Wetterskip Fryslân

Wetterskip Fryslân facilitates mission-critical laboratory processes via Dutch Sovereign Private Cloud

As a water board, Wetterskip Fryslân is responsible for safe, clean, and sufficient water in Friesland and the Groninger Westerkwartier. To this end, they operate their own laboratory that performs daily analyses on water and soil samples. The information flow surrounding these analyses is managed via the LIMS: the Laboratory Information Management System, which is classified as mission-critical.

"The LIMS is the heart of the laboratory," says Theo Boersma, program manager at Wetterskip. "It’s where we record the entire lifecycle of a sample – from planning and analysis to reporting and invoicing. We must be able to trace everything and are subject to strict annual audits. A well-functioning LIMS is therefore indispensable for our strategic goals." However, after 30 years of loyal service, the current LIMS was reaching its technical limits. And although it still forms a stable foundation for Wetterskip, increasing integration and security requirements made an upgrade inevitable.‍

Looking for a partner with added value

Wetterskip decided to explore the market through a market consultation and later a tender process. This request was not just about renewing the infrastructure, but primarily about finding a party that could host the LIMS platform and support its management, including collaboration with the application vendor. "We wanted to move toward a mature IT setup where we, as a water board, can focus on management and oversight instead of continuing to manage everything ourselves," says ICT architect Gerard Biemolt. "In addition, the solution not only had to be technically sound, but also future-proof and manageable."‍

The right partner at the right time

During the market consultation, Fundaments stood out positively. Theo: "They were well-prepared, arrived with a full delegation, provided clear substantive answers, and demonstrated a constructive attitude." That impression held firm during subsequent meetings. "At no point did it feel like a sales pitch," Gerard agrees. "They were transparent about previous experiences, lessons learned, and how they had implemented mitigating measures. When we contacted one of their clients, they also confirmed that Fundaments has a high level of openness and a strong capacity for learning."‍

Strategic timing: control over data becomes a top priority

After the partnership began, Wetterskip discovered that what initially seemed like a "nice bonus" at the start of the project was actually a decisive advantage: Fundaments offers a 100% Dutch, sovereign cloud environment. Partly due to geopolitical developments and the arrival of the Data Cloud Act, that feature suddenly became invaluable. "A few years ago, no one asked exactly where the data was stored," explains Theo. "But now, sovereignty plays a major role. With Fundaments, we are certain that our data is beyond the reach of foreign legislation. For an organization like ours, which works with sensitive infrastructure data, that is of critical importance."‍

Quality, security, and integration

The project is still ongoing, but the initial experiences are positive. Fundaments provides the infrastructure, actively contributes ideas regarding the application layer, and implements adjustments along the way when practical needs arise. "It’s the total package," Theo concludes. "They are clear from the start and know how to organize things well technically. And if things get difficult, they work with us to find a solution that works. That is important, because the implementation of LIMS 2.0 is a strategic project for Wetterskip that other water boards are also watching with interest. Because of the technology, and because LIMS 2.0 will soon meet the strictest requirements in terms of quality, compliance, security, and integration." "It feels like open-heart surgery," Gerard summarizes. "But we are fully confident that it will be a success and that our LIMS will last for decades to come."

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