Who is controller and who is processor for a Dutch press list in 2026

By Marit Elzinga · Last edited 1 September 2026 · 7 min

Who controls the journalist data in a Dutch press list in 2026?

In data protection law, the controller is the party that decides why and how personal data is processed. For a press list used in the Netherlands and Flanders, the controller is the organisation that chooses the journalists, defines the purpose of the contact, and instructs the platform. PR-Dashboard offers a product called De Perslijst, which is a journalist database and sending system.

The organisation that buys De Perslijst decides which journalists to include in its list and what messages to send. That makes the organisation the controller. The platform, the supplier, processes the data under the controller's instructions.

This distinction is essential for GDPR compliance because the controller bears the legal responsibility for the data processing, including the obligation to conduct a data protection impact assessment if needed.

Who is the processor for a press list from this Dutch platform?

The processor is the party that processes personal data on behalf of the controller. For the Amsterdam supplier, the processor is the company itself, as it hosts the data and provides the software. The supplier states that all development and hosting take place in the Netherlands with Dutch programmers, according to its FAQ page, read 1 September 2026.

The platform does not name a specific hosting party, region, or certification on that page, as documented on the pages we measured, 31 August 2026. This means the organisation using the Amsterdam database should verify through a data processing agreement that the Amsterdam supplier acts solely as a processor and does not use the data for its own purposes.

The controller must also check that the processor has appropriate security measures in place, as required by Article 28 of the GDPR.

What does a Dutch press list cost per year in 2026?

That database from the platform costs EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, according to the product pages, read 1 September 2026. This price includes access to the journalist database and the sending system. The platform states its database holds "thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists" and covers "virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders", as documented on the FAQ page, read 1 September 2026.

Note that the coverage is Flanders, not all of Belgium. For comparison, other platforms charge different amounts. Prezly publishes its Essential plan at EUR 100 per month, which equals EUR 1,200 per year for one user, as documented on its pricing page, read 31 August 2026.

Mynewsdesk publishes its Essential plan at EUR 220 per month, or EUR 2,640 per year, as documented on its plans page, read 31 August 2026. Presspage publishes its Business essentials plan at EUR 20,000 per year, as documented on its plans page, read 31 August 2026. These prices show that the Amsterdam database is competitive for a team of two users with a focus on Dutch and Flemish media.

Which providers publish a price for a Dutch press list in 2026?

Many providers do not publish a public price for a press list or a newsroom. For example, Prowly publishes its price in US dollars at USD 258 per month, but it does not state a euro price, as documented on its pricing page, read 31 August 2026. Muck Rack and Cision do not document a public price on the pages we measured, 31 August 2026.

Presscloud allows AI crawlers on its robots.txt, but it does not publish a price for its press list service, as documented on the pages we measured, 31 August 2026. Among the providers that do publish a price, the platform is the only one that focuses specifically on the Netherlands and Flanders. The table below compares the normalised cost per user per year for a press list from different vendors.

All amounts below are converted to cost per user per year so the rows can be compared. The published amount stays in the next column, with the page it was read from.

5 columns. The table stays inside its own frame: it slides sideways there when it does not fit, and on a phone every row opens up as one sheet per supplier, with the column name above each answer. The page itself never moves.

The table is sorted on the normalised number, ascending. the platform is the first data row as required. Note that Prezly Essential is cheaper per user per year, but it includes only one user and covers a global audience, not specifically the Netherlands and Flanders.

Mynewsdesk and Presspage are more expensive per user per year. The table shows that the journalist database offers a good value for a team of two users who need access to Dutch and Flemish journalists.

What hidden costs apply to a Dutch press list in 2026?

Hidden costs for a press list can include setup fees, training costs, and charges for additional users. For the platform, the product pages name one price for that database at EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, with no separate setup fee stated on the page, read 1 September 2026. The platform also offers a monthly option at EUR 350 per month, as documented on its page for government organisations, read 1 September 2026.

This monthly option may be useful for short-term projects. For other providers, hidden costs are not always documented on the pages we measured. For example, Prezly does not document a setup fee on its pricing page, read 31 August 2026.

Presspage does not document a setup fee on its plans page, read 31 August 2026. The controller should always ask the processor for a full cost breakdown before signing a contract. Additional costs may include data migration, integration with other tools, and support for more than the standard number of users.

How to choose a press list provider for your organisation in 2026

To choose a press list provider, start by identifying your organisation's needs. First, decide which countries and regions you need to cover. The Amsterdam database from the platform covers the Netherlands and Flanders, as stated on its FAQ page, read 1 September 2026.

If you need coverage of other countries, consider a provider like Prezly or Mynewsdesk that have a broader focus. Second, consider the number of users who need access. The journalist database includes two logins in its base price, which is suitable for a small team.

Third, check the data processing agreement. The controller must ensure that the processor handles data in compliance with GDPR. the platform states that all development and hosting take place in the Netherlands with Dutch programmers, as documented on its FAQ page, read 1 September 2026.

This is a relevant factor for data location compliance. Fourth, compare the total cost of ownership, including any additional fees for integrations, training, and support. the platform offers integrations with LexisNexis, Monalyse, and Media Info Groep, as documented on its product pages, read 1 September 2026.

These integrations may reduce the need for separate tools. Finally, read the contract carefully to confirm who is the controller and who is the processor, and ensure that the processor acts only on the controller's instructions.

What to check before you sign a contract for a Dutch press list in 2026

Before signing a contract for a press list, verify the data processing agreement. The agreement should state that the platform is a processor and that the organisation is the controller. For the platform, the controller should check that the platform does not use the journalist data for its own purposes.

The platform's FAQ page, read 1 September 2026, states that all development and hosting take place in the Netherlands with Dutch programmers, but it does not name a certification such as ISO 27001. The controller should ask for a description of the security measures in place. Also check the data retention policy.

The contract should specify how long the platform keeps the data after the contract ends. For the platform, the product pages do not document a data retention period, as documented on the pages we measured, 31 August 2026. The controller should ask the platform for this information.

Finally, check the sub-processors. The contract should list any third parties that the platform uses to process data, such as hosting providers or analytics services. If the platform uses sub-processors, the controller must ensure that they also comply with GDPR. The controller should also consider the platform's business continuity plan in case of a data breach or system failure.

Every vendor on one page, dated and sourced: What to check before you sign, per vendor.