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Inaccessibility among Dutch retailers
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Dutch retailers accessibility has become a crucial focus for the Netherlands’ online retail sector. A review of 30 prominent online retailers has provided measurable insights into how these companies conform to established guidelines for users with disabilities. With pending legal requirements under the European Accessibility Act, the need to address shortcomings in accessibility is both timely and critical.
The Netherlands enforces accessibility regulations through a structured penalty system to ensure compliance. Infractions are classified based on their legal severity, with corresponding financial consequences: violations fall under the fifth category of criminal offenses, carrying fines of up to €103,000. These penalties highlight the country’s commitment to accessibility while raising concerns about the extent to which organizations adhere to the required standards. Legal enforcement mechanisms underscore the urgency of improving Dutch retailers accessibility to avoid substantial fines.
As in our previous reports, each website was evaluated by our accessibility specialists using a scoring system ranging from 1 to 5. A score of 5 indicates complete adherence to best practices for accessibility, while lower scores highlight areas of concern. The assessment was conducted on home pages, PLPs, PDPs, cart pages and checkouts. This approach provided a quantifiable measure of each retailer’s performance.
Overview of accessibility compliance
The analysis uncovered a broad spread of accessibility scores:
- Only 10% of the retailers achieved a score of 4 or higher.
- 60% of the websites received scores below 3.
- The remaining retailers scored between these ranges, indicating a mix of moderate and critical accessibility issues.
Several recurring shortcomings were observed:
- Missing or inadequate alternative text for images impedes the experience of users who depend on screen readers.
- Faulty heading structures disrupt the logical flow of content.
- Limited keyboard navigation options prevent smooth interaction with essential website features.
- Poor color contrast ratios compromise text readability.
These statistics indicate that accessibility is not yet a central element of the digital strategies employed by many retailers in the Netherlands. This shortfall could lead to both reduced user engagement and increased legal exposure.
Sector analysis
Accessibility performance varied significantly across different retail sectors. While some industries demonstrated progress in addressing key accessibility concerns, others continued to struggle with fundamental barriers.
E-commerce platforms
Retailers in the e-commerce category faced challenges with basic functionalities. The data revealed that approximately 60% of these websites featured unlabeled buttons and form fields, making it difficult for assistive technologies to correctly interpret interactive elements. In addition, the navigation systems often lacked clear focus indicators. The majority of e-commerce sites scored below 3, with several failing to incorporate fundamental semantic markup.
Fashion retailers
In the fashion sector, significant issues were noted concerning visual content. More than 70% of these websites did not provide sufficient alternative text for product images – a factor that severely limits the usability for screen reader users. The study also identified inconsistent keyboard navigation and link labeling as persistent issues. Consequently, most fashion retailers scored below 3, with only a few achieving moderately higher marks through isolated improvements.
Electronics retailers
The electronics sector demonstrated a blend of moderate and severe accessibility challenges. Roughly 50% of the sites exhibited problems related to low contrast text and inadequately labeled forms. These issues were especially pronounced in product specifications and checkout pages, which are critical to user experience. Scores in this sector generally ranged between 2 and 3, with only a few retailers nearing a score of 4. The findings point to a need for improved clarity in both product descriptions and navigational elements.
Call to action
For immediate practical improvements, companies can start by ensuring that every visual asset on their websites is accompanied by a clear and detailed description. This approach will help users who rely on screen readers to fully understand the content, making the digital experience more inclusive. Alongside this, refining website navigation is essential. Reorganizing heading levels and ensuring that interactive elements display clear focus indicators will enhance usability for users who navigate via keyboard controls, making the digital environment more accessible to those with physical limitations.
Attention should also be directed toward improving form design. Websites must undergo a thorough review of all form fields and their labels to ensure clarity and ease of use, especially during critical processes like checkout. Testing these forms with assistive technologies can provide valuable insights into user difficulties and guide necessary adjustments. Beyond these immediate measures, incorporating regular usability testing that involves real users with disabilities will allow companies to make iterative improvements based on practical feedback. This testing should cover both mobile and desktop experiences to provide a complete picture of the accessibility challenges present. Ongoing testing and cross-functional collaboration are essential to improving Dutch retailers’ accessibility before the EAA deadline.
Setting measurable targets based on internal benchmarks derived from the data will enable companies to quantify improvements over time. Documenting progress and sharing reports internally will not only foster accountability but also encourage collaboration across teams. By taking these steps, businesses can significantly enhance their digital accessibility, reducing potential legal risks and expanding their reach to a broader, more diverse audience. The combined effect of these measures will lead to a more inclusive user experience, ultimately benefiting both customers and the company’s bottom line.
By filling the form below, you will receive our full report, featuring a list of the audited retailers, key accessibility challenges they faced, and their corresponding scores.
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