Netherlands
Netherlands
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Cancelling a Dutch newspaper or magazine subscription
You signed up for a Dutch newspaper to help your reading, or for a magazine that looked interesting at the time. Months on, the copies pile up unread and you would rather stop paying for them. Cancelling is straightforward once you know two things: when you are allowed to stop, and where each publisher wants you to do it.
This page walks through both. The rules in the Netherlands are friendlier than many people expect, so in most cases you are not tied in for long.
When can you cancel?
Dutch law gives subscribers a clear right. Once your first contract period has ended, you can cancel a newspaper or magazine at any time, and the publisher may hold you to a notice period of no more than one month. So you are never locked in for longer than a month after you give notice.
There is one exception. For publications that appear less than once a month — a quarterly magazine, for example — the notice period can be up to three months. For a daily paper or a weekly, it is one month at most.
If you are still inside your agreed first period, the subscription runs until that period ends. You can give notice now to take effect on the end date, so it does not roll over silently.
Trial subscriptions end on their own
A trial subscription works differently, and in your favour. A trial stops by itself. A publisher may not quietly turn it into a paid subscription that keeps running, so when the trial period is over, nothing is charged and you do not need to send a cancellation.
It is still worth a quick check. Occasionally the sign-up form includes an option to continue on a paid plan after the trial. That is a choice you made, not a silent renewal. If you are unsure, look at the confirmation email you received when you signed up — it states exactly what you agreed to.
The main publishers
Most Dutch papers belong to a handful of publishers. DPG Media publishes titles such as de Volkskrant, AD, Trouw and Het Parool, and you can cancel by phone or, for most titles, through a form.
De Telegraaf prefers to handle cancellations over the phone. When you call, expect an offer to stay first. You are under no obligation: say clearly that you want to stop, and ask for confirmation by email.
Other titles, from magazines to regional papers, each have their own route. We have set out the best-known publishers and titles page by page, so you land in the right place straight away.
How to cancel
Keep your customer number to hand — it is on your invoice or in your confirmation email. State that you want to end the subscription and from which date. If you are offered a deal to stay, you are free to turn it down.
Always ask for confirmation of the cancellation, by email or post, and keep it. That way there is never anything to discuss if an invoice turns up after you thought you had stopped.
Go straight to the right page
Can I cancel my newspaper subscription at any time?
After the first contract period, yes. You can then cancel at any time, with a notice period of no more than one month. For publications that appear less than once a month, that period can be up to three months.
Do I need to cancel a trial subscription?
No. A trial ends on its own and may not be silently converted into a paid subscription. To be safe, check your confirmation email to make sure you did not opt into a paid plan when you signed up.
Can a publisher refuse my cancellation over the phone?
No. A publisher may offer you a deal to stay, but cannot refuse your cancellation. State clearly that you are stopping and ask for written confirmation.
What if money is still taken after I cancel?
Contact the publisher and refer to your cancellation confirmation. You can also ask your bank to reverse a direct debit for up to eight weeks after it was taken.