Nico van Eijk was appointed chair of the CTIVD by Royal Decree. The organisation is largely focused on monitoring the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD). The appointment is valid for a period of six years and may be renewed once. It is based on a nomination by the Lower House and recommendations by a committee comprised of the National Ombudsman, president of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands and vice-chair of the Council of State.

Nico van Eijk has been affiliated with Amsterdam Law School since 1987, having originally started as a PhD candidate, worked as a researcher and subsequently taken up positions as professor of Information Law and co-director of the Institute for Information Law (IViR) in 2004. Nico was appointed director of the IViR in 2014.