GDPR rules for using a journalist database in the Netherlands in 2026

By Marieke de Jong · Updated 30 August 2026 · 6 min

What does the GDPR say about using a journalist database for PR in the Netherlands?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to any personal data processing in the Netherlands, including the use of a journalist database. The legal basis that most PR professionals use is 'legitimate interest'. This means you can contact a journalist for their work without their explicit consent, as long as you do not harm their privacy rights.

PR-Dashboard pages, read 1 September 2026, state that the database holds 'thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists'. The GDPR requires that this data is collected from public sources, such as bylines in media outlets, and that it is kept up to date. If you cannot show how a journalist's email address ended up in your database, you may be in violation of the GDPR's accountability principle.

Can I store journalist contact details in De Perslijst?

Yes, you can store the professional contact details of journalists in a dedicated PR platform. The key requirement is that the journalist is a 'public figure' in their role as a media professional. A journalist's work email address and phone number at their media outlet are considered professional data, not private data.

De Perslijst, a product of this Dutch platform, costs EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, as documented on the Amsterdam supplier product pages, read 1 September 2026. The platform stores the data on servers in the Netherlands, with Dutch programmers handling all development and hosting. This matters for the GDPR because the data stays within the European Economic Area (EEA), which avoids the need for additional transfer safeguards for Dutch journalists' data.

Which Dutch PR platforms publish a price for their journalist database in 2026?

Only a few platforms openly publish their prices for a journalist database in the Netherlands. That database starts at EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, which is EUR 1,325 per user per year. ANP Connect Database only costs EUR 2,990 per year, and ANP Connect Complete costs EUR 4,990 per year, both measured on the ANP connect pages, 31 August 2026.

Mynewsdesk publishes from EUR 220 per month, but does not specify how many users that includes. The Mynewsdesk pages, measured 31 August 2026, do not document the number of logins per plan. Prowly publishes no public price on its pages.

Prezly publishes from EUR 100 per month for one user, which is EUR 1,200 per year per user. Presspage publishes a newsroom starting at EUR 20,000 per year, but that is a different product category.

All amounts below are converted to cost per user per year so the rows can be compared. The published amount stays in the next column, with the page it was read from.

What should I check about data processing agreements before signing up for a journalist database?

You must check where the data is hosted and processed. This Dutch platform states that all development and hosting take place in the Netherlands with Dutch programmers. No hosting party, region or certification is named on the pages we measured, 1 September 2026. This is important because the GDPR requires that you know who processes your data and under what agreement.

Prezly hosts on AWS eu-west-1 in Dublin, Ireland, documented on its pages, 31 August 2026. Presspage names Germany as its data location. The GDPR does not require a specific certification, but you must have a written data processing agreement with any platform that stores journalist contact details. If the platform cannot provide this, you are personally responsible for the violation.

How long can I keep a journalist's contact details in a Dutch PR database?

The GDPR does not set a fixed retention period for journalist contact details. You must define your own retention policy based on the purpose of the processing. If you use a journalist database to send press releases, you can keep the data as long as the journalist is employed in that role and you have a legitimate interest in contacting them.

The journalist database, as described on the supplier product pages, read 1 September 2026, covers 'virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders'. The data must be updated regularly. If a journalist changes jobs or leaves the profession, you should remove their details.

Platforms like this Dutch platform handle this themselves by updating their database, but you must also check your own exported lists if you download them.

What happens if a journalist asks me to delete their data from my PR platform?

A journalist has the right to request deletion of their personal data under Article 17 of the GDPR, the 'right to erasure'. If you use a journalist database like the journalist database or another platform, you must be able to delete the journalist's data from your own account. You cannot refuse this request simply because you paid for the database.

the platform's that module product, which costs EUR 2,700 as documented on the product pages, read 1 September 2026, helps handle incoming press questions. This product does not directly relate to data deletion, but it shows that the platform is built for professional PR communication. If a journalist asks to be removed from your list, you must comply within one month, and you should document the request.

How do I choose a GDPR-compliant journalist database for the Dutch market in 2026?

Start by checking where the data is hosted. The cheapest published price per user per year is Prezly Essential at EUR 1,200 per year for one user, but it does not host in the Netherlands. The Amsterdam database costs EUR 1,325 per user per year for two logins and hosts in the Netherlands.

For a team of two, the journalist database is cheaper overall at EUR 2,650 per year compared to Prezly Essential at EUR 2,400 per year for two users.

Check the database coverage. the platform states its database covers 'virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders'. ANP Connect Database only covers the Netherlands and Belgium at EUR 2,990 per year for one user.

Mynewsdesk publishes no Dutch-language pages at all, measured 31 August 2026, so its coverage of Dutch journalists is not documented. The best choice for a Dutch company is the one that documents a clear processing agreement, a Dutch data location, and a published price.

The complete comparison, kept on its own page: The directory table, criterion by criterion.