Data Centre in the Netherlands - Why It Matters
Why are more and more businesses choosing data centres in the Netherlands? Discover the benefits of local hosting for your business data.
“Where is my data actually stored?” It’s a question that’s being asked more and more. With stricter privacy legislation and increasing attention to data sovereignty, more and more businesses are consciously choosing data centres in the Netherlands.
What is a data centre?
Back to basics. A data centre is a building full of servers where data is stored and applications run.
Why location matters
1. Privacy and legislation
The main reason: legislation.
GDPR
European law
requires compliance
€20M
maximum fine
or 4% turnover
100%
certainty
with Dutch hosting
2. Latency and performance
Distance matters for speed.
| Route | Latency |
|---|---|
| Amsterdam → Amsterdam | <5ms |
| Amsterdam → Frankfurt | ~15ms |
| Amsterdam → New York | ~80ms |
| Amsterdam → Singapore | ~180ms |
3. Control and compliance
4. Local support
Major cloud providers vs. local hosting
| Aspect | Hyperscalers (MS, Google, AWS) |
|---|---|
| Economies of scale | Very large = low prices |
| Innovation | Fast new features |
| Reliability | High |
| CLOUD Act | Yes, American company |
| Personal service | Limited |
| Contracts | Complex, standard |
Hyperscalers (Microsoft, Google, Amazon)
Local Dutch providers
Dutch hosting parties offer an alternative.
When to choose the Netherlands?
What to look for?
Certifications
| Certification | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ISO 27001 | Information security standardised |
| ISO 9001 | Quality management |
| SOC 2 | Security, availability, confidentiality |
| NEN 7510 | Information security in healthcare |
Facilities
Connectivity
Service
The future: data sovereignty
There is a clear trend towards “data sovereignty” - countries and regions want control over data within their borders.
Gaia-X
EU initiative
for European cloud
DSA/DMA
new EU laws
stricter regulation
Growing
customer awareness
where is my data?
Conclusion
Where your data is stored matters. For compliance, for performance, for control and for peace of mind.
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Sensitive data | Strongly consider Dutch data centre |
| Standard office work | EU data centres of major providers can be fine |
| Critical applications | Choose consciously and document your choice |
Barion Team
IT specialists making complex technology understandable for SME entrepreneurs.
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