Free National Blockchain Course for everyone

Dutch Blockchain Coalition launches free online course to provide the Netherlands with a good basic knowledge of blockchain.

What is blockchain and how does it work? How do you know when to use blockchain? And do you need the ability to program to use blockchain? For everyone who has heard of blockchain, but doesn't know what to do with blockchain yet, the Dutch Blockchain Coalition (DBC) launches the National Blockchain Course. This free online course will be available to everyone from Thursday 14 November 2019 via nationaleblockchaincursus.nl.

During the course a broad group of blockchain connoisseurs will explain the possibilities and challenges of blockchain. Prince Constantijn (TechLeap.NL) and former mayor of Eindhoven Rob van Gijzel (chairman of the Dutch Blockchain Coalition) will speak, supported by specialists from different companies and organisations that are affiliated with the coalition and startups that develop blockchain applications.

His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn van Oranje: "I think it is important that people understand what blockchain is really about so that they can decide for themselves to what extent it is relevant to them. Like, for example, artificial intelligence, this is a very important technology with a huge impact on society and economy, so it's important for everyone to understand what it's all about."

By attending the course, participants learn what blockchain is, what you can do with it, what kinds there are, and when it really has an added value. You will also know more about the legal issues and how energy consumption and blockchain, for example, works. Not only from a theoretical point of view, but also from a practical point of view. Unlocking such knowledge is of great importance to make the Netherlands one of the global leaders in the field of new transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain.

Katja van Kranenburg, partner at CMS and lead Human Capital Agenda DBC: "The course will help you gain knowledge about blockchain in an accessible way. Knowledge about what new technologies such as blockchain can mean for your work, your education or your future job, so you can think better about possible applications and work on them. ”

The online course, which you can follow via the e-Learning platform of the Open University, stems from the vision of the Dutch Blockchain Coalition that blockchain should be used for the benefit of society. In order to achieve this, it is crucial that the general public has basic knowledge of this technology and is informed about how they may encounter it in their daily lives.

Rob van Gijzel, chairman of the Dutch Blockchain Coalition: "This is a crucial starting point. With new technologies we always see a group of enthusiastic frontrunners, but with a far-reaching technology such as blockchain, it is also important that there is broad social acceptance. This can only be achieved by educating people about the operation and potential of such a technology. Especially with regard to matters such as changes in legislation and regulations or the impact on privacy. A good level of knowledge is a basic condition for being able to use blockchain 'for good', in other words for a better society.

The National Blockchain Course consists of six different modules, each of which can be completed in 45 minutes at the participant's pace. In addition to a thorough explanation of the operation of the technique, subjects such as the use of blockchain for transactions (cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin), evidence trails (from data verification to Self-Sovereign Identity) and the legal and privacy challenges around blockchain.

Peter Verkoulen, coalition manager of the Dutch Blockchain Coalition: "I am happy and proud that we as the Dutch Blockchain Coalition contribute in this way to raising awareness and knowledge about blockchain. What I also really like is the way in which this online course came about. Within a few weeks we had mobilized the dozens of employees, mainly from the companies and institutions within the coalition. Here, too, the power of cooperation within the coalition can be seen.

The course was developed by the core partners of the Dutch Blockchain Coalition in collaboration with Olivier Rikken (Emerging Horizons), producer Crowdale and the Open University. The course will be launched on Thursday 14 November during the annual conference ECP | Platform for the Information Society and is now accessible to everyone via nationaleblockchaincursus.nl. The National Blockchain Course will be rolled out further in 2020.