The Netherlands government tries to ensure freedom on the internet. The government makes efforts to promote freedom of expression, internet freedom and independent journalism. However, it’s part of the Nine and Fourteen Eyes alliances. Moreover, cybercrime is on the rise and various services are geoblocked. The easiest solution is to use the best VPN for the Netherlands.
Key Takeaways: Best VPN for the Netherlands
- The Netherlands is part of the Nine and Fourteen alliances. Using a VPN is key to ensuring online privacy.
- We recommend trying ExpressVPN. It’s fast, secure and offers an excellent feature set. If you have a budget constraint, consider alternatives like NordVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost.
- If you need a free service and don’t mind limited features, Proton VPN is an excellent option.
A VPN (virtual private network) is a software solution that encrypts your internet traffic. Encrypting your connection ensures hackers can’t steal your data and nobody — including the government and internet service providers (ISPs) — can trace any online activity back to you. VPNs also help access content that’s geoblocked in the Netherlands, such as content in Netflix’s U.S. library.
Selecting a reliable VPN provider is critical because many VPNs are slow and some can even harm your device. In this guide, we walk you through the best VPNs for the Netherlands that will help you access streaming services and keep you anonymous. If you don’t want to go through the full guide, we recommend going with ExpressVPN.
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05/14/2023 Facts checked
Rewritten to reflect changes in the VPN services.
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The best Netherlands free VPN is Proton VPN. It’s reliable, fast and maintains zero connection logs. Unlike most free VPNs, it gets into most streaming platforms and offers unlimited data on the free plan.
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To get a Dutch VPN, you need to first sign up for a VPN service — we recommend ExpressVPN. Next, you need to install its app on your device. Once the app is installed, launch it and connect to a VPN server based on your preference. You’ll then be ready to start using your Dutch VPN.
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Yes, ExpressVPN works in the Netherlands. In fact, it’s the best VPN to use in the Netherlands. It offers an excellent feature set and top-notch performance. However, if you find ExpressVPN to be a little expensive, you might consider other services like NordVPN, Surfshark or CyberGhost. If you’re looking for a free alternative, try Proton VPN.
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To get a Dutch VPN, you need to first sign up for a VPN service — we recommend ExpressVPN. Next, you need to install its app on your device. Once the app is installed, launch it and connect to a VPN server based on your preference. You\u2019ll then be ready to start using your Dutch VPN.\n”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Does ExpressVPN Work in the Netherlands?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
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The Top VPNs for the Netherlands
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Average speedDownload Speed91 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency5 ms -
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Average speedDownload Speed93 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency3 ms -
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- : PayPal, Credit card
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Average speedDownload Speed95 MbpsUpload Speed8 MbpsLatency148 ms -
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- : PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, cash
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- : 7
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Average speedDownload Speed72 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency44 ms
What Makes the Best VPN for the Netherlands?
The best VPN provider for the Netherlands should offer great security and privacy, be able to bypass geoblocks on popular streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu and deliver fast connection speeds for a great streaming experience. Ideally, the VPN service should also have Dutch servers.
- ExpressVPN — Excellent speed and security
- NordVPN — Fastest VPN
- Surfshark — Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Proton VPN — Free VPN for the Netherlands
- CyberGhost — Great interface on the desktop app
When selecting a VPN service, online security and privacy are the most critical. The best VPNs offer either OpenVPN, WireGuard or both, combined with AES-256 or ChaCha20 ciphers. They also include security features like a kill switch, split tunneling and DNS leak protection.
Encryption is important for security, but it tends to slow down the speeds. The best VPNs ensure this reduction in speed is minimal. Of course, to truly enjoy great speeds, you also need access to your favorite content. The best VPNs ensure you can circumvent restrictions on popular streaming websites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Having a Dutch server isn’t a necessity, but it does offer some benefits. A Netherlands server can help you access local content that’s geoblocked outside the Netherlands. For example, if you’re traveling out of the country and you want to watch Netflix Netherlands, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server in the Netherlands. A Dutch server is also good for staying anonymous while accessing the local internet.
The 5 Best VPNs for the Netherlands
We researched and narrowed our list down to five VPN services based on the factors explained in the previous section. We discuss each of these services below, but if you’re short on time, we recommend using ExpressVPN.
1. ExpressVPN
More details about ExpressVPN:
- Pricing: $6.66 per month (15-months plan)
- Free plan: None, 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: expressvpn.com
Pros:
- Great security
- Fast international servers
- MediaStreamer stream tech
Cons:
- Expensive
ExpressVPN is a premium VPN service with everything you’d expect in a top VPN. The server network is spread across 90 countries, including the Netherlands. Since it has VPN servers in the Netherlands, you can acquire a Dutch IP address using ExpressVPN.
The app is set to select the best security protocol based on your connection by default. You can change the protocol anytime using the app — it includes the latest protocols like OpenVPN and Lightway (ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol). The app also includes other security features like kill switch, split tunneling and DNS leak protection. Learn more about ExpressVPN’s features in our ExpressVPN review.
Our speed and performance tests make a great case for ExpressVPN. It’s fast enough to allow streaming 4K content without any buffering. You can put ExpressVPN’s speeds to use when streaming — it’s great at circumventing geo-restrictions on almost any website you can think of.
Great at Streaming
ExpressVPN’s fast speeds and the ability to effectively bypass geoblocks makes it the best VPN for streaming. You can access any foreign country’s content library on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or any other popular streaming service.
The app includes a feature dedicated to streaming called MediaStreamer. It’s a smart DNS tool that allows you to unblock popular streaming services without connecting to any VPN servers.
Using MediaStreamer improves the streaming experience, but it lacks encryption. Your connection will be less secure, so make sure you don’t use it for data-critical activities like online banking.
While ExpressVPN is expensive, you can minimize the cost by subscribing to the annual plan, costing $6.66 per month.
Shorter-term plans cost more, with the six-month plan costing $9.99 per month and monthly plan costing $12.95 per month. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free before you commit for the long term using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
2. NordVPN
More details about NordVPN:
- Pricing: $3.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None, 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: nordvpn.com
Pros:
- Fastest VPN in our tests
- Extensive security features
- Unlocks all big stream apps
Cons:
- No specialty servers on NordLynx
NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market according to our speed tests. However, speeds aren’t the only great thing about NordVPN. In fact, it almost matches ExpressVPN in terms of security and performance, as we explain in greater detail in our ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN comparison.
The VPN provider has built one of the largest server networks of any premium VPN. The network includes over 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, including the Netherlands. This means that you can acquire Netherlands-based IP addresses using NordVPN.
The VPN does an excellent job of bypassing geo-restrictions on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer. Since NordVPN is the fastest VPN, you’ll never have to worry about buffering when streaming content on an encrypted VPN connection. Learn more about NordVPN’s performance and feature set in our comprehensive NordVPN review.
Specialty Servers
NordVPN has four types of specialty servers that add another layer of security to your connection. The server types include double VPN, P2P, Onion over VPN and obfuscated servers. Note that your connection is secure even when using one of NordVPN’s standard servers. These servers serve a special purpose.
For example, using double VPN routes your internet traffic via two servers, adding another layer of security to your connection. Using P2P servers provides additional security when downloading content via torrenting.
NordVPN’s best deal is the two-year plan, costing $3.49 per month. That’s half of ExpressVPN’s cost for not a lot of compromise on performance and security. Alternatively, you can opt for a shorter-term plan.
The annual plan costs $4.99 per month, while the monthly plan costs $11.99 per month. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Surfshark
More details about Surfshark:
- Pricing: $2.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None, 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: surfshark.com
Pros:
- Unlimited device connections
- Extensive feature set
- Fast speeds
Cons:
- High latency
Surfshark is one of the few VPNs on the market that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. The VPN provider has built an impressive server network and feature set, considering it’s newer than most other premium services.
The VPN provider’s server network includes 3,200 RAM-only servers spread across 100 countries — that’s more countries than ExpressVPN has servers in. The service also offers Netherlands servers, which means you can use Surfshark to acquire a Dutch IP address.
Surfshark is fast enough to allow streaming high-quality content without any buffering. In addition to a good download speed, Surfshark’s ability to unblock streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video makes it a great VPN for streamers. Find out what else we love about Surfshark in our Surfshark review.
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
Most premium VPN services limit the number of simultaneous connections, but Surfshark lets you use the service on unlimited devices. It also offers unlimited bandwidth, and this means you can share your account with as many people as you like without any negative impact on the performance. While Surfshark is already a low-cost service, sharing your connection reduces the cost even further.
Surfshark goes easy on your wallet. The best deal (the two-year plan) costs $2.49 per month. You can also opt for one of the shorter-term plans — the annual plan costs $3.99 per month, and the monthly plan costs $12.95 per month. Like most services, you can also try Surfshark first using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
4. Proton VPN
More details about Proton VPN:
- Pricing: $4.99 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: Yes, limited to 3 server locations
- Provider website: protonvpn.com
Pros:
- Unlimited free data
- Free Netherlands servers
- Relatively fast
Cons:
- No Mac/iOS split tunneling
Proton VPN is one of the best free VPNs on the market. We generally recommend avoiding free VPNs. Most free VPN services, especially the ones on our worst VPNs list, are untrustworthy and unreliable, and some are even unsafe. There are a handful of reputable free VPNs, but in most cases, they’re premium services offering a free plan as a preview. Proton VPN is one of them.
If you’re looking for a free VPN in the Netherlands, Proton VPN is your best bet because it’s secure, fast and reliable. It has a strict no-logs policy so you can rest assured that your data is safe. The app offers protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard and ciphers like AES-256 and ChaCha20.
The service has a global server network, but the free plan only offers access in three countries: the U.S., Netherlands and Japan. Still, this means you can acquire a Dutch IP even on Proton VPN’s free plan. Learn the full details in our Proton VPN review.
Unlimited Data
The best part about Proton VPN’s free plan is that it offers unlimited data. Most reliable free VPN services restrict some features to encourage users to upgrade, and most choose to limit the data.
Proton VPN limits access to server locations instead and offers unlimited data. If you like streaming, the unlimited data can be an excellent feature — you’ll never have to worry about running out of data.
Proton VPN offers paid plans too. The best deal (the two-year plan) costs $4.99 per month. That’s twice as much as premium services like NordVPN and Surfshark. If you like Proton VPN’s interface and feature set, the small difference is worth it.
You might also consider subscribing to one of the shorter-term plans. The annual plan costs $5.99 per month, while the monthly plan costs $9.99 per month. The service also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not fully satisfied, you can claim a full refund.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
5. CyberGhost
More details about CyberGhost:
- Pricing: $2.37 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None, 45-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: cyberghostvpn.com
Pros:
- Automation features
- Well detailed desktop app
- 45-day money-back return
Cons:
- Comparatively slower
CyberGhost costs the least on this list; however, it’s not an inferior service. It has a large server network that includes over 9,000 servers, with more than 200 of them in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The VPN offers three security protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 (IKEv2 is only available on Windows, macOS or iOS). It includes all the essential features like kill switch and URL-based split tunneling on the Windows and macOS apps (using “smart rules”) and app-based split tunneling on the Android app. Learn more about these features in our CyberGhost review.
In addition to great security, CyberGhost also offers the ability to bypass geo-restrictions on streaming platforms like HBO Max and Hulu. However, it did fail to get into Amazon Prime Video and unblocking Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer required switching servers a few times. CyberGhost doesn’t offer impressive speeds, but they’re enough for standard quality streaming.
Automation Features
CyberGhost has the “smart rules” feature that can help automate VPN-related tasks. Think about how much time you’ll save by automating tasks like connecting to the same server at startup or when you launch the browser.
Smart rules are essentially trigger-and-action-based rules. For example, you can set up a rule to connect to a specific server location whenever you launch the browser.
CyberGhost is cheap, costing $2.37 per month for the best value, its two-year plan. Shorter-term plans are also available. The six-month plan costs $6.99 per month, while the monthly plan costs $12.99 per month.
Unlike most other services, CyberGhost offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee (14 days on the monthly plan). You can request a full refund during this window if you’re not satisfied with CyberGhost.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
Why Should You Use a Netherlands VPN?
You should use a Netherlands VPN to ensure privacy, security and access to your favorite geoblocked content.
The Netherlands is part of the Nine and Fourteen Eyes alliances, which are groups of countries that have agreed to share data. The purpose is to combat terrorism and organized crime, but that can result in the invasion of your privacy too.
When you’re in the Netherlands, you also can’t access Netflix U.S. or any other country’s library on any streaming platform.
Moreover, you’re at risk when using public WiFi in the Netherlands. You could be a victim of a man-in-the-middle or another type of attack, which could lead to the loss of confidential information like bank login credentials or credit card details.
Using a VPN in the Netherlands protects you against all of these.
Can You Use a Free VPN for the Netherlands?
Yes, you can use a free VPN in the Netherlands. However, you should only use one of the best VPNs for the Netherlands that has a free plan, like Proton VPN. Most free VPNs you find with a Google search are slow and insecure, and some even infect your device with malware.
Using a trustworthy free service like Proton VPN ensures your data and device are safe. Moreover, Proton VPN offers unlimited data, so you never have to worry about running out of data when you’re streaming.
Final Thoughts
Even though the Netherlands is one of the most pro-freedom countries, using a VPN makes sense because it’s part of the Nine and Fourteen Eyes alliances. Of course, a VPN also protects you against hackers and lets you access your favorite geoblocked content online, provided you choose the right service.
Have you used a VPN in the Netherlands before? Which one did you use, and what was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
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