Dossiernummer

Dossiernummer, literally "dossier number" in Dutch, is a unique identifier assigned to a dossier or file within an organization. It serves as a stable reference for tracking, retrieving, and managing documents and records related to a case, a person, or a subject.

It is used across many domains, including government administration, legal proceedings, healthcare, education, finance, and human resources. In most systems, the dossiernummer is the primary key used in databases and filing processes, appearing on correspondence, in online portals, and on physical file labels to link all documents to the same file.

Formats vary by organization. Dossiernummers are typically alphanumeric, potentially encoding information such as year, department, or case type. Some systems use numeric sequences, others employ prefixes or separators. The exact format is determined by internal data models and retention policies to ensure uniqueness and longevity.

Lifecycle and governance: When a dossier is created, a dossiernummer is issued and remains associated with all related records throughout the dossier’s lifecycle. It supports search, workflow, and auditing. As records are closed or archived, the number continues to identify historical data, subject to privacy protections and deletion schedules.

Within a jurisdiction, a dossiernummer often coexists with other identifiers such as docket numbers, file numbers, or reference codes. The terminology and exact usage vary by country and organization, but the underlying purpose is common: to uniquely identify and reference a coherent set of documents.