I fully support your view on the immense value of open data access via Web APIs. Each days that passes without Truvo, Infrabel, De Lijn, MIVB, VRT, VDAB etc. offering a Web Service for third parties to plug into, represents a significant economic loss, which will only grow in time.

Sitting on your own data amounts to putting your money under the mattress. The potential growth rate offered by third-party application and business development goes way beyond the 20th century DIY innovation style that our big Belgian (and Flemish) companies are so ridiculously fond and proud of. Frankly, this is a disgrace that we as a professional development and advertising community should no longer accept.

Message of hope: the pressure is mounting. Yesterday at the iMinds conference in Ghent there was a lot of talk in the hallways about the stubborn and short-sighted closedness of our leading companies. Coalitions for change are being formed as we speak.

So no more “Yes we can”, but “Yes we must”.

As Raymond Van Het Groenewoud would say: nu, maintenant, tout de suite, heute GVD!