Netherlands

The Netherlands ranked second of 180 countries and territories in the 2026 RSF World Press Freedom Index, scoring 88.92 out of 100.

Reports of threats and violence against journalists increased. PersVeilig received 262 incident reports in 2025, compared with 249 in 2024 and 218 in 2023. These included 106 reports of threats, 67 of intimidation and 55 of physical violence. PersVeilig cautions that greater willingness to report incidents may partly explain the increase; the figures measure reports received rather than the complete incidence of violence and intimidation.

Journalist-safety infrastructure gained a permanent organisational basis. PersVeilig became a foundation on 1 July 2025, with participation from the Dutch Association of Journalists, the Society of Editors-in-Chief, the publishers’ association NDP Nieuwsmedia and NPO. Its establishment accompanied the conversion of temporary government support into annual structural funding of EUR 500,000. Its wider financing includes contributions from public authorities and media organisations.

The European Commission’s 2026 Rule of Law Report identifies enforcement against online threats as a continuing concern. It also records stakeholders’ concerns about intimidation and increasingly hostile political rhetoric towards journalists.

Anti-SLAPP legislation is now in force. The Netherlands enacted its implementing law on 8 July 2026, and it entered into force on 14 July 2026, after the EU directive’s transposition deadline of 7 May. The law permits courts to require security for potential litigation costs and damages in qualifying proceedings. It also provides for recovery of the defendant’s full legal costs, subject to an exception based on reasonableness and fairness; that cost-recovery provision expressly extends to cases without cross-border implications.

New research documents substantial legal pressure. A PersVeilig–Ipsos study published on 18 September 2026, surveying 471 journalists and 33 editorial leadership teams, found that 56 per cent of journalist respondents had experienced legal pressure. Seven per cent reported having experienced a SLAPP. Reported access to adequate support was substantially lower among freelancers than among employed journalists. These findings distinguish the broader experience of legal pressure from proceedings identified by respondents as SLAPPs.

Media concentration remains a concern. The Commission’s 2026 report identifies continuing problems with market concentration and ownership transparency. It notes that DPG Media’s acquisition of RTL Nederland became final in September 2025, while finding it too early to assess the effects of the conditions imposed on the transaction.

Public broadcasting reform entered consultation. On 11 September 2026, Education, Culture and Science Minister Rianne Letschert opened consultation on legislation to reorganise national public broadcasting. Consultation runs until 23 October 2026, and the government aims to introduce the new system on 1 January 2029. The proposal has not become law.

State Media Monitor maps one active entry in the Netherlands, classified within the independent family. Following its September 2026 scope review, RNW Media is retained only as an archived profile and is excluded from the active count.

NPO, the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep, is classified Independent State-Funded (ISF). Stichting NPO coordinates the national public broadcasting system under the Media Act 2008. The system comprises eleven association-based broadcasters and the two broadcasters with specific statutory remits, NOS and NTR. Participating broadcasters produce programmes, while NPO coordinates programming, distribution and shared services.

Government has a formal appointment role, constrained by safeguards. Supervisory Board members are appointed by Royal Decree on the minister’s recommendation. An independent appointments advisory committee supports selection, and the Supervisory Board submits a recommendation that the minister must follow unless it conflicts with the law, procedural care or other compelling interests. Rejection requires written reasons, a request for a new recommendation and notification to the House of Representatives. The Supervisory Board appoints the Executive Board.

Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg chairs the Supervisory Board. Jet de Ranitz has chaired the Executive Board since 17 December 2025.

Funding comes principally through allocations administered by the state. NPO’s 2025 annual report records EUR 1,098.1 million in total resources, including funding distributed to participating broadcasters and other institutions. Within that total, the coordinating organisation’s own resources amounted to EUR 188.6 million. These figures should not be presented as interchangeable measures of NPO’s operating budget. Revenue also includes distribution payments and NPO Plus subscriptions.

Substantial cuts remain despite partial relief. NPO’s 2027 budget submission incorporates the government’s EUR 45 million partial reversal of earlier cuts, leaving a reduction of EUR 111.7 million at 2025 prices in the ministry’s contribution. NPO plans to direct the restored funding towards programming while retaining reductions in organisational costs.

The proposed reform would reorganise production and governance. It would group the association-based broadcasters into four broadcasting houses, combine NOS and NTR under the NOS name, and replace membership-based entry and exit with a system of permanent participating organisations.

The draft would also empower the Commissariaat voor de Media to issue binding directions, potentially requiring replacement of directors or supervisors, on specified grounds including mismanagement. The regulator has criticised the proposal’s reliance on self-regulation. On 22 September 2026 it called for stronger governance requirements and a clearer statutory basis for independent external oversight, including oversight of safeguards for journalistic quality.

Editorial autonomy is protected by law and supported by shared standards. The Media Act protects public broadcasters’ independence from governmental and commercial influence and leaves editorial choices with the broadcasters. A shared Code of Journalistic Conduct, effective from 13 November 2025, requires independence, accuracy, verification and accountability. The public broadcasting Ombudsman examines complaints under the code but does not impose fines or other sanctions.

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