Digital accessibility: How to prepare your webshop for the European Accessibility Act
Written by Maud Kaspers
Many people do not realize that millions of Dutch people cannot use websites or web shops as a matter of course. This applies, for example, to people who are partially sighted, blind or color-blind, to elderly people with hearing or reading difficulties, or to people who cannot use a mouse. For these groups it is very important that websites and web shops are accessible. And as of June 2025, this will no longer be a choice, but a legal requirement.
What is the European Accessibility Act and what does it mean for your webshop?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a European Union directive on digital accessibility. The EAA requires products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities. This applies, for example, to ATMs, ticket machines, telephones and also to web shops and digital platforms. This means that companies offering digital products or services must comply with guidelines that ensure accessibility. Smaller companies (with up to 10 employees and a turnover of up to 2 million euros) are excluded. The digital accessibility guidelines have been in effect in the Netherlands since 2022 and will be enforced as of June 2025. But even if your webshop is not required to meet the requirements, it is of course advisable to take accessibility into account.
What can happen if you do not make your shop accessible?
If your web shop is not accessible to this target group, you will not only lose sales, but it can also have legal consequences. Because accessibility is required by law, you can get into trouble if you do not meet the requirements.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): Your guide to accessibility
The WCAG guidelines provide a practical guide to making sure your Web site is accessible to everyone. These guidelines are divided into three levels: - Level A: These are the basic requirements that ensure minimum accessibility, such as adding alternative text for images and avoiding color as the only visual indicator; - Level AA: This is considered the standard for broader accessibility, such as ensuring adequate color contrast between text and background; - Level AAA: This level provides the highest level of accessibility, which includes extended audio descriptions for videos to enhance the experience for all users.
The 4 principles of digital accessibility
To make sure your website or online store is accessible to everyone, there are four principles to consider:1. ObservableMake sure everything on your website is visible or audible to everyone. For example, add alternative text to images so that people who cannot see the image can still understand the information.2. OperableYour website should be easy to use, even for people who cannot use a mouse. Make sure the navigation is also accessible by keyboard.3. UnderstandableMake your website understandable to both humans and software. This includes indicating the language of the website in the code so that screen readers can read the text in the correct language. In addition, forms, for example, should clearly indicate where a mistake was made when filling out the form.4. RobustYour website or app should function well on different devices and with various tools. This means, for example, that you indicate for each element on your website what its name, role and value are, so that they are also usable by people with disabilities.
How to optimize your webshop for accessibility
An accessible webshop is essential for improving the user experience of all visitors, regardless of their disabilities. Here are some important points to consider when optimizing:- Alternative text for imagesMake sure that every image on your website has clear alternative text, so that screen readers can read the content aloud to visually impaired users- Contrast and font sizeMake sure there is enough contrast between text and background and choose a font that is large enough. Also offer the ability to adjust the text size for people with visual impairments.- NavigationMake the website navigable via keyboard controls and provide a logical sequence of content so that even people who don't use a mouse can easily move through your website.- Subtitles for videosMake sure that videos include subtitles or that there is an option to turn subtitles on and off so that even users with hearing impairments can understand the content.
Conclusion
Digital accessibility is not only a legal requirement, but also an opportunity to better tailor your web shop to the needs of all users. Also for the large group that currently cannot store online everywhere. Implementing WCAG standards and ensuring an accessible user experience can help you appeal to a wider customer base and avoid legal problems. Start preparing today so that your online shop is ready for the enforcement of the European Accessibility Act. You can read more about the EEA here. Want to know more about WCAG and how to make your shop more accessible? The website wcag.nl offers a free web scan. You can also go there for more information and advice on your specific website.
