Video streaming services in the Netherlands: the complete guide

Looking for video streaming services in the Netherlands? Got a burning desire to put your feet up, rest your overworked mind, and find out (again) whether Ross and Rachel will ever get together?

We all know the struggle: Sometimes ‘Netflix and chill’ turns into ‘Netflix and scrolling for an hour trying to find something to watch’. If you’ve exhausted all your Netflix options, there are streaming service alternatives available in the Netherlands that are worth checking out.

So, we’ve rounded up the best video streaming services in the Netherlands, complete with pricing, free trials, and payment options (some of them don’t even need iDeal!).

A classic in the Netherlands: Netflix

We’re going to kick this off with the obvious choice, the darling of video streaming services worldwide and accounting for a massive 45% of the streaming service market share in the Netherlands: Netflix.

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’re probably familiar with the video streaming giant, from its worldwide domination to its stellar Netflix Originals content. The good news is that it is available in the Netherlands, and the content is comparable to most other countries — although, as always, it can differ due to regional licensing.

However, as of 2023, Netflix has been getting some hate. Why? They have announced that in many countries, including the Netherlands, password sharing is no longer allowed. This means that if you’re logging into an account from anywhere other than the home IP address, helaas pindakaas, you can’t log in.

If you’re looking for a streaming service that you’re familiar with and want primarily English content with just a few Dutch options thrown into the mix, Netflix will likely be your go-to streaming service in the Netherlands. But, there are also other worthy competitors below that you should check out too.

READ MORE | 7 series and films on Netflix to help you learn Dutch

A popular streaming service in the Netherlands: HBO Max

Hallo Nederland! HBO Max is a relatively new arrival in the Dutch streaming market, having just launched in March 2022. Owned by WarnerMedia, HBO Max first appeared in the US in May 2020 (impeccable timing if we say so 😷) and quickly gained popularity in other countries due to its killer price offers and wide range of movies and shows.

Bringing together HBO, WarnerBros, DC, and Max Originals in one streaming service, HBO Max has plenty of content for binge-hungry Dutchies and internationals. If you’re looking for a good tv show, there’s everything from the original episodes of Sex and the City to the internet’s newest obsession, Euphoria. Alternatively, cancel your weekend plans and sit down for a Lord of the Rings marathon or immerse yourself into the movie adaptation of Frank Herbert’s monster of a sci-fi novel: Dune.

The closest alternative to Netflix in its interface and quality of content, HBO Max is a worthy contender for the streaming giant.

For sport-lovers in the Netherlands: Viaplay

Another newcomer to the Netherlands, the Nordic streaming service Viaplay launched on March 1, 2022. While a Viaplay subscription is more expensive than HBO Max and even Netflix, the Scandi contender offers not just movies, shows, and Viaplay Originals but also live sports — including Formula 1, Bundesliga, and Premier League.

Suppose you’re a fan of Scandinavian crime shows. In that case, Viaplay has you more than covered — but don’t worry, the streaming service also offers familiar content such as The Good Wife and Normal People, plus reality tv content from Hayu. However, new releases (shows and movies) aren’t super prominent on Viaplay

What makes Viaplay unique amongst other streaming services in the Netherlands is its large offer of live sports. So, if you’re looking for a subscription that’ll satisfy all your viewing habits, Viaplay might be your new go-to.

A streaming service specifically for reality TV: Hayu

Reality TV tends to get a bad rep, but let’s be real — who doesn’t love other people’s drama? 

Now, the number one platform to fuel your (slightly unhealthy?) obsession with the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and Below Deck, is Hayu. 

The American streaming service launched in the Netherlands in 2016 and has become increasingly popular recently. After having carved out its niche in the sea of streaming services, it continues to be the only reality TV-focused service in the lowlands.

Hayu allows you to stream your favourite show on the same day as it airs in the US, so you won’t have to worry about discovering the latest drama on social media before seeing it for yourself. Oh, and did we mention they have a large true crime category? 

Content aside, what makes Hayu different from other streaming services is its pricing structure: You can save money if you subscribe on a half-yearly or yearly basis instead of monthly.

The ultimate dutch streaming service: Videoland

If you’re looking for the Dutch version of Netflix, Videoland is your closest bet — apart from actual Netflix, of course.

Owned by German media company RTL, Videoland features shows and movies found across its owner’s television channels. Because of this, much of their content is very television oriented: think reality shows like Love Island, Criminal Minds and The Voice. Meaning Videoland has a pretty good selection of English content.

Suppose you’re looking for something with a little more substance. In that case, they have a hefty selection of movies, such as London has Fallen and Four Weddings and a Funeral and original television (hello Moccro Mafia!). With a prime position as a Dutch streaming service and over 130,000 minutes of pure Dutch content, it also gives you a good challenge to practice your Dutch.

Ultimately, when looking for an alternative streaming service in the Netherlands, it is well worth signing up for Videoland’s free trial.

Need more information about Videoland? Find out what you can watch, which devices you can stream it on, and what’s coming soon.

Practicing Dutch? Stream all the Dutch channels in one place: NLZiet

The major advantage of NLZiet is that it’s a rare integration of three major television stations: NPO, RTL, and Talpa TV (formerly SBS). NLZiet attempts to combat the tough competition of streaming providers by making everything available on their eleven channels in one streaming app.

The major disadvantage of NLZiet, though? Its English selections are limited. There are some options, like Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, and The F Word, but unless you speak Dutch, you’re unlikely to get the most out of this subscription.

On the bright side, if you speak Dutch or want to practice your Nederlands, the Netherlands is famous for creating very popular international television shows, like Survivor and Big Brother.

For our top picks of NLZiet’s Dutch selection, see Utopia, where strangers are given a piece of land and challenged to build a new society. We also love Hunted, where 13 ordinary Dutchies must avoid a specialist team of investigators for three weeks.

A huge streaming service in the Netherlands: Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video made its first foray into the Dutch market in 2016 but took a while to gear up to its best offerings. Thanks to a push in the United States, Amazon’s main offering is their original content: series like Modern Love, Fleabag, and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel could encourage some viewers bored with Netflix to switch to Prime.

However, it’s not all original content — and that’s a good thing! Amazon hosts big-name series like Vikings and Hollywood-budget films like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

A classic streaming services in the Netherlands: NPO Start Plus

From the desk of the public broadcaster, NPO, NPO Start Plus is their streaming service. Major selling point? The price. Major downfall? Almost no English titles (it is the Dutch public broadcaster, after all).

It does have a few options that might be enough to get you in for a trial: the historical drama Victoria, Eurovision, or nature documentaries like March of the Penguins 2.

We include it as an option because it’s quite popular among Dutchies, so if you have some handy language skills, it could be enough to take your fancy. If you’re disappointed in it, no big deal — it’s less than three euros a month.

If you have some favourite NPO series, it’s perfect for binge-watching those babies with no advertising. And, if something important is being covered on live TV, you can watch that too.

An exciting addition to streaming services in the Netherlands: Disney+

In 2019, the crowd-favourite Disney+ became the newest addition to the Dutch streaming circuit. Not just limited to kids’ shows, Disney+ launched with superhero action movies from Marvel, galactic space battles from Star Wars, and some National Geographic for when you need to chill out.

Disney+ came in strong to the Netherlands, offering extensive free trials to the country while it tested the system for worldwide release. Now it offers some of the best conditions of any streaming service: a low cost, downloads on up to ten devices, and streaming on four devices at any one time.

Video streaming services in the Netherlands: Apple TV

Eager to grab their piece of the streaming pie is Apple TV. Promising only Apple originals, it does offer some fresh new content — but the lack of shows may be enough to deter some viewers.

Regardless, Apple TV+ is in the game of boosting its subscriber numbers with unbeatable offers like free Apple TV+ for a year when purchasing an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple TV. That means if you’re in Apple’s ecosystem, you could get their premium tv offering for free.

Even if you’re not, at €6.99 per month, Apple TV won’t be breaking the bank. And its user interface is everything you can expect from Apple: clean, streamlined, and effortless.

Also available in the Netherlands: SkyShowtime

Skyshowtime launched in October 2022, making it one of the latest additions to the available streaming services in the Netherlands. It’s USA all the way on this service, where they offer mostly blockbuster movies and some (honestly good) series.

Notable highlights among the series are the new making-of-the-godfather series, The Offer, Stallone’s Tulsa King, and Yellowstone. When it comes to the movies on offer, it boasts the big guns — such as Top Gun 2.

Stream on the go: Ziggo Go

Ziggo is not a standard streaming service but an internet and television company in the Netherlands that offers a streaming option, Ziggo Go. The catch? You need to be signed up for one of their other services first.

However, if you happen to have your television or internet through Ziggo already, Ziggo Go is at your fingertips, allowing you to replay content from any of the TV channels that are part of your subscription. Remember, you only get seven days from when they were originally broadcast to watch them again.

Which Dutch streaming service did you end up choosing? What do you think of it? Tell us in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2018 and was fully updated in June 2023 for your reading pleasure.

Editor’s note: All information in this article was correct when updated in June 2023, but boy, does technology move fast! If you’ve discovered anything inaccurate, we would love for you to bring it to our attention in the comments.