inzage

Inzage is a Dutch noun that denotes the act of viewing, inspecting, or accessing information held by a person or an organization. The term is used in both private and public contexts, including access to personal data, examination of government records, and review of case files. It derives from the verb inzagen, meaning to inspect or look into.

In legal and administrative contexts, inzage refers to the right or opportunity to inspect information. In data protection law, individuals have the right of access to their personal data—often called the data subject access right—under the General Data Protection Regulation and national implementations. Public authorities and organizations may grant inzage to records under open-government or public-record rules, subject to exemptions for privacy, security, or confidential information. The scope can include a copy of the information or a redacted version when necessary.

Procedures typically require a formal request to the custodian of the records, with appropriate identification and a description of the records sought. Respondents are generally expected to respond within a defined period, such as one month under the GDPR, with possible extensions for complex cases. Fees may be charged for copies or for repeated or extensive requests, depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the records.

Limitations to inzage include privacy protections, trade secrets, ongoing investigations, and safety considerations. In some contexts, non-disclosable information is redacted while still providing access to the permissible parts.

See also: data subject access request, open government, public records, privacy law, right of access.