How can I get a Dutch IP address? Which VPN should I use?

It is summer and it is time for traveling. That is awesome, and even though COVID has made it harder for many of us to travel, we still long to visit other countries and to see places we haven't seen before. That is awesome! But, one of the things many people discover as they go abroad is that they miss things from home, for example, a Dutch IP address. What do I mean?

If you live in the Netherlands, you will surf the Internet with a Dutch IP address whenever you do something online. But, when you travel to Mexico, you will suddenly surf the Internet with a Mexican IP address, or with a Japanese IP address if you go to Japan. But, why would anyone miss their Dutch IP address as they leave the Netherlands?

Why do people need a Dutch IP address?

Maybe you live in the Netherlands normally, or maybe you have never been to the Netherlands. No matter why you are reading this article, you are most likely looking for a way to surf the Internet with an IP address in the Netherlands. Why?

• You want to stream content on NPO, but you get a message that it can only be seen by people in the Netherlands.
• There is an online forum that only can be accessed if you have a Dutch IP address.
• There is an online game that requires you to be in the Netherlands to play in a certain club or team.
• You would like to watch live sports events, such as the Summer Olympics or maybe a FIFA World Cup online.

These are some of the things many people might discover as they go abroad. But, what can you do to get a Dutch IP address?

How can I get a Dutch IP address?

It is quite easy to get an IP address in the Netherlands. But, then once again, it isn't as easy as you might think. I am not trying to make you scared, I just want to give you all the information you need before you use money or time on some solution that might not work.

Why do you need a Dutch IP address to watch content on NPO outside the Netherlands? The reason is simple. When they broadcast live sports events or TV series, they have bought the broadcasting rights for distributing the content in the Netherlands. They are not allowed to show the content to people outside the Netherlands. That is a part of the legal agreement. That is why they block viewers outside the Netherlands who try to access the content.

A VPN is the solution - but you can't just pick a random VPN

To get a Dutch IP address you will need to use a VPN. This is a tool used by millions of people to secure their data online. A VPN will encrypt your data online, and it will hide your actual location. When you use a VPN and connect to a VPN server in the Netherlands, you will suddenly surf the Internet with a Dutch IP address.

Dutch websites and applications will suddenly consider you to be a Dutch person located in the Netherlands. They are unable to see your real location elsewhere in the world. But, they are able to see the IP address provided by your VPN provider. And due to work and research, many Dutch TV providers and streaming sites have created a list of such "well-known" IP addresses provided by VPN providers. Whenever they see such an IP address they block it, even though it is a Dutch IP address. Do you know why? They know that it is used by someone outside the Netherlands in order to pretend as if they are in the Netherlands.

That is why you have to use a VPN with IP addresses in the Netherlands that aren't blocked by Dutch TV networks, online magazines, and streaming services.

Which VPN should I use?

I have done thorough testing of VPN providers in the Netherlands for almost ten years. A lot has changed in this time, and it is easy to see which VPN providers have been able to adapt to the present time, and which are "left behind." That is why I can give you the names of two VPN providers that are perfectly able to give you a Dutch IP address that will be able to unblock services such as Dutch Netflix, and also popular TV networks such as NPO/NOS, SBS6, and more.

• ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market and also one of the biggest (with servers in almost 100 countries). It is extremely good for unblocking streaming services, and it is one of very few that will allow you to watch NOS abroad, stream Dutch Netflix content, and so much more.

If you click the link above, you will even get three months for free if you purchase a 12-months plan.

• SurfsharkVPN

Surfshark is a "new" VPN that was created in 2018. It has become one of the most popular services on the market in a very short time, and it is extremely good for unblocking TV networks and streaming services. They also have very good pricing, giving you a very good deal if you purchase a 24-months plan. You can use the same subscription on an unlimited number of devices, and they have beautiful apps for Android, Windows, Mac, iOS, Ubuntu, and even more platforms.

Watching a football match live on NOS outside the Netherlands.

What to do when you have a VPN subscription?

Have you bought a VPN subscription to either Surfshark or ExpressVPN? If you have a subscription, download the VPN application to your computer, telephone, tablet, Smart TV, FireTV, or other devices.

Run the application and connect to a server in the Netherlands. There are not many options available within the application, so you will easily find the Dutch flag and the connect button.

When you click the connect button, it will normally take 3-5 seconds for the connection to be made. Once it is up and running, all your traffic is routed through the VPN server in the Netherlands. As a result, your traffic will be encrypted, and whatever you do online, will seem to originate from the Netherlands instead of your present location.

Wasn't that very easy? I hope you have found these instructions to be useful. If you still have any comments or questions, please write a comment and I will do my best to help!