In 1997 the Laboratory of Radiation Research explored the possibilities for an information system for monitoring the radiation protection sitiuation in the Netherlands and the influence of the radiation protection policy on this situation, as commissioned by the Radiation, Nuclear and Biosafety Directorate of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. We are primarily concerned with the environmental policy, aimed at the protection of members of the public. Besides this, the radiation protection policy includes the policies of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment for the protection of exposed workers and of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport for the protection of persons who undergo medical examinations or treatments using radiation. The demands and wishes of representatives of both policy directorates and inspectorates of the three commissioning ministries were compiled on the basis of data collected through interviews, with a few plenary meetings with these representatives taking place to discuss data. Several information sources relevant to the desired policy monitoring, were investigated thoroughly. In addition, detailed data of a few typical radiation sources were collected and processed. The most important recommendations in the definition study of 1997 are elaborated further here, i.e. the exploration of information sources and making agreements with suppliers of necessary data. One of the conclusions from the interviews is that the system should be limited to enhanced radiation exposures due to human action. Some of these exposures can be influenced by policy measures, some cannot, and in some cases no policy is designed or planned. It is also concluded that for data on actual emissions, permit holders will themselves have to be approached. Finally, advice is given not to design a large automated system yet, but to gain more experience with separate collections for each radiation source category to store and process the data collected. A first version of the annual report on 'policy monitoring for radiation' is planned for the end of 2000.