Position Paper Chronolexography
Position Paper Chronolexography
T. Olthof, M. van Andel, A. Widlak, M. Lokin, D. de Koning, R. Damhof, E. Hotting
chronolexografie.nl · December 11, 2025
Chronolexography is a conceptual model and architecture for adequately recording legal state over time. This position paper introduces the term and lays the foundation.
The publication emerged from the Backside of Government Think Tank.
Summary
How do you record what is legally valid, when it is valid, and how it changes — without prescribing a specific technical implementation?
Chronolexography provides a conceptual foundation for this. The model distinguishes between:
- What applies — the legal state itself
- When it applies — the temporal dimension of validity
- How it changes — the events that cause the state to change
This is not a technical specification, but an architectural starting point broadly applicable to government registries and information systems.
Publication details
- Authors: Timen Olthof, Marc van Andel, Arjan Widlak, Mariette Lokin, Daan de Koning, Ronald Damhof, Eelco Hotting
- Date: 11 December 2025