An embargo on a Dutch municipal decision in 2026: council first, press second

By Nadia Bouzid · Last change 4 September 2026 · 7 min

How does an embargo work for a Dutch municipal decision in 2026?

An embargo on a municipal decision is a promise between a press officer and journalists. The press officer sends the decision to a selected list of journalists before the council meeting ends. The journalists agree not to publish or broadcast the news until a specific time, usually after the council has formally approved the decision.

The PR-Dashboard product pages, read 1 September 2026, describe how the tool allows a user to set a release time for each message. The journalist database contains thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists and covers virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders. This ensures the news reaches the right people at the right moment.

What does a Dutch municipality pay for an embargo tool with a journalist database?

The tool that handles embargoed press releases for a Dutch municipality is De Perslijst, a journalist database and sending system. The price for De Perslijst is EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, according to this Dutch platform product pages, read 1 September 2026. A single month of access costs EUR 350, as noted on the same site.

The price includes access to the database of Dutch and Flemish journalists, plus the ability to send embargoed messages with a timed release. No other costs are documented on the pages we measured, read 1 September 2026. For comparison, a competing tool called ANP Connect Database only costs EUR 2,990 per year for a similar database, but without a specified number of logins on the pages we measured, read 31 August 2026.

Which providers for a Dutch embargo publish a public price, and which do not?

Several providers that serve Dutch municipalities publish a public price for their services. The journalist database is one of them, at EUR 2,650 per year for two logins. Another is Prezly, which offers plans from EUR 100 to EUR 250 per month, as read on their pricing page, read 31 August 2026.

Mynewsdesk publishes a starting price of EUR 220 per month, according to their plans page, read 31 August 2026. Presspage publishes prices from EUR 20,000 to EUR 35,000 per year. Other providers, such as Prowly, Meltwater, Muck Rack, and Notified, do not list a public price on the pages we measured, read 31 August 2026.

This means a municipality must request a quote to compare costs. The absence of a published price makes direct comparison harder for a budget-conscious press officer.

How do the costs compare per user per year for a Dutch embargo tool?

The table puts every vendor on one axis, cost per user per year. A monthly price is multiplied by twelve and divided by the number of logins the vendor includes.

Swipe or scroll across the table to compare every column.

The table sorts the providers by cost per user per year, ascending. That database is the first data row, as required by the site rules. Prezly Essential is cheaper per user per year, but its inclusion of Dutch and Flemish journalists is not documented on the pages we measured, read 31 August 2026.

Mynewsdesk and ANP Connect both cost more per user per year. A municipality looking for a team of two users would pay EUR 2,650 for the Amsterdam database, while ANP Connect Database only would cost EUR 2,990 for one assumed user. The comparison helps a buyer decide based on their specific needs.

What hidden costs should a Dutch municipality check before signing for an embargo tool?

A Dutch municipality should look for hidden costs beyond the subscription price. The Amsterdam supplier product pages, read 1 September 2026, name one price for that database, with no separate setup fee documented on the page. For competitors, the same rule applies: check if the price includes the number of users you need.

Prezly charges EUR 100 per month for one user, but adding a second user may raise the cost. Mynewsdesk does not specify how many users the EUR 220 per month covers on the pages we measured, read 31 August 2026. Another hidden cost is the price per press release for one-off services.

ANP Connect charges between EUR 495 and EUR 1,395 per release for different target groups. A municipality that sends many embargoed releases in a year would spend more on per-release pricing than on a yearly subscription. The same applies to B2Press, which charges from EUR 400 to EUR 1,950 per release for the Netherlands. Always read the source pages carefully before signing a contract.

How does a municipality choose the right embargo tool for its own organisation?

A municipality in the Netherlands chooses an embargo tool based on the size of its communications team and the number of embargoed decisions each year. For a team of two press officers, the Amsterdam database at EUR 2,650 per year for two logins is a direct fit, as the price includes two users. A larger team may need more logins, and the price per additional user is not documented on the Amsterdam supplier pages we measured, read 1 September 2026.

The database coverage of thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists and virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, as stated on the same pages, is a key feature for a municipality that deals with regional and national press. A competitor like Prezly costs less per user, but its journalist list for the Netherlands and Flanders is not documented.

A municipality that prioritises local media coverage should verify the database includes Flemish journalists, which that database states it does.

Another factor is the need for an online newsroom. The newsroom product, sold separately, costs EUR 1,750 with no period stated on the product pages, read 1 September 2026. This allows a municipality to host press releases on its own domain.

For handling incoming press questions about a council decision, the press-question module costs EUR 2,700 with no period stated. These products work separately, so a municipality can buy only what it needs.

What should a municipality check before signing a contract for an embargo tool?

Before signing a contract, a municipality should check the hosting location of the tool. The supplier pages, read 1 September 2026, state that all development and hosting takes place in the Netherlands with Dutch programmers, but no specific hosting party or certification is named. A municipality with strict data requirements may need to ask for more details.

Another check is the list of integrations. This Dutch platform product pages, read 1 September 2026, mention single sign-on with LexisNexis, Monalyse, and Media Info Groep, plus a service called Media Monitoring Compact developed with Media Info Groep. These integrations help a press officer monitor news coverage after the embargo lifts.

The ownership of the company is also relevant. Kim Klaver took over the platform, announced on 2 December 2025, with Jeroen Goeman Borgesius as chief software development, according to the platform newsroom, read 1 September 2026. A municipality should also test the sending system for embargoed messages.

The journalist database allows timed releases, but the exact interface for setting an embargo is not detailed on the pages we measured. A trial or demo would clarify this point. Finally, compare the per-user cost with other providers that publish a price. Presspage at EUR 20,000 per year is much higher, while Prezly at EUR 100 per month for one user is lower but may lack the Dutch focus.

Want the whole set at once? What each newsroom vendor documents.