives of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands. In addition, a series of interviews was conducted with members of the Board of Court Experts, experts from newly developing fields of expertise, PhD researchers and other stakeholders. To mark the NRGD's 15th anniversary, these contributions were brought together in a commemorative publication.

Strengthening the resilience of experts

The NRGD actively contributes to the working group dedicated to strengthening the resilience of experts in response to the increasing incidence of inappropriate treatment, threats and intimidation directed at forensic experts. The working group also includes representatives from other expert organisations, such as the NIFP, NFI, LDM, LRGD, STAB and NIVRE.

In 2025, the Working Group on Expert Resilience commissioned research into the safety of court experts. The study was intended to provide insight into the extent to which experts encounter aggression, threats and intimidation, and to assess the impact of such experiences.

The findings indicate that a significant proportion of experts have experienced some form of intimidation, particularly in the field of civil law.

The Working Group is currently reviewing the results of the study and will consider what measures may be necessary in response.

Operations

General

Over the past years, considerable effort has been invested in developing policies, establishing procedures and implementing IT systems. Throughout this process, the organisation has maintained a focus not only on what is working well, but also on identifying areas where further improvement is possible.

Board of court experts

The Board of Court Experts underwent several changes in 2025. Jan van Manen stepped down from the Board, where he served as the representative of the Police, upon reaching the age of 70.
In 2025, the NRGD welcomed his successor, Toine van Loenhout, as the new Board member representing the Police.

Toine van Loenhout sees a growing importance within both the Police and the specialised investigative services in developing and applying forensic quality standards. The work of the NRGD aligns closely with this need and provides a valuable impetus for the future development of quality standards within criminal investigations.

Case management and applications

In 2025, the NRGD processed 154 applications across 14 fields of expertise. These consisted of 105 re-registration applications and 49 initial applications.

Across all fields of expertise, a total of 16 applications were rejected, including 7 within the field of Forensic Psychiatry, Psychology and Orthopedagogy (FPPO) and 5 within the field of Forensic Medical Examination (FMO).

In 2025, 23 applications were submitted through the fast-track route based on recognised training programmes: 17 within FPPO and 6 from the NFI following the recognition granted in 2024.
The average processing time for an application in 2025 was approximately three months. Applications submitted through the recognition route were registered within three weeks. These applications no longer require a duplicate substantive assessment.

Objections

At the end of 2025, the NRGD had received two notices of objection. These cases will be dealt with in early 2026.

Appeals

In 2025, one ongoing appeal case was concluded. The court declared the appeal well-founded and annulled the contested decision, following which the NRGD granted conditional registration. No new appeal cases are currently pending.

Complaints

The NRGD did not receive any complaints in 2025.

Notifications

In 2025, two notifications concerning registered court experts were received. One notification related to a disciplinary reprimand. This did not result in the removal of the expert's NRGD registration. The second notification remains under consideration.

GDPR access requests

In 2025, the NRGD received and handled one access request under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It was established that the NRGD did not process any personal data relating to the applicant. Any personal data processed by the NRGD in the course of handling the request were deleted after completion of the procedure.

Open government act requests

The NRGD did not receive any requests under the Dutch Open Government Act (Woo) in 2025.

Information management and regulatory compliance

The NRGD has its information management fundamentals in order and participates in the Dutch government programme Open on Order (Open op Orde).

Open government act

Information that must be published under the Open Government Act is made available through the Woo Index (Register of Government Organisations), with links to the NRGD website.

GDPR

The NRGD has achieved maturity level 3, thereby meeting the maturity level required by the Ministry of Justice and Security. NRGD staff actively participate in the awareness programme How Alert Are You? (Hoe alert ben jij?).

My NRGD

The registration process has been fully digitised, from the submission of an application through to the Board's final decision.

A valuable addition for applicants will be the My NRGD portal, through which applicants will be able to track the status of their applications, update personal information, submit re-registration applications and view all current and expired registrations.

Further progress was made in 2025, including the implementation of two-factor authentication, updates to the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), and preparations for DigiD authentication. The My NRGD portal is expected to be launched during the first quarter of 2026.

IT

The NRGD website is hosted through the Dutch Government Online Platform (Platform Rijksoverheid Online), is connected to the central government web archiving solution, and complies with applicable internet standards.

• NRGD workstations are provided through SSC-ICT.
• A NIS2 evaluation was conducted with support from ICTU.

KleinLef

As a small organisation, the NRGD benefits from participation in the KleinLef collaboration network, which facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise across a range of areas.
In 2025, discussions within this network included the statutory evaluation framework applicable to independent administrative authorities.

WODC Research

In 2024, the NRGD contributed to a study conducted by the Research and Data Centre (WODC) entitled Public Registers of the Ministry of Justice and Security and the Judiciary in Relation to Data Protection.
The study was commissioned jointly by the Council for the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice and Security and examined public registers managed by both organisations, including the NRGD. The final report was completed in 2025.

Actual

The overspend amounted to €66,000. This was primarily due to one-off costs related to the 15th anniversary symposium and investments in IT to strengthen the organisation's information management and digital infrastructure.