Connecting to the internet using a Dutch IP address when you’re not in the Netherlands can be very helpful. For example, it allows you to get service from Dutch banking websites and unlock the streaming content blocked for users outside the country.
Thus, if you are a Dutch national away from home on holidays or business or just a foreigner enthusiastic about the country’s cultural products or financial services, getting a Dutch IP abroad is straightforward if you use the correct VPN.
In this article, we will show you exactly how to achieve this goal step by step.
How to get an IP address from the Netherlands – Quick list
- Sign up for a tested VPN service. NordVPN is our top recommendation.
- Download and install the VPN app on your computer or mobile device.
- Open your VPN app, choose a server that is based in the Netherlands, and connect.
- Go to the website you want to unblock and enjoy browsing safely.
Best VPNs to get Netherlands IP address – Quick list
- NordVPN: Has the best reputation in the business because it’s earned it. It has one of the largest networks in the industry, and the quality it offers is top-notch.
- Private Internet Access (PIA): A VPN that offers value for money for its relatively low price and top-notch security features.
- Surfshark: A VPN service that brings the best of many worlds together. It’s cheaper than the market’s average, but it provides quality above the market average.
- ExpressVPN: It is the best option in our opinion. It’s reliable, fast, and it has a vast worldwide network that includes those Netherlands-based servers needed for this.
Why do you need a VPN for a Dutch IP address?
Geo-restricted web-based services are all the rage these days, especially on streaming platforms. That means you cannot see their content if you’re not inside the country. Or, at least, you will have limited access to the service – the title catalog will be smaller frequently.
Also, banking services use geolocation as a security measure to protect domestic customers against fraud by international criminals. So, if you want to see those streams or use those banks when away from the Netherlands, you need to get a Netherlands IP address outside it.
Using a VPN is the easiest way to get the Netherlands Network address. One of the things that a good VPN will do for you is hide your actual IP address and assign you another one from the server you choose within the VPN network. So, if the server you select is based in the Netherlands, your apparent IP address will be from that country. As a result, every Dutch website will consider you a domestic user and serve you accordingly. As far as the internet is concerned, you’re in the Netherlands.
Masking your actual IP address is one of the things that a VPN should do for you. The other essential task it must perform is encrypting all your online traffic. Why? Because if you’re using your internet service in the usual way, any external observer can see precisely what you’re doing all the time. That observer could be your ISP or the government, but it could also be a team of hackers trying to learn enough about you to harm you.
However, if your traffic is encrypted correctly, it will look like random gibberish for external observers, so they won’t be able to make heads or tails of your internet activities. Thus, a VPN enhances your privacy, improves anonymity, and gives you a more secure internet experience. These advantages alone are worth considering a VPN, even if your priority is simply to change your IP address to the Netherlands.
Other benefits of a VPN
Also, if you’re traveling, the chances are that you’ll find yourself using public WiFi hotspots much more than you would at home. That is pure poison for your privacy and your security. The world’s hackers have learned how tourists need to use the internet and public spots, so they know how to “camp” nearby to sniff for vulnerable traffic that they can exploit in some way.
And your hotel’s internet access won’t protect you any better either. Hackers also know that tourists live in hotels while they’re in town. However, suppose your smartphone or laptop computer is covered with a VPN. In that case, traffic encryption will make you vulnerable to the casual digital wrongdoers surrounding touristic spots in every major city today.
How can you tell a good VPN from the rest?
We’ve researched in your stead so that you can save time for more important things. Here are the things we considered when looking for the best VPN to unlock every Dutch website:
- The VPN’s network includes at least one server that is physically based inside the Netherlands.
- The network’s traffic is reliable and fast.
- The company has a zero-log policy so that no sensitive information about you is recorded.
- The VPN’s encryption is at least up to par with the industry standard (AES-256) and features additional security options.
- The VPN apps are available for every important operating system or platform.
The best VPN service that will get you a Netherlands IP address
The short answer is NordVPN. But we have two other options for you that are almost as good at a lower cost; let’s see all three of them in further detail:
1. NordVPN
A resilient VPN that helps you maintain your online privacy in the Netherlands via its huge server network. It also allowing unblocking geo-restricted content via 200+ servers in the country.
Pros
- Unblocks Dutch streaming sites
- Fast speeds
- Top-notch privacy and security
Cons
- Complications in desktop app
The network spans more than 6,800 nodes in 113 countries. You can find over 200 NordVPN server in the Netherlands. So, unblocking Dutch services of any kind is a trivial task if you have a NordVPN account. Furthermore, it allows ten simultaneous connections to the network.
Privacy is paramount in NordVPN, so it has AES-256 encryption, an app-specific kill switch (not on Android, sorry), protections against all the standard types of IP leaks, ad-blockers, malware-scanning, Tor over VPN, and multi-hop options.
NordVPN has Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS apps. So, almost no device can’t benefit from this VPN’s protection.
Lastly, NordVPN’s price is relatively low (though not as low as Surfshark’s) for its quality service. Furthermore, the vast number of servers on Dutch soil makes it well suited for the task.
2. Private Internet Access (PIA)
A reliable VPN service that has an extensive server network and multiple servers in the Netherlands.
Pros
- Strong geo-unblocking capabilities
- An extensive server network
- Unlimited device connection per license
Cons
- Distant servers exhibit high latency
If you want to change your current IP address at a friendly price but with the utmost privacy assurance, PIA should be at the top of your list. The VPN does not only charge you low subscription prices but also ensures you get the most out of every penny.
PIA is known for its advanced security features that make it ideal for changing IP addresses. For instance, its extensive server network of over 30,000 servers spread across 91 countries globally is one feature that sets the provider apart from other VPN services. With such a vast server network, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to changing your server location.
It also has a no-logs policy and automatic kill-switch functions. The no-logs policy means the provider doesn’t collect or store your private information. On the other hand, the automatic kill switch ensures your traffic does not leak, even if your VPN connection drops. Private Internet Access also has strong encryption to protect your data. The 256-bit AES encryption is quite strong and has, over the years, proved its ability to protect user privacy and security.
3. Surfshark
One of the VPN industry’s new kids on the block, and it’s making some serious waves already by offering multiple servers with the Dutch IPs.
Pros
- Unblocks all major streaming platforms and blocked content
- Anonymous payments available
- 24/7 live support
Cons
- Slow connections on some servers
If you’re looking for one hell of a deal, Surfshark is the thing for you. This VPN offers top-notch service, similar to the industry’s premium VPNs, but at a slashed price.
Encryption is 256-AES-GCM (just like the NSA). The network spans more than 3,200 servers across 100+ countries. Some of the nodes offer static IP addresses and multi-hop encryption.
Additionally, you get protection against malware, popups, and trackers. That in itself improves loading times and reduces the data transference volumes. The servers adhere to a strict no logs policy and allow an unlimited number of concurrent connections.
Surfshark can unblock Netflix from any server in the network, accept cryptocurrency as payment, keep no logs, and have a 24/7 customer support team. It will get you a Netherlands Network address if you choose a local server there, and it has multiple Dutch servers.
The price is unique in the industry for the bang it will give you for your buck. The only cons are that the network’s speeds, while good enough, are not impressive compared to the best in the business. Also, if you are a power user looking to tweak things to your heart’s content, you might be frustrated.
This option works fine; it’s the budget option because of its low price and acceptable performance that is, nevertheless, not outstanding.
Surfshark’s performance is astonishing for a new VPN, and the price angle makes it very attractive.
4. ExpressVPN
It offers outstanding speeds, and the provider has a reputation for privacy and security. In addition, it includes servers from three different cities in the Netherlands.
Pros
- Available Bitcoin payment method
- Unblock many streaming site including Dutch
- 24/7 live chat customer support
Cons
- Pricier than its competitors
ExpressVPN is secure, reliable, and fast. It boasts more than three thousand servers scattered around 105 countries, one of which is the Netherlands. The network’s speed and reliability allow it to comfortably support an HD stream in real time, which is why it is an ideal option. Of course, it will also bypass the regional restrictions in banking or streaming sites by showing them a local IP address as your own.
Encryption is AES 256-bit, which is military-grade. In addition, there is a kill switch for desktop apps, and the network is protected against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC IP leaks so that your actual address is always kept safe within the encryption tunnel. A kill switch is a piece of software that monitors your connection to the VPN.
If something goes wrong and the link is broken, then the online activity on your device stops automatically. This measure prevents any information from leaving your side on the open internet without the proper encryption to protect it.
ExpressVPN strictly prohibits logs that include personally identifiable information. Furthermore, you can keep your identity anonymous even from the VPN if you pay for your membership using Bitcoin. The customer support live chat is online 24/7.
This VPN supports Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. It can also provide you with custom firmware if you want it installed on a router.
In short, ExpressVPN unblocks all the popular Dutch streaming sites; it has reliable, fast-speed connections, advanced security features, and allows for anonymous registration. It’s also the most expensive option on the list. But the service is worth it, the price difference is not too big, and it has a 30-day money-back guarantee. It has the best balance between functionality and privacy.
Best VPNs to get Netherlands IP address comparison table
NordVPN | Private Internet Access (PIA) | Surfshark | ExpressVPN | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Split tunneling | Windows ✔Android ✔MacOS ✔iOS ✔Routers ✔ | Windows ✔Android ✔MacOS ✔iOS 🗶Routers ✔ | Windows ✔Android ✔MacOS 🗶iOS 🗶Routers ✔ | Windows ✔Android ✔MacOS ✔iOS ✔Routers ✔ |
Allow torrenting in the Netherlands | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Simultaneous connections | 10 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 8 |
Leak protection | DNS ✔IPv6 ✔WebRTC ✔ | DNS ✔IPv6 ✔WebRTC ✔ | DNS ✔IPv6 🗶WebRTC 🗶 | DNS ✔IPv6 ✔WebRTC ✔ |
Money-back guarantee | Offers 30-day money-back guarantee | Offers 30-day money-back guarantee | Offers 30-day money-back guarantee | Offers 30-day money back guarantee |
Can I use a free VPN service to get a Dutch IP address?
Yes, you can, but no, you shouldn’t.
Free VPNs are problematic at many levels, and you should always avoid them.
The first problem with free VPNs is that most don’t have enough servers or bandwidth to serve all users. So, free VPNs will hide your IP and encrypt your traffic. But they will provide you with slow speeds that can make even simple browsing, let alone streaming, a very frustrating experience.
Also, free VPNs are best known by Netflix and similar platforms that spend a lot of effort blocking them. Thus, finding a free VPN that can unlock any streaming website is rare.
However, the low-grade functionality common in free VPNs is not the worst problem.
VPNs need an international server network that is expensive to build and maintain. ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, and other premium VPNs pay for their expenses by collecting user fees. But how can a free VPN pay its bills if it’s charging you nothing? We’re glad you asked!
An axiom in the new digital economy goes like this:
If you are not paying for a service on the internet, sooner or later, you’ll find that you are the actual product on sale.
And that’s how free VPNs pay for their costs.
The first resource they have is advertising. Ads in free VPNs are usually overabundant and intrusive. And they come with tracking cookies that monitor your online activity, which brings us to the second resource. Part of the point of a premium VPN is that it keeps no logs at all. It doesn’t monitor your internet activity at all. The best ones only keep data such as usernames, passwords, and the bare minimum of information needed to keep the servers going.
That’s how they help you to keep your privacy safe. FreeVPNs, on the other hand, keep an eye on you. They monitor your activity, keep records, analyze them, and then sell them to advertisers and data miners for whom that information is worth a lot of money. So, free VPNs are not on business to help you remain anonymous.
Other problems associated with free VPNs include IP leaks, lack of encryption, and other security breaches. We won’t go into further detail to explore those problems because, by now, the point should be crystal clear: always avoid free VPNs. Even if they don’t charge you with money, they are too expensive in other ways.
In short, free VPNs stand for all the opposite things that a real VPN should stand for. That’s why you should never use them.
Will I be able to see Dutch TV from abroad through a VPN?
A geo-blocked service will generally look at the IP address assigned to you (your ISP does that) and figure out your country. However, suppose you are connecting through a VPN. In that case, the network will give you a temporary IP address from a different country corresponding to the physical location of the server you chose.
Thus, every interaction you have on the internet will be seen from the other side as if you were in the server’s location. Therefore, once you’re in the VPN app and choose a server from the Netherlands, you’ll have a Dutch IP address assigned to all your traffic, and you will be able to see the streams on Netflix Netherlands, AT5, NPO start, and any other Dutch service without any problems whatsoever.
Note:
There are those services that support geolocation restrictions with other measures. For example, some will require a payment method linked to a domestic address; others will make sure you provide a local phone number before signing up. So if you are a Dutch resident and away from home for a short period, that won’t hamper you. Otherwise, it could prove tricky for you to finish the sign-up process.
Can I get a Dutch IP address without a VPN?
VPNs are definitely the best way to obtain an IP address from the Netherlands, but they’re not the only option. You can also use a proxy server to manually change your IP address and Firefox add-ons or configure your connection. All those options are available, but they need some additional expertise, and unlike VPNs, they add nothing to your security.
Manual settings
Another option is to set your IP manually, also using a proxy. If you can find a proxy from the Netherlands, you can change your browser’s settings to use that proxy, and then you’re set. Your browser is officially navigating from the Netherlands.
A quick Google search on the topic will give you multiple results where you could get a Netherlands proxy.
Firefox add-ons
If you browse the web on Firefox, many add-ons contain designs to change your IP address. You need to find the proxy addresses on your own, but it’s still much faster than manually configuring everything.
So there are options other than VPNs, for sure. But premium VPNs remain the best idea.
Tor Browser
This is a free and open-source web browser that enables anonymous internet browsing. If your connection is encrypted and routed through a network of servers known as the Tor network, it becomes challenging for anyone to trace your online activities.
Moreover, utilizing a Tor exit node based in the Netherlands allows you to acquire a Dutch IP address, effectively enhancing your anonymity.
Proxy servers
Proxy servers serve as intermediaries between clients and servers, forwarding requests on behalf of users. Using a Netherlands proxy server, your network appears to originate from the proxy server rather than your own device. This can assist in accessing geo-restricted content and bolster your online privacy.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand that proxy servers offer limited privacy protection, and your data may still be susceptible to prying eyes and hacking.
What are other uses for a Dutch IP address?
The majority of individual users today use VPNs to unblock restricted content online. But that’s not all a VPN offers you.
Digital crime has become widespread in recent years, so finding new ways to prevent fraud is necessary for many service providers, especially banks and financial institutions. For example, a standard security measure in banking websites is to disallow connections abroad to access their websites. The bank doesn’t know, or care, if you’re on holiday. It just knows you’re trying to connect from far away and blocks you.
Some banks will allow you to do business anyway if you spend some time in a bothersome identity verification process – a most inconvenient thing to do abroad. It’s the last thing you need when you’re away from home, even more so if you’re in an emergency, which is probably why you need to hit on your bank while on holiday. The IP address assigned to you in the VPN will not trigger the bank’s security alerts. It will simply think you connect from within the country and proceed normally.
In this article, we’ve been focusing on how the VPN gives you a different IP, but VPNs do far more for your security, and this is the moment to consider those other features.
Public WiFi networks are a terrible idea, security-wise. They expose your traffic to any third party close enough to pick up your device’s radio signal. Furthermore, none of your traffic is encrypted because those WiFi networks are unrestricted.
When you’re at home, you don’t need any public WiFi connections at all. But when you’re traveling, you’ll likely find that you need to connect to a WiFi network for whatever reason. Then you will be exposed, as you would be at home, but you’ll be much more vulnerable because if you notice any breaches in your security (and by the time you know it’s already too late), you’ll be impaired to react quickly and control the damage.
Unless, of course, you are using a VPN account. The VPN will encrypt all your traffic wherever you are, so you will be invulnerable to third parties, even if you’re far away from home. And that’s another excellent reason to use a VPN when you’re on holiday, even if you don’t need to access your banking services or streaming websites.
Are there any internet restrictions in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is one of the most liberal countries globally, so internet restrictions are almost nonexistent. Illegal pornography websites are blocked in nearly every country, and most ISPs block TPB and Pirate Bay alternatives. But this block has been removed once before in 2014, and it could be overturned permanently if the Dutch Supreme Court decides it’s illegal.
ISP censorship is not very effective, anyway. The restrictions an ISP can impose are useless by many measures, including VPN.
The best streaming platforms and channels in the Netherlands today
There are many streaming websites in the Netherlands, and some of the best need a paid subscription. However, there are also many channels that you can watch for free as long as you’re available in the country – or you are connected through a VPN server. Here are the most popular ones:
- NPO1
- NPO2
- NPO3
- RTL4
- RTL5
- Ketnet
- Canvas
- Een
FAQs
VPNs are not prohibited in the Netherlands. However, be sure not to indulge in illegal activities, such as torrenting copyrighted materials, as this is deemed unlawful. Be sure to check on local laws to understand which activities are considered illegal.
Yes, a proxy can help you obtain a Netherlands IP address, but they don’t offer the same protection as a VPN. Unlike VPNs, proxies do not encrypt your network and might expose you to serious online threats.
While it may sound redundant, it is actually important if you’re seeking to protect your anonymity by hiding your IP address. Using regular traffic exposes to online threats, ISP monitoring, and government surveillance.
Go to your browser and access the ‘free IP checker tool,’ or simply search for ‘What is my IP address?’ You’ll find various websites that show your current IP address.