Best VPNs for Netherlands (Block the 14 Eyes)

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NordVPN’s robust data security and privacy provisions make it ideal for the Netherlands, one of the Fourteen Eyes surveillance countries.

For example, NordVPN’s 256-bit military-grade encryption makes it impossible for your government or T-Mobile/Ziggo to collect data about your internet activity.

I extended my review to 20+ other VPNs, with ExpressVPN and PureVPN rounding up my top 3 for their no-logs policies. So, they won’t have any data on you to give your government if it ever comes calling.

CyberGhost and Surfshark also have exciting features to put them on this list.

Continue reading to find out what makes each VPN stand out for Holland.

The NRC newspaper once reported that the Dutch National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security was using fake social media accounts to follow people online.

Besides that, the NCTV also collects other data to determine who a person is married to, their children, who they associate with, and related data.

This data is shared with other government agencies and foreign security bodies. Thus, securing your online experience is essential to never leave such data trails the NCTV can follow to deanonymize and identify you online.

That’s why I chose no-logs VPNs, which don’t collect your data, so they don’t have anything to hand over when the Dutch National Police ask for such data.

Likewise, every Virtual Private Network (VPN) on this list has military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, making it impossible to crack your live traffic data.

But that’s not all that makes these VPN services stand out.

In the rest of this guide, I discuss important considerations to help you choose the best VPN for the Netherlands.

Need to Escape Government Surveillance or Unblock Content in the Netherlands? Use My Top VPNs!

NPO Start without VPN
Geo-block when you try to stream NPO Start without a VPN outside Holland

If you’re traveling to the Netherlands as a student, on holiday, for work, or as a resident, I also ensured the VPNs I chose protect your data from the government, NCTV, and other agencies.

So, here’s a quick breakdown of what you get with each provider on this list:

  • NordVPN5400+ ultra-fast servers to unblock content in 4K quality, bypass government monitoring, regain data privacy, and secure your internet experience.
  • ExpressVPNObfuscation on all 3000+ servers in 94 countries to prevent the National Dutch police and your ISP from knowing you’re using a VPN.
  • PureVPNQuantum-resistant servers to secure your internet data against the fastest and strongest quantum computers. Also, 6500+ servers to unblock content globally.
  • CyberGhost327 unique Dutch servers to unblock local content. Also, a global network of 8000+ servers in 90 other countries to bypass geo-blocks and secure your internet.
  • Surfshark – Most affordable Netherlands VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription. So, you can secure many more devices and enjoy privacy over 3200+ servers in 65+ countries.

These VPNs promise no logs, military-grade encryption, and varying protocols to better secure your internet experience.

However, they differ in speed, quality of Dutch servers, global server count, and other exciting features that make them suitable for the Netherlands.

So, continue reading my mini-reviews and comparing these providers below to make the best choice.

In-Depth Comparisons of My Top 5 VPNs for the Netherlands

Find out how these VPNs compare against one another to make the better choice.

Let’s discuss.

NordVPN – Best Value VPN for the Netherlands

NordVPN for Netherlands
NordVPN easily unblocks NPO Start and other local NL content

NordVPN maintains 200+ servers in the Netherlands alone.

These servers are essential for unblocking access to ING Bank, Tridos Bank, other banking applications, or location-sensitive services when you’re outside the Netherlands.

This is one of Holland’s largest local server networks, coming second only to CyberGhost on this list.

Holland's largest local server networks

From within Holland, you can choose any of NordVPN’s wide global server network of 5400+ servers spread across 60 countries to unblock content in other locations. This is important for

  • Travelers, students, and expats who want to unblock sensitive content (like banking apps and streaming services) like they’re home.
  • The Netherland dwellers who want to keep their internet data safe from the government and ISPs (like T-Mobile, Ziggo, and KPN).
  • Users who want to unblock access to specific streaming apps that might not be available in the Netherlands.

Speaking of unblocking, I’m pleased that NordVPN is great for getting access to

NordVPN getting access for Netflix

There’s a lot more that NordVPN can unblock, but this list gives you an insight into just how powerful the VPN is.

In line with unblocking content, you also need NordVPN to safely and legally download torrents in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands government has been cracking down on illegal torrent downloads. Dutch Filmworks even launched a program that made users pay EUR150 per torrent download when caught.

Fortunately, NordVPN’s P2P servers come to the rescue.

NordVPN P2P Servers

Besides downloading torrents without copyright trolls knowing, your internet service providers (ISPs) are also none the wiser when you use NordVPN. So, none of Online, Ziggo, or T-Mobile can collect data on your torrenting activity or throttle your internet connections.

However, NordVPN only offers optimized P2P support for torrenting on some of its servers compared to the feature being a staple on all ExpressVPN’s servers. Fortunately, it also brings P2P support on all of its Netherlands servers, so you can secure your torrenting experience while browsing the web locally.

Likewise, NordVPN adds 256-bit encryption so that the Netherland government, ISPs like Ziggo, or copyright trolls can never decrypt your internet traffic to see what you’re doing online.

Even if your internet connection drops, NordVPN’s kill switch ensures IP/DNS leak protection so you’re never de-anonymized online.

NordVPN kill switch

As a bonus, NordVPN maintains an app kill switch on PCs which you can configure to specifically prevent your torrent client from transmitting data once the VPN connection drops.

Finally, NordVPN is based in Panama, out of the Fourteen Eyes countries alliance. So, it’ll never share data with your government since Panama isn’t in such arrangements with the Netherlands.

Even if it was, NordVPN has been audited for its strict no-logs policy

In other words, it doesn’t collect any data on you to hand over even if it wanted to.

For all that, NordVPN’s affordable price makes it the overall best value VPN for the Netherlands.

NordVPN pricing
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Still, don’t forget to grab these NordVPN discounts to save more on your purchase.

Pros

Cons

ExpressVPN – No-Logs VPN for Fast Content Unblocking

ExpressVPN Netherlands
ExpressVPN unblocks access to Ziggo GO in Netherlands

ExpressVPN may have just four (4) servers in the Netherlands compared to NordVPN’s 200+. Still, they’re spread across Rotterdam, the Hague, and Amsterdam instead of in a single city. 

Thus, you can get the closest VPN server for reduced ping times and faster overall speeds.

ExpressVPN Netherlands Servers

Suppose you’re not using the Netherlands servers to access your local banking apps, Dutch TV’s local online content, or other Netherlands-specific services. In that case, you get ExpressVPN’s 3000+ servers in 94 countries.

ExpressVPN servers in 94 countries

This is even more desirable to expats, foreign students, and tourists in the Netherlands since they have a higher chance of connecting to a server in their country.

Compared to NordVPN, ExpressVPN manages fewer servers, but the countries are more than a third higher. Still, there’s a catch on the server-side.

ExpressVPN supports obfuscation on all servers, so you don’t have to connect to specialty servers before bypassing harsh restrictions and downloading torrents securely in the Netherlands.

Thus

  • T-Mobile, Youfone, Online, or Ziggo never sees what you’re doing on the internet.
  • The Netherlands government can’t collect data about your internet activity.
  • Copyright trolls don’t see what you download, so they can’t come for you.
  • Your ISP, the government, and Dutch police can’t block your VPN traffic.

Other providers offer obfuscation as a specialty package, and it slows your internet connection considerably. ExpressVPN has managed lightning-fast connections over obfuscation.

On top of that, ExpressVPN is one of the most reliable unblocking VPNs for the Netherlands. You can watch Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Voot, Crave TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and other streaming content in up to 4K quality.

Finally, ExpressVPN is always on top of your security with a Network Lock that terminates all your connections once you lose the remote server connection.

ExpressVPN Network Lock

Inside the VPN app are also free tools to check your IP, DNS, and WebRTC details, so you’re always sure your data isn’t leaking to the authorities.

ExpressVPN Privacy and Security Tools

Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN is also based outside the 14 Eyes in the British Virgin Islands. Being one of the world’s most data-friendly and privacy-promoting islands is one thing.

Add that to ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy (audited twice!), and you can rest assured the Dutch Police aren’t getting your data from the provider anytime soon.

However, ExpressVPN is one of the pricier VPN options for the Netherlands.

ExpressVPN plans
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So, I recommend saving on your subscription with these limited-time ExpressVPN discounts.

Pros

Cons

PureVPN – Quantum-Resistant Servers for the Netherlands

PureVPN Holland Servers
Streaming AT5 Live from outside the Netherlands with PureVPN

PureVPN has a choice of 45 Holland servers that allow you to stream Ziggo Go, AT5, KPN, or other Dutch-specific network services if you’re traveling to other countries. You can also connect to these servers for a secure internet experience when streaming these services from within Holland.

However, PureVPN has all these servers in the capital city alone, so you don’t have the chance to choose the one closest to you like ExpressVPN offers.

PureVPN Amsterdam

Likewise, you only get the Quantum Resistant package on one of these servers instead of the obfuscation automatically enabled by ExpressVPN across all its servers. Even NordVPN has more obfuscated local servers in the Netherlands.

However, PureVPN beats them both with 6500+ global servers in 78+ countries, allowing expats, students, tourists, and travelers in the Netherlands to unblock content from their region while in the country.

For those who want to stream Netflix or other content, I’m impressed by PureVPN’s streaming-optimized servers. Of course, the other VPN providers are also great for streaming. Still, I love the chance to connect to servers specially optimized for streaming rather than test them all.

PureVPN dedicated streaming servers

Just like with the Quantum Resistant servers, PureVPN offers only one P2P server location in the Netherlands. This could lead to server overloads, canceling any speed benefits you should have gotten from using the P2P servers for downloads and torrenting from the Netherlands.

Likewise, unlike NordVPN and ExpressVPN, you only get P2P support on PureVPN’s P2P servers. At least, NordVPN has P2P support everywhere but just engineered the specialty P2P servers for even better download speed and security.

Still, PureVPN doesn’t joke around with its balance of speed and encryption. In fact, the VPN provider claims its quantum-resistant servers are engineered against the next generation of quantum computers, so even those can’t decrypt your internet data.

PureVPN Quantum-resistant servers

On top of that, you get standard AES 256-bit encryption on all servers and protocols, so your data is never intercepted by the government or threat actors.

Should the VPN connection ever drop, an activated kill switch keeps your devices from transmitting to the web. So, no IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks either.

PureVPN Enable IKS

Luckily, PureVPN shares the same privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands headquarters as ExpressVPN. Likewise, it’s been audited for its no-logs claims. It also has an Always-On audit, ensuring it can be surprise-audited by KPMG anytime.

To PureVPN’s credit, it’s the only VPN provider on this list (and I reviewed) with such a plan in place, showing its commitment to improved data privacy and security.

That said, it’s still interesting that PureVPN is already affordable out-of-the-box.

purevpn pricing
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But you can save more with these PureVPN discounts before they lapse.

Pros

Cons

CyberGhost – Most Extensive Local Netherland Servers

CyberGhost Netherland Servers
CyberGhost unblocks and streams content on NOS from outside the Netherlands

CyberGhost boasts a highly extensive 8000+ server network in 91 countries. Of these, there are 327 servers which are all P2P supported and physically located in the Netherlands.

So, you can bypass ThePirateBay’s court order blocks in the Netherlands to download and seed torrents securely.

However, I don’t like that CyberGhost doesn’t allow you to pick a preferred Netherlands server but will instead automatically assign one to you. This is another area where NordVPN and ExpressVPN edge it out.

CyberGhost Assigned Server

After all, ExpressVPN offers multiple cities in Holland, while NordVPN lets you pick different servers in the capital city.

Furthermore, a significant concern I have with CyberGhost is a lack of obfuscation. It makes up for that by offering:

  • Widespread server locations to browse securely and unblock content from.
  • AES 256-bit protection on all servers.
  • No Spy servers internally maintained to ensure no third party ever has access to your internet data.

Still, obfuscation is essential on major VPN providers today, so I don’t understand why we don’t have it here. Even ExpressVPN offers this on all its servers!

However, CyberGhost is reliable enough to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ US libraries, and other services in the Netherlands. 

With the local servers, you can always access Ziggo GO, Tele2, Oxxio, NOS NL, other online TV apps, banking applications, and location-specific content whenever you’re outside Holland.

Although CyberGhost doesn’t offer obfuscation, it impresses with a kill switch to prevent data leaks whenever you’re temporarily disconnected from the VPN server.

CyberGhost Automatic Kill Switch

With headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, you can rest assured that the Netherlands can’t request your data from CyberGhost as part of an alliance.

Even if the Dutch Police ask for your data, CyberGhost’s no-logs policy means it won’t have anything to hand over.

But you should know that CyberGhost zero data logs claim is yet to be independently audited.

Though, it has never had any data breaches related to the VPN service, which continues to instill trust. Even the Typeform data breach involving the VPN provider didn’t leak any personally identifying details, and it wasn’t responsible for that.

Moving on, CyberGhost also offers P2P servers for better torrent download speeds and to bypass torrent tracker blockers in the Netherlands.

CyberGhost P2P Servers

Furthermore, I’m impressed with the option for torrent-specialized servers in the CyberGhost PC app.

CyberGhost for Torrenting

So, it’s a relief that this secure, fast, and safe VPN keeps its services relatively affordable.

cyberghost vpn subscription plans and pricing
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Still, you should grab these CyberGhost discounts for better value.

Pros

Cons

Surfshark – Best Price VPN for the Netherlands

Surfshark Netherlands Servers
Streaming NPO Start live outside Holland with Surfshark's Dutch servers

Surfshark maintains the Netherlands servers in different cities.

However, it doesn’t state what cities nor how many servers it has there.

This is a part of the 3200+ global network of servers across 65+ countries, which is also great for unblocking content in other parts of the world.

Surfshark Netherlands Servers in Different Cities

I like that Surfshark offers static IPs in the Netherlands (Amsterdam only). For highly sensitive platforms (like banking apps) which could restrict access to your funds if you’re hopping servers, a static IP address means you’ll always bank from the exact virtual location to avoid detection.

Surfshark Static IP

For context, NordVPN and PureVPN offer (unshared) dedicated IPs as a paid add-on, while ExpressVPN doesn’t offer this service.

However, I’m concerned that Surfshark has its headquarters in the Netherlands. Although it claims Holland’s data-friendly laws aren’t intrusive, I’m wary of what a 14 Eyes country may do when compelled.

Fortunately, Cure53 audited Surfshark’s no-logs claims, so the Dutch police won’t find any user data on Surfshark’s servers.

That said, Surfshark’s P2P support makes it ideal for downloading torrents in the Netherlands without setting off copyright trolls. 

Your ISP doesn’t see your internet activity, so they can’t report to any monitoring body.

Similarly, Surfshark is a fast unblocking VPN with its servers optimized for 1Gbps minimum speeds. You won’t consistently get the same speeds as NordVPN and ExpressVPN. But you won’t have a severe connection drop either.

In fact, you can get around T-Mobile or Ziggo throttling when you connect to any of Surfshark’s servers before streaming content.

Likewise, you can multi-hop to the Netherlands via the US or Singapore on Surfshark. This adds an extra layer of security and privacy to your connections if the government or other agencies track your VPN IP or internet activity.

Surfshark Multihop

This comes in handy under the current sleepwet law, allowing such agencies to track your IP and internet activity. Now, they won’t even know where to start.

NordVPN has a similar feature in its Double VPN, but it slows your connection speed compared to what Surfshark offers.

In the rare case your VPN connection drops, you’ll have Surfshark’s kill switch to thank for keeping your IP, DNS, and WebRTC data safe.

Surfshark Kill Switch

For all the basics and extras on Surfshark, it offers unlimited simultaneous connections with unlimited bandwidth and one of the most affordable VPN prices.

Screenshot MS 1 1
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

However, that doesn’t stop you from getting Surfshark discounts to sweeten your purchase.

Pros

Cons

How I Chose the Best VPNs for the Netherlands

You can’t use just any VPN in the Netherlands if you’re concerned about your data privacy and online security. Thus, I streamlined the 20+ VPNs I started with into my recommended top 5 by following strict criteria.

So, continue reading to discover the factors I considered when choosing these VPNs. Or, you can save yourself the stress and choose any of my top VPNs for the Netherlands.

Privacy

Ensure your desired Netherlands VPN has a no-logs policy, especially one that’s audited. Since the Netherlands is a part of the Fourteen Eyes surveillance countries, it’s crucial to ensure it won’t collect your data from a VPN provider and use it internally or send it to one of its allies.

With no connection logs, your chosen VPN provider won’t have any data to hand over.

Likewise, it’s best to pick a VPN provider in a privacy-friendly country

Otherwise, ensure it has never been in any government cooperation scandal and has its no-logs policies audited.

Fortunately, my suggested VPNs have a no-logs policy, with the majority having been audited* and outside the 14 Eyes* too. You can see for yourself below.

VPN Provider No Logs? Audited? Location
NordVPN Yes PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Panama
ExpressVPN Yes Cure53 and PwC British Virgin Islands
PureVPN Yes KPMG and Altius IT British Virgin Islands
CyberGhost Yes None* Romania
Surfshark Yes Cure53 The Netherlands*

Encryption

You need a VPN with proper data tunneling and encryption, or else the Netherland government can hack/intercept your data. You’ll also risk data interception when using public Wi-Fi at the Mercure Hotel, Pearle, La Place, or any Starbucks outlets in the Netherlands.

VPN with proper data tunneling and encryption
ExpressVPN's tunneling protocols supporting AES 256-bit encryption

This is why I chose VPNs that offer AES 256-bit encryption on all protocols and servers for equal protection. A notable pick from my top VPNs is PureVPN, which maintains quantum-resistant servers to encrypt data against quantum-level computer hacks.

Server Locations

I focused on VPNs that offer local Holland servers and a global server network for unblocking content access in the Netherlands.

If you’re in the Netherlands, you might wonder why you need local servers. 

However, they’ll come in handy when you have to secure your local web browsing, play online games over low-ping servers, or torrent securely.

Likewise, banking applications from Achmea Bank, Tridos Bank, ING, or others are sensitive enough to block access abroad. So, you can connect to Netherland servers to use them if you’re not physically in the country.

Likewise, these Netherland servers should be faster for local content since they’re closer to the source. This is an added advantage for Netherlanders in other countries who want to stream Dutch TV, Ziggo Go, or KPN content.

Finally, international servers are great for other nationalities in the Netherlands who want to unblock content access like they’re home.

On top of that, this is the best way to access the entire Netflix library (US servers), BBC iPlayer (UK servers), and other location-specific content unavailable in the Netherlands.

Content Unblocking

A court ruling directed Ziggo and XS4All to ban access to The Pirate Bay, one of the top torrent download websites. The ban has been activated by other ISP providers like Tele2, KPN, UPC, and T-Mobile in the Netherlands.

After that, the ban was extended to torrent clients like BitTorrent.

So, choose a VPN that allows you to unblock access to these web services and more.

On top of that, you also need a VPN that can unblock local content.

This is important when you’re outside the Netherlands and have to watch Ziggo Go or KPN TV, both of which are unavailable outside Holland.

Furthermore, the Netherlands doesn’t have all the Disney+, Netflix, and other major streaming platforms’ content even though the country is officially supported.

Again, you’ll need a VPN with:

  • Servers in the supported regions
  • Fast streaming to prevent buffering and lags
  • Unblocking ability to watch content without restrictions

Fortunately, you get all that with all the VPNs on my list.

The duo of ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer the fastest streaming speeds I’ve seen, allowing you to unblock 4K content. The rest are equally fast, with PureVPN and CyberGhost offering specialty streaming-optimized servers.

How to Setup and Use a VPN in the Netherlands?

An easy-to-use VPN makes setup and usage of the service straightforward from the Netherlands.

Follow the guide below to start enjoying your choice VPN in the Netherlands.

Enable the Kill Switch

The internet kill switch guards against data transmission from your device whenever the VPN loses its connection to a secure remote server.

Thus, no IP/DNS leak could have deanonymized you or leaked your internet activity to the Netherland government, copyright trolls, your ISP, or other authorities.

Here’s how to enable the kill switch on NordVPN.

  1. Launch the VPN app and click settings.
Launch VPN app and click settings
  1. Select “Kill Switch.”
Select Kill Switch
  1. Toggle the “Internet kill switch” on.

Enable Public Wi-Fi Protection (Optional)

Public Wi-Fi protection is vital on your school, workplace, hotel, or other free Wi-Fi networks. Otherwise, your data may be intercepted by hackers, scammers, or even the network admin themselves.

Note that this feature is built-in with most VPN providers, so you may not have the option to configure or toggle it. When it’s available, though, check it for improved privacy on public networks.

Choose the Right Protocol

The WireGuard protocol or its equivalent is always the fastest protocol with a balance of speed and advanced security features

For providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, you get in-house protocols named NordLynx and Lightway, respectively.

VPN protocol
NordVPN's VPN tunneling protocols

If you’re interested in bypassing censorship without setting off VPN traffic alerts, choose obfuscation protocols from your VPN provider. 

However, this will slow your internet connection, so it’s not ideal for gaming, torrenting, streaming, or other high-speed operations.

When in doubt, you can leave the protocol selection set to Automatic to allow your VPN to make the best choice.

Connect to a Preferred Server

Once you’re done with all the above, it’s time to connect to a remote server location and start enjoying the benefits of a VPN.

Here’s how:

  1. Choose a preferred VPN provider. I recommend NordVPN for the Netherlands.
  2. Download the VPN app for your preferred device. I’m using my PC here.
  3. Login with your account credentials.
  4. Search for a preferred server location. I searched for the United States.
Connect to preferred server
  1. Choose a preferred city or click on the primary location to get the best server automatically.
  2. Wait for the connection confirmation.
Connection Confirmation
  1. Start browsing the web securely.

The exact instructions hold for the mobile version of NordVPN as well. 

However, not all locations have multiple cities you can choose from. 

In that case, connect to the central location, and your VPN provider assigns you the best server.

How to Get a Netherlands IP Address?

You can get a local Dutch IP address to access local banking services and stream KPN or Ziggo GO securely from the Netherlands or outside the country.

Here’s how:

  1. Choose a VPN with Netherlands IP. I’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
  2. Download the VPN app for your preferred device and log in.
  3. Click the three dots near the suggested location to bring up other areas.
Choose VPN with Netherlands IP
  1. Search for the Netherlands.
Search for Netherlands
  1. Choose the closest/preferred Netherlands server location from the available cities.
  2. Click the big button to connect to this location.
  3. You now have a Netherlands IP.

You can use an IP leak checker to see if your device is browsing the web with a Netherland IP or your actual IP. I did the same and got this:

IP Leak Checker

So, I’m not leaking any IP or DNS requests, and web servers see that I have a Dutch IP.

Do You Need a VPN for Torrenting in the Netherlands?

There aren’t stringent privacy laws against torrenting in the Netherlands. 

However, you need a VPN to avoid copyright trolls, bypass ISP throttling when torrenting, and seed legally in the region. You’ll also need a VPN to bypass ISP blocks on torrenting websites like The Pirate Bay and torrenting client restrictions in the area.

Courts in the Netherlands have already directed all ISPs to ban torrent sites like The Pirate Bay since May 2012. This ban was made more permanent five years later (in 2017), and some other torrenting sites are believed to be caught in the web.

Likewise, piracy laws against content uploaders might affect you if you seed your torrents after downloads. After all, Dutch FilmWorks once got the government’s permission to collect IP addresses of torrent users and apply a fine to them.

There’s more, but these show you why you should never torrent with your actual IP address in the Netherlands.

Thus, you should get a VPN provider like NordVPN, which supports torrenting and provides P2P-friendly servers to bypass ISP throttling and get better download speeds.

What Are the Data Privacy Laws in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is a part of the EU, which prizes data protection and privacy. 

So, the country also has robust laws around maintaining user privacy and data security.

However, it’s one thing to have the laws and another thing to implement them. 

So, I chose to focus on how the country acts with user data.

A 2018 referendum in the Netherlands was the only thing that stopped the government from implementing a law that increased the ability of its agencies to hack into users’ devices and track and collect their data.

Dubbed the wet op or sleepwet for short, a large part of the Netherlands believe that the policy has been silently passed.

Likewise, it should be noted that Dutch Minister Ferd Grapperhaus and other supporters have been clamoring for decreased encryption in chat apps

This shows how much they want to get their hands on user data inside those secure chat apps, which may mean your private conversations are no longer safe.

On top of that, the Dutch Personal Data Authority once granted a private body, Dutch FilmWorks, the permission to collect users’ IP addresses. It’s even more concerning that Dutch FilmWorks could submit these IP addresses to Holland ISPs and get the contact details of internet users like yourself behind those IPs.

Sleepwet

However, it’s good to note that ISPs like Ziggo failed to conform with Dutch FilmWorks’ plans unless a court order was issued. That’s good news until the courts agree with the film distribution company and others like them.

Additionally, as early as 2021, the newspaper NRC found out that NCTV has been illegally tracking and following persons of interest online

These included politicians, religious leaders, and right and left-wing activists.

Interestingly, this national body isn’t authorized to carry out such online surveillance.

Suppose you think this surveillance is limited to notable figures and influential names alone. In that case, there’s evidence to make you think again.

Netherlands on Online Surveillance

Research by the NHL Stenden University of Applied Science and Groningen University showed that Dutch civil servants used social media to spy on everyday citizens. Some of these authorities claimed they created fake pages/profiles and followed citizens on social media to maintain public order and stop protests.

Of course, there’s the General Data Protection Regulation for the EU. 

The issue is that this isn’t all-encompassing yet, not fully enforced, and may not protect travelers/students/expats in the Netherlands.

There’s more, but these alone are enough to know you need to take extra measures and protect your data in the Netherlands. Else, it’ll fall into the wrong hands, and the government might be in on it too.

Can I Use a Free VPN in the Netherlands?

A free VPN won’t encrypt your data and will expose your online activity, including the torrent sites you visit and the files you download, to your ISP.

Likewise, free VPNs leak your actual IP address. So, you’re never protected online, and the Dutch Personal Data Authority can still intercept your data.

On top of the external threats you get from using a free VPN, most free VPN services collect user data and sell it on the black market.

Thus, I recommend choosing a reliable yet affordable VPN provider to protect your online privacy in the Netherlands. NordVPN is a great value VPN for all it offers, and you can save even more with Surfshark, costing next to nothing once you start using it on unlimited devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

NordVPN and CyberGhost have significant server counts in the Netherlands, with the VPNs offering 200+ and 320+ servers in the region.

However, these servers are all located in the capital city of Amsterdam.

Thus, you’ll fare better with ExpressVPN, which has the Netherlands serves in the Hague, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam if you want to connect to the closest option.

The Netherlands is a good VPN server for watching content exclusive to Holland, such as Ziggo GO and KPN online TV. Netherlands servers also unblock access to local banking apps, which would have blocked abroad access to protect users from possible remote hacks.

Finally, Netherlands servers are great for gamers in the Netherlands looking to secure their gaming against DDoS attacks from a low ping server.

Gamers outside the country can also choose Holland servers to play against peers in the country.

You need a VPN in the Netherlands to protect your online data against the NCTV and Dutch Personal Data Authority, who are constantly fishing for user data and might even hack your device to get it.

Likewise, using a VPN in the Netherlands gives you access to blocked torrent websites, allows you to download torrents without incurring the wrath of copyright trolls, and unblocks your favorite Netflix (or other streaming platform) shows not available in Holland.

NordVPN works in the Netherlands, encrypting your internet sessions and unblocking content across its 5400+ servers in 60 countries.

The VPN provider works across all supported PC (Windows and Mac) and mobile devices (iOS and Android). So, you can rest assured of high-level data encryption and advanced tunneling for improved connection security.

There are no laws or bans against VPNs and VPN users in the Netherlands, so you won’t get into trouble using this software in the region.

However, a VPN isn’t a ticket to online criminal activity so make sure not to use one for anything illegal.

NordVPN’s simple Android interface combines access to multiple protocols, a configurable kill switch, and 5400+ ultra-fast servers to make it the best Netherlands VPN.

Likewise, you can set up obfuscation on the Android app, connect to P2P servers for secure file sharing and bypass ISP throttling on your Android devices on NordVPN’s servers.

NordVPN’s easily-navigable iOS app with an in-built kill switch makes it a user-friendly VPN with advanced security, encryption, and tunneling for the Netherlands.

Furthermore, you get NordVPN’s Threat protection on the iOS app, which protects your internet sessions against malicious websites, ads, and trackers.

Thus, these trackers can’t fingerprint your browser, deanonymize you or steal sensitive data from your iOS device.

T-Mobile, Ziggo, and other Netherland ISPs can capture your IP addresses when watching Popcorn Time and hand it over to copyright trolls.

So, you need a VPN to encrypt your internet activity.

Choosing a VPN like NordVPN to watch Popcorn Time assigns you another IP, so your ISP never knows who’s enjoying Popcorn Time.

Also, they can’t see your internet activity anymore, so they don’t even know you’re streaming Popcorn Time.

Block Out the 14 Eyes Today

The Netherlands might have a lot of data-friendly laws. Still, state agents and regulatory bodies often do a poor job of handling and chasing user data.

Thus, it’s a no-brainer to have a reliable VPN provider like NordVPN encrypting all your internet traffic so your sessions are always private. 

Since it’s based in Panama and has an audited no-logs policy, you don’t have to worry about your data falling into your ISP, government, or copyright trolls’ hands.

Luckily, now’s a great time to get started with NordVPN’s discount offers and save on your first subscription.

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