With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) taking effect on June 28, 2025, certain online stores and websites will need to meet European accessibility requirements. But what does that mean in practice? And which businesses with a WordPress website or online store must comply?
In this guide, we’ll break it down for you. Given the various interpretations of the law, we consulted an ICT legal expert to ensure accuracy.
Table of Contents
- What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
- What does the 2025 Digital Accessibility Law say?
- Does this law apply to you?
- Exemptions for small businesses
- Is the deadline really that strict?
- The benefits of an accessible website
- What can you do?
1. What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The EAA is not a law but a European directive requiring member states to create national laws that ensure digital products and services are accessible to people with disabilities.
By June 28, 2025, all EU countries, including the Netherlands, must have implemented this directive into their own legislation. In the Netherlands, this law is called the Implementation Act on Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services, commonly referred to as the Digital Accessibility Law 2025.
2. What does the Digital Accessibility Law 2025 require?
The law states that providers of products and services must ensure that consumers with disabilities have proper access to digital platforms.
For example, if a visually impaired person wants to buy a train ticket on the official Country Railroad (NS) website, the site must be accessible—for instance, by offering a screen reader-friendly option.
While the law requires businesses to improve accessibility, it does not specify exact technical standards. Instead, it follows four key principles:
1️⃣ Perceivable – Information must be available in multiple formats (e.g., text and audio).
2️⃣ Operable – The website must be usable via different input methods (e.g., keyboard and mouse).
3️⃣ Understandable – Navigation and content should be clear and intuitive.
4️⃣ Robust – The website should function properly without unexpected errors.
Since these principles are broad, many experts recommend following the WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines, which provide concrete ways to achieve compliance. However, the EAA does not explicitly mandate WCAG 2.1 compliance—at least not yet.
If you’re unsure how to improve your WordPress site’s accessibility, check out our WCAG 2.1 implementation guide for WordPress.
3. Does the Digital Accessibility Law apply to you?
Now that we know what the law requires, the big question is: Does your business need to comply?
First, making your website accessible is always a good idea—not just for legal reasons, but to ensure inclusivity for all users. However, not every website is legally required to comply.
Who must comply?
✔ Government websites (already required to be accessible).
✔ Companies that manufacture or supply physical devices such as computers, ATMs, ticket machines, and e-readers.
✔ Businesses offering financial or media services, such as:
- Online banking
- Loans and mortgages
- Streaming platforms (TV, movies, and series)
✔ E-commerce businesses that sell products or services directly through a website, app, or online store.
Who Is exempt?
❌ B2B (business-to-business) websites are not required to comply.
❌ Affiliate websites that redirect users to third-party platforms (where transactions take place elsewhere).
❌ B2C (business-to-consumer) websites with only a contact form or quote request (unless users can directly place and pay for orders online).
If your website falls into any of the required categories, you may need to start preparing for compliance. But before you panic—there’s one more important exemption to consider.
4. Exemptions for small businesses
Even if your website falls under the law’s scope, you may still be exempt if your business qualifies as a micro-enterprise.
You are exempt if your business:
✅ Has fewer than 10 full-time employees (FTE) AND
✅ Has an annual turnover of less than €2 million OR a balance sheet total of less than €2 million
If either of these conditions does not apply, your business is not considered a micro-enterprise and must comply with the law.
⚠ Note: If your business is part of a larger group (e.g., a holding company), the entire group’s financial figures may be considered.
5. Is the deadline really that strict?
The official deadline is June 28, 2025.
While the EU directive mentions a transition period until 2030 (applicable to existing contracts and infrastructure), the Dutch law is not clear on this. As it stands, you should assume you must comply by June 28, 2025 if the law applies to you.
6. The benefits of an accessible website
Beyond legal compliance, making your WordPress website accessible has several advantages:
✅ Reach a larger audience – Improve user experience for millions of people with disabilities.
✅ Better usability for all – Accessibility improvements benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.
✅ SEO boost – Search engines prioritize accessible websites, improving your rankings.
7. What can you do?
Compliance might seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into steps can make it manageable:
1️⃣ Check if the EAA applies to your website or webshop.
2️⃣ Assess your site’s current accessibility.
3️⃣ Implement improvements (consider following WCAG 2.1 Level AA for best results).
4️⃣ Get expert advice for your situation.
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