About Arjen Brienen

What I do

I help government organisations get a grip on their data. I do this by breaking down data challenges and turning them into concrete outcomes: an information model, a standard, an exchange specification, a data strategy that does not end up on a shelf. I prefer not to deliver advisory reports that do not lead to such an outcome.

About the photos on this site

The landscape photos on this site are my own, most of them taken from the saddle. I am an avid cyclist and prefer wide-open spaces: broad polders, long horizons, the kind of landscapes where you have room to think through a problem without being interrupted. That sense of openness reflects something about how I approach my work. A good information model provides an overview of an entire domain, not just the narrow view of a single form; it lets you see the contours before you zoom in on the details. The photos are a small tribute to that attitude, and to the possibilities that a clear view affords.

How I work

Semantics first. I start with the conceptual framework, not the schema. If parties do not agree on what “client” or “decision” means, no API built on top of that will hold up.

Models that can be explained. My models are read by policy makers, architects and vendors alike. That means: explicit definitions, traceable design choices, and documentation that speaks for itself.

Delivered, not just handed over. A model is only finished when it is actually in use somewhere. I therefore prefer to work on projects where implementation runs in parallel, not afterwards.

Background

I have been working at the intersection of data, standardisation and government policy since 2003. Methodologically, my work is rooted in UML, SKOS and the linked-data tradition; practically, it has been shaped by long-standing collaboration with municipalities, executive agencies and standardisation bodies. I am affiliated with TU Delft as a guest researcher.

Clients

Recent and current clients: ICTU, Edustandaard, VNG-Realisatie, NVVK, Zorginstituut Nederland, Ketenbureau iSociaal Domein, Aedes, Gemeente Delft, Forum Standaardisatie, Ministerie van VWS, Archeologie Delft, Stadsarchief Delft, the municipalities of Deventer, Olst-Wijhe and Raalte (DOWRi), Kadaster and RvIG (via Haal Centraal). In earlier years: Ministerie van VWS, KING, ICTU, BKWI, UWV and various municipalities.