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 Surfshark (unlimited devices) and PrivateVPN (a static Amsterdam IP on a budget) 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.
ExpressVPN and PureVPN also have exciting features to put them on this list.
Continue reading to find out what makes each VPN stand out for Holland.
Top 3 Best VPN for Netherlands
Surfshark
Best for Dutch households
- Static IPs in Amsterdam
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 4,500+ servers in 100 countries
NordVPN
Best for no-logs Dutch access
- Audited no-logs policy, based in Panama
- 196 servers in Amsterdam
- 7,000+ servers in 150 countries
PrivateVPN
Best for cheap Dutch torrenting
- Amsterdam server with a static IP
- Port forwarding on selected servers
- $2.00 a month over 36 months
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!
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:
- NordVPN – 7,000+ servers in 150 countries to unblock content in 4K quality, bypass government monitoring, regain data privacy, and secure your internet experience from a base outside the 14 Eyes.
- Surfshark – Unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription and static Amsterdam IPs. So, you can secure many more devices and enjoy privacy over 4,500+ servers in 100 countries.
- PrivateVPN – A static Amsterdam IP and port forwarding on selected servers for safer torrenting, with ten devices for $2.00 a month.
- ExpressVPN – Obfuscation on all servers in 113 countries to prevent the National Dutch police and your ISP from knowing you’re using a VPN.
- PureVPN – Quantum-resistant servers to secure your internet data against the fastest and strongest quantum computers. Also, 6,000+ servers to unblock content globally.
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 Overall VPN for the Netherlands
NordVPN maintains 196 servers in the Netherlands alone, all in Amsterdam, according to NordVPN’s own server list when I checked in September 2026.
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.
That’s the largest Dutch server count published by any provider on this list.
From within Holland, you can choose any of NordVPN’s wide global server network of 7,000+ servers spread across 150 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
- Netflix (the extensive US library)
- BBC iPlayer
- JioHotstar (where Voot’s shows now stream, via NordVPN’s India location)
- CraveTV (via Canadian servers)
- Hulu
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 allows P2P traffic on all of its standard servers, including every Netherlands server, so you can torrent securely while still browsing the web with a Dutch IP.
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.
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.
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.
If the sleepwet worries you, Double VPN routes your traffic through two countries and obfuscated servers hide the fact you’re using a VPN at all. Threat Protection blocks trackers and malicious sites (it’s now called Real-time protection, and Next-gen antivirus, formerly its Pro tier, also scans downloads on the Complete and Prime plans), NordLynx keeps things fast, and one plan covers ten devices.
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 fair price and 30-day money-back guarantee make it my best overall VPN for the Netherlands.
US dollars · checked Nov 9
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
Still, don’t forget to grab these NordVPN discounts to save more on your purchase. Our NordVPN coupon codes page also spells out the usual reasons a code won’t apply, so you aren’t left guessing.
Pros
- Based in Panama, outside the 14 Eyes
- 196 Netherland servers
- 7,000+ servers in 150 countries
- Fast content unblocking across platforms
- P2P allowed on every standard server
- Kill switch, Double VPN, and Threat Protection
Cons
- All Dutch servers are in Amsterdam
Surfshark – Amsterdam Static IPs + Unlimited Devices
Surfshark is my runner-up for the Netherlands. Its Dutch servers sit in Amsterdam, the only Dutch city on its server page when I checked in September 2026, and they support P2P, static IPs, and its Dedicated IP add-on.
They’re part of a network of 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, which is also great for unblocking content in other parts of the world.
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.
If you’d rather not share even that address, Surfshark sells a Dedicated IP add-on (about $3.75 a month), as do NordVPN, PureVPN, and ExpressVPN.
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, and on a page about the 14 Eyes, that’s the one reason it sits behind Panama-based NordVPN.
Fortunately, Deloitte 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 and WireGuard as its default protocol. 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.
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’s Double VPN does the same job. Any two-hop route costs some speed, so I save it for sensitive sessions on either app.
CleanWeb blocks ads and trackers, Bypasser lets your ING or Rabobank app skip the VPN, and Camouflage Mode and NoBorders help on networks that try to spot or block VPN traffic.
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.
For all the basics and extras on Surfshark, it offers unlimited simultaneous connections with unlimited bandwidth and one of the most affordable VPN prices.
US dollars · checked Nov 9
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
However, that doesn’t stop you from getting Surfshark discounts to sweeten your purchase, with a 30-day money-back guarantee behind it. Our Surfshark coupon codes page also lists the renewal prices, which matter as much as the opening discount.
Pros
- Static IPs and fast servers in Amsterdam
- 4,500+ servers in 100 countries
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- P2P support for torrenting and fast downloads
- Secure kill switch to avoid IP/DNS leaks
- Multi-hopping to bypass VPN IP tracking
Cons
- Based in the Netherlands, a 14 Eyes country
- Dutch servers in Amsterdam only
PrivateVPN – Static Amsterdam IP + Port Forwarding on a Budget
PrivateVPN has one Dutch location, in Amsterdam, and like every PrivateVPN server, it gives you a shared static IP: the same address each time you connect.
That steadiness matters for ING, ABN AMRO, or Triodos, whose apps get suspicious when your login location jumps around, and for anyone abroad who wants NPO Start or Ziggo GO to keep recognizing a Dutch address night after night.
Beyond Amsterdam, you get 200+ servers in 63 countries, enough for the expats, students, and travelers in Holland who want their home-country streaming apps back.
Torrenting is where it earns its place on a Dutch list. With The Pirate Bay blocked by Dutch ISPs and rights holders chasing IP addresses, PrivateVPN adds port forwarding on selected locations for healthier seeding, and a full-system kill switch keeps your real IP out of the swarm if the tunnel drops.
Stealth VPN obfuscation disguises the tunnel on networks that block VPNs, and you can switch between WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. Selected locations also offer dynamic dedicated IPs over OpenVPN.
I didn’t speed-test it for this page, but in my Europe roundup, it lost 10.81 Mbps on a 97.12 Mbps line, a couple of megabits more than NordVPN and Surfshark and still plenty for 4K.
So why third? On a page about the 14 Eyes, PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, a 14 Eyes member, and its zero-logs claim hasn’t been independently audited, while Surfshark’s has. There’s no ad blocker or split tunneling either.
What it does offer is value: ten simultaneous connections, a 36-month plan at $2.00 a month (renewing at $72 a year), and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
US dollars · checked Nov 9
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
Use these PrivateVPN deals to lock in a steady Dutch IP for less.
Pros
- Amsterdam server with a shared static IP
- 200+ servers in 63 countries
- Port forwarding on selected locations for torrenting
- Stealth VPN and a full-system kill switch
- Ten devices for $2.00 a month on the 36-month plan
Cons
- Based in Sweden, a 14 Eyes country
- Zero-logs claim not independently audited
- No ad blocker or split tunneling
ExpressVPN – No-Logs VPN for Fast Content Unblocking
ExpressVPN may have just four (4) servers in the Netherlands compared to NordVPN’s 196. 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.
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 servers in 113 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 covers fewer countries (113 against 150). 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, 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.
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.
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 (independently audited more than once!), and you can rest assured the Dutch Police aren’t getting your data from the provider anytime soon.
However, ExpressVPN costs more than Surfshark, PrivateVPN, and PureVPN, and for a Dutch user that premium mostly buys a choice of three cities rather than more privacy, which is why it sits fourth.
US dollars · checked Nov 9
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
So, I recommend saving on your subscription with these limited-time ExpressVPN discounts.
Pros
- Based in the British Virgin Islands
- Local servers in 3 Holland cities
- Servers in 113 countries
- P2P and obfuscation on all servers
- Ultra-fast speed for content unblocking
- Network Lock kill switch prevents IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks
Cons
- Not as many Holland servers as NordVPN
- Pricier than Surfshark, PrivateVPN, and PureVPN
PureVPN – Quantum-Resistant Servers for the Netherlands
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.
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.
Beyond Holland, PureVPN’s 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries allow 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.
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, which allow P2P on every standard server, you only get P2P support on PureVPN’s P2P servers.
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.
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.
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.
US dollars · checked Nov 11
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
But you can save more with these PureVPN discounts before they lapse.
Pros
- Based in the British Virgin Islands
- 45 servers in the Netherlands
- Quantum resistant servers against high-level decryption
- 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries
- P2P support on specialty servers
- VPN kill switch to prevent IP leaks
Cons
- All Netherlands servers in the capital city alone
- P2P only allowed on some servers
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) and Deloitte | Panama |
| Surfshark | Yes | Deloitte | The Netherlands* |
| PrivateVPN | Yes | None* | Sweden* |
| ExpressVPN | Yes | PwC and KPMG | British Virgin Islands |
| PureVPN | Yes | KPMG and Altius IT | British Virgin Islands |
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.
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 NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer the fastest streaming speeds I’ve seen, allowing you to unblock 4K content. The rest keep up well, with Surfshark covering unlimited screens and PureVPN 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.
- Launch the VPN app and click settings.
- Select “Kill Switch.”
- 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.
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:
- Choose a preferred VPN provider. I recommend NordVPN for the Netherlands.
- Download the VPN app for your preferred device. I’m using my PC here.
- Login with your account credentials.
- Search for a preferred server location. I searched for the United States.
- Choose a preferred city or click on the primary location to get the best server automatically.
- Wait for the connection confirmation.
- 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:
- Choose a VPN with Netherlands IP. I’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
- Download the VPN app for your preferred device and log in.
- Click the three dots near the suggested location to bring up other areas.
- Search for the Netherlands.
- Choose the closest/preferred Netherlands server location from the available cities.
- Click the big button to connect to this location.
- 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:
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.
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.
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
Which VPN Has Netherlands Servers?
NordVPN has the largest Dutch network on this list, with 196 servers in the Netherlands when I checked in September 2026. Surfshark and PrivateVPN also have Dutch servers, both with static IPs.
However, these servers are all located in the capital city of Amsterdam.
Thus, you’ll fare better with ExpressVPN, which has Netherlands servers in the Hague, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam if you want to connect to the closest option.
Is the Netherlands a Good VPN Server?
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.
Is a VPN Necessary in the Netherlands?
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.
Does NordVPN Work in the Netherlands?
NordVPN works in the Netherlands, encrypting your internet sessions and unblocking content across its 7,000+ servers in 150 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.
Are VPNs Legal in the Netherlands?
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.
What’s the Best VPN for Android in the Netherlands?
NordVPN’s simple Android interface combines access to multiple protocols, a configurable kill switch, and 7,000+ ultra-fast servers to make it the best Netherlands VPN.
Likewise, you can set up obfuscation on the Android app, share files over P2P on every standard server, and bypass ISP throttling on your Android devices on NordVPN’s servers.
What’s the Best VPN for iOS in the Netherlands?
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 Real-time protection (formerly 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.
Do You Need a VPN for Popcorn Time in the Netherlands?
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.
