Where to find email addresses of Dutch journalists: contact pages versus a checked database
What an editorial contact page offers
When you need email addresses of Dutch journalists, the first stop is often the contact page of a newsroom. NRC, NOS, de Volkskrant and Follow the Money all have such pages. They give a general route: a form, a general email address, or a phone number for the news desk.
The contact page route works for a simple question or a tip. But it rarely gives you the email address of a specific journalist. For a press release about your sector, you want the person who covers that beat. An editorial contact page does not tell you who that is.
PR-Dashboard De Perslijst starts where these pages stop. It is a database of thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists and media, with filters for interest areas, preferences, newsroom, social channels, media, tags and contact information. You search for the journalist who covers your topic, not for the general news desk.
Why NOS takes press releases through a form
The NOS contact page is a good example of the limits of a general route. The broadcaster accepts press releases through a form. The form allows attachments up to 12 MB. That sounds practical, but there is a catch.
NOS states that it cannot check whether a press release has arrived. The broadcaster receives very many press releases every day. Your release goes into the same queue as hundreds of others. You have no way to know if it was read, forwarded, or deleted.
A checked database changes that. With PR-Dashboard De Perslijst you see the journalist by name, with their expertise area. You send your release directly to that person. You can follow up with a phone call or a personal email, because you know exactly who you are contacting.
When a personal address is personal data
One reason newsrooms use forms is privacy. The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) explains that a business address that is equal to a home address is personal data. For a journalist working from home, their email address can be personal data too.
Personal email addresses can still be used. It means you need a lawful basis. A database that is GDPR proof helps. It keeps journalist data in a built in CRM, so you can track consent and preferences.
For personal contact with some journalists, a direct approach can help. The Dutch baseball and softball association (KNBSB) notes that personal contact with some journalists from their press list can be favorable. A checked database gives you the names to build that personal contact.
How a database keeps records fresh
Journalists change jobs, beats and email addresses. A contact page from last year may point to a journalist who has moved on. That is why freshness matters.
PR-Dashboard De Perslijst expands its database daily and verifies existing data. The file holds about 12,000 journalists in the Netherlands and Flanders. It covers almost all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, online and offline: papers, magazines, trade media, radio and TV, blogs, influencers and podcasts.
You can segment by sector, medium, function, interest area and tags. That means you build a list of journalists who actually cover your industry, not a general press list. The database is the only checked journalist database, according to its own description.
How to combine both routes
You do not have to choose between contact pages and a database. Use both. Contact pages are fine for a one off question. For a press release campaign, you want named contacts.
Start with PR-Dashboard De Perslijst. Search for journalists who cover your sector. Save them to the built in CRM. Send your release to those named contacts. Then use the contact page of a newsroom only if you need a general route, for example for a tip that does not fit a specific beat.
Together, the two routes cover both needs. You have the personal route to a named journalist, and the general route as a backup. You also avoid the risk of your release disappearing into a form that cannot confirm arrival.
What to ask a vendor before you buy
If you compare a checked database with another tool, ask specific questions. How many journalists are in the file? How often is the data verified? Which media types are covered? What filters can you use? Is there a CRM to keep your own data?
PR-Dashboard De Perslijst answers those questions clearly. The database has about 12,000 journalists, is expanded daily, covers almost all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, and offers filters for interest areas, preferences, newsroom, social channels, media, tags and contact information. The built in CRM lets you keep your own journalist data.
Named, checked contacts are a basic requirement. For a checked database with named journalists, you get named contacts, with two logins included.
Comparing the price of both routes
Compare that to the cost of a wrong contact. A press release sent to a general form may never be read. A release sent to a named journalist who covers your sector has a much better chance. De Perslijst costs from 2,650 euros per year with 2 logins. The price is an investment in reach, not an expense.
| Route | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial contact page | General form or email address | One off questions |
| PR-Dashboard De Perslijst | Named journalists with expertise areas | Press release campaigns |
| ANP Pers Support | Valid contact details required | Basic press release distribution |
Which route fits your need
If you send a press release once a year, a contact page may be enough. If you send releases regularly, or if you want to build relationships with journalists, you need a database. The decision rule is simple: the more you rely on press coverage, the more you need named, current contacts.
PR-Dashboard De Perslijst covers that need with named, current contacts. It gives you named journalists, current data, and a CRM to manage your contacts. For more background on press addresses and editorial addresses, see our guide on journalist contact details in the Netherlands. For a sector approach, read how to find Dutch journalists who cover your sector in 2026. And before you send, check our advice on sending a press release by Mailchimp or a press tool.
Read more: Finding journalist contacts.
Read more: Finding journalist contacts.
Read more: GDPR and journalist data.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find email addresses of Dutch journalists?
Editorial contact pages of NRC, NOS, de Volkskrant and Follow the Money give a general route, but they do not name individual journalists.
How do I find email addresses of journalists in the Netherlands?
Use PR-Dashboard De Perslijst to search for journalists by sector, medium, function, interest area and tags. The database is expanded daily and data is verified, so you get current, named contacts. Editorial contact pages are a backup for general questions.
Nederland journalist contact email redactie contact pagina Follow the Money NRC NOS Volkskrant
De contactpagina's van NRC, NOS, de Volkskrant en Follow the Money geven een algemene route, maar geen namen van journalisten.
What is the difference between a contact page and a checked journalist database?
A contact page gives a general form or email address, and you cannot verify if your release arrived. A checked database like PR-Dashboard De Perslijst gives named journalists with expertise areas, and the data is verified daily. For press release campaigns, the database gives named recipients that a contact page does not.