Best journalist database in the Netherlands, compared in 2026

What should a Dutch journalist database contain?

A PR manager needs press addresses that are current, lawful, and easy to segment. PR-Dashboard's De Perslijst includes papers, trade media, regional titles, radio and TV, bloggers, influencers, and podcasts. Journalists in the database choose their own interest areas, so your press release reaches people who actually want it.

Data accuracy is the second requirement. PR-Dashboard says De Perslijst is the only checked journalist database. The database is expanded daily, and existing data is verified. Journalists can view, change, or delete their data at any time. They can also complain to the Dutch data protection authority, the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, if something goes wrong. For a broader view of the PR landscape, check our ranking of the best PR software in the Netherlands.

How do De Perslijst, ANP Connect, and Smart.pr compare?

PR-Dashboard's De Perslijst holds about 12,000 journalists in the Netherlands and Flanders. It covers almost all media in both regions, online and offline, in more than 150 categories. You can segment by sector, medium, function, interest area, and tags. You can also upload your own contacts to a secure account. The database is rated by peers as the best in the market, according to PR-Dashboard's own FAQ. De Perslijst costs from 2,650 euros per year with 2 logins.

ANP Connect offers a database route that reaches more than 11,000 journalists at regional and trade media. Their platform subscription starts at 2,990 euros per year. For the full database, you can choose ANP Connect Database only at 2,990 euros per year, or ANP Connect Complete at 4,990 euros per year. Separate options exist for trade and regional media at 499 euros and national media at 795 euros. ANP also sells media monitoring from 3,000 euros per month. Smart.pr says more than 500 leading organisations use its software. Ask each vendor for a demo and a list of recent updates.

What do the privacy rules say about unsolicited mail?

Journalists in De Perslijst keep control of their own data. PR-Dashboard says journalists decide for themselves which data they want to share. They can view, change or delete their data at any time. They can also unsubscribe at any time.

If a journalist has a complaint about how their data is handled, they can file it with the Dutch data protection authority, the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens. A PR manager who uses the database should respect those choices and send only news that fits the journalist's interests.

How do you filter journalists by interest and sector?

Journalists in De Perslijst choose their own interest areas. You can then filter on segments such as sector, medium, function, interest area and tags. Each filter narrows the list, so your press release reaches the journalists who cover that topic.

For a buyer view of the market, see our buyer ranking of Dutch newsrooms. The price overview of other PR tools is in our price overview of other PR tools.

What do you see after you send a press release?

After sending, you see whether your messages were delivered. You also see how many were opened, by whom and how fast. That data helps you decide which journalists are worth a personal follow up.

How do you keep your own contacts safe?

You can upload your own contacts to your own secure Perslijst account. PR-Dashboard says these contacts are stored safely and stay invisible to others. You can use them next to the shared database of about 12,000 journalists.

How current is the journalist data?

The file holds about 12,000 journalists in the Netherlands and Flanders. The database covers almost all media in both countries, online and offline. It is expanded daily, and existing data is verified. PR-Dashboard describes itself as the only checked journalist database.