Contactgegevens

Contactgegevens is a Dutch term referring to information used to contact a person or organization. In practice, it encompasses basic identifiers and channels of communication that enable outreach, verification, and service delivery.

Typical elements include a name, street address or postal address, telephone number, email address, and a website. Depending on the context, it may also include a department or title, company name, and social media handles or fax number. For individuals, contactgegevens facilitate personal or professional contact; for organizations, they support customer service, correspondence, and official notices.

Use and processing: contactgegevens are collected to establish communication, fulfill contractual obligations, or comply with legal duties. Data should be accurate, up-to-date and only collected for specified purposes. In many jurisdictions, their handling is governed by privacy and data protection laws such as GDPR in the EU, which require transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, security, and respect for data subject rights (access, correction, deletion). Transfers across borders may require safeguards.

Format and maintenance: on websites, contactgegevens are typically presented on a contact page and in privacy notices. Data formats vary; phone numbers may follow international formats (E.164), emails must be valid, and addresses should follow local postal conventions. Regular updates and secure storage help prevent misuse and leakage.

Legal and practical notes: organisations should distinguish public contactgegevens (public-facing) from personal data shared under specific consents, and avoid publishing sensitive information. Privacy notices should describe how contactgegevens are used and stored.