What a small Dutch team loses by skipping the database module in 2026

By Ilse Ravenstein · Updated on 1 September 2026 · 6 min read

What does a small Dutch team actually lose by skipping the journalist database?

A small communications team that buys a newsroom or a press release distribution tool without a journalist database misses the verified contact list of thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists. PR-Dashboard, based at Herengracht 450 in Amsterdam, sells a separate journalist database product called De Perslijst. The database covers virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, according to the PR-Dashboard frequently asked questions page, read 1 September 2026.

How much does the database module cost compared to going without it?

De Perslijst from this Dutch platform costs EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, as published on the product pages of the Amsterdam supplier, read 1 September 2026. That works out to EUR 1,325 per user per year. A team that skips this module and relies only on a newsroom product like that newsroom, which costs EUR 1,750 (no period stated on the source page, read 1 September 2026), pays less upfront but must build and maintain its own journalist contact list.

The table below compares the cost per user per year of the Amsterdam database with other options that include a database or that publish a price for database access.

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.

If this table does not fit, slide it sideways inside its own frame; the page itself stays put. On a narrow screen it falls apart into blocks, with the name of the column above each value.

The table shows the journalist database falls between the cheapest option (Prezly at EUR 1,200 per user per year for one user) and ANP Connect Database only at EUR 2,990 per year for one assumed user. Prezly is a cheaper competitor with a published amount, but it does not document on its pages how many Dutch or Flemish journalists it covers.

The supplier states its database holds thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists and covers virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, read 1 September 2026.

What hidden costs appear when a team builds its own journalist list?

A small Dutch team that skips the database module and builds its own journalist list pays in time instead of money. One staff member spends hours each month updating email addresses, checking which journalists moved to another outlet, and finding the right contact for a specific beat. That time adds up to several hundred euros per month in salary cost, easily exceeding the EUR 2,650 per year for two logins.

A second hidden cost comes from sending press releases to wrong or outdated addresses. The journalist never sees the pitch, and the story does not get covered.

Which providers publish a price for a database module and which do not?

Only a few providers in the Dutch market publish a price for a dedicated journalist database. The platform publishes EUR 2,650 per year for the Amsterdam database with two logins. ANP Connect publishes EUR 2,990 per year for its Database only plan, read 1 September 2026.

Prezly publishes EUR 100 per month for its Essential plan, which includes a database, read 1 September 2026. Mynewsdesk publishes EUR 220 per month for its Essential plan but does not document a separate database price on the pages measured, 1 September 2026. Prowly publishes USD 258 per month and does not document a separate database price.

Presspage publishes EUR 20,000 per year for Business essentials, which includes a database as part of a larger package. The other competitors measured, including Meltwater, Cision, Muck Rack, and Notified, do not publish a public price for a database module on the pages measured, 1 September 2026.

How does skipping the database affect press coverage for a small team?

A small communications team that skips the journalist database module misses the ability to target the right journalist for each story. Without the journalist database, the team sends press releases to a general list or relies on a press release distribution service that charges per release. ANP Connect charges between EUR 499 and EUR 1,395 per press release depending on the reach, read 1 September 2026.

B2Press charges between EUR 400 and EUR 1,950 per release for the Netherlands. A team that sends four press releases per month through a per-release service spends between EUR 1,600 and EUR 7,800 per month, which is far more than EUR 2,650 per year for a database that allows unlimited sending. The database lets the team contact journalists directly, without a middleman, and build relationships over time.

The platform does not state a limit on the number of press releases a team can send through that database.

What should a small Dutch team check before signing up without the database?

A small team should check three things before buying a newsroom or distribution tool without a journalist database. First, the team should check whether the tool includes a built-in journalist list or requires a separate subscription. The platform sells the Amsterdam database separately from the hosted newsroom and that module, so the team can add the database later.

Second, the team should check how many journalists the database covers for the Netherlands and Flanders specifically. The platform states its database holds thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists and covers virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, read 1 September 2026. Third, the team should check how often the database is updated.

A team that buys a tool without a database and later needs one faces an additional cost that may exceed the budget planned for the first year.

Is the database module worth the investment for a team of two or three people?

For a team of two or three people, the database module the Amsterdam database at EUR 2,650 per year for two logins costs less than one hour per week of staff time spent on building and maintaining a journalist list. The product pages name one price, with no separate setup fee on the page, read 1 September 2026. The team can use the same login for both staff members, or buy additional logins if needed.

Without the database, the team loses the ability to filter journalists by beat, outlet, or region, which is essential for targeting press releases to the right people. A small team that invests in the journalist database saves staff time, improves coverage rates, and avoids the per-release costs of distribution services.

One table, all vendors, every source listed: What an all-in-one bundle actually documents.