Starting a business in the Netherlands just got more complicated. Since 28 June 2025, thousands of Dutch companies have been scrambling to update their websites to meet new European accessibility requirements—and many still don’t realise they’re non-compliant.

The wake-up call many missed 

The European Accessibility Act sounds like bureaucratic jargon, but it’s hitting Dutch businesses hard. Any company with more than 10 employees or annual turnover above €2 million must now ensure their website works for people with disabilities. That means everything from colour contrast to keyboard navigation needs to meet WCAG 2.1 standards.

“We’re seeing a lot of panic from business owners who thought this was just another EU directive they could ignore,” says Marco de Vries, a digital consultant based in Amsterdam. “But the fines are real—up to €900,000 for e-commerce violations. That’s not pocket change for most companies.”

The rules affect roughly 200,000 of the businesses registered in the Netherlands each year. From webshops to consultancy firms, if you’re doing business online and meet the employee or turnover threshold, you’re in scope.

More than just ticking boxes

Here’s what catches most people out: it’s not just about making your website look accessible. The technical infrastructure behind it matters too. Entrepreneurs need reliable local hosting from providers like Hostnet to ensure their website meets Dutch standards for performance, security, and the new accessibility requirements.

“A lot of businesses think they can just add some alt text to images and call it done,” explains Sophie Chen, who runs a small design agency in Rotterdam. “But if your hosting is slow or unreliable, that affects accessibility too. Screen readers don’t work well on laggy websites.”

The Netherlands has always been serious about data protection—Dutch data centres must report breaches within 72 hours—but now there’s an extra layer of compliance to manage. Many businesses are discovering that their cheap international hosting doesn’t cut it anymore.

The domain name puzzle

Even something as simple as registering  .nl domains comes with considerations most entrepreneurs overlook. The .nl extension has been around since 1986 and anyone can register one, but you need a valid Dutch postal address. More importantly, you need to think about where your website actually lives.

The Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) is one of the world’s largest internet hubs, which is brilliant for connectivity. But it also means Dutch consumers expect lightning-fast websites. Host your site on a server in another continent and you’ll notice the difference in load times—and so will your customers.

Cookie chaos

Then there’s the cookie consent nightmare. Dutch privacy law requires explicit permission before placing cookies on someone’s device, and the rules go far beyond a simple pop-up banner. You need to let visitors accept or reject different types of cookies, maintain consent records, and provide clear information about what you’re doing with their data.

“The number of business owners who think a ‘Accept Cookies’ button is enough is staggering,” says De Vries. “But if you’re not implementing this properly, you’re risking hefty fines from the Authority for Consumers and Markets.”

Green hosting gains ground

There is some good news in all this complexity. Dutch data centres are increasingly running on renewable energy, and many hosting providers now offer Green Web Foundation badges. For businesses trying to appeal to environmentally conscious Dutch consumers, choosing sustainable hosting is becoming less of a nice-to-have and more of an expectation.

The cost of getting it wrong

Setting up properly doesn’t have to break the bank. Registration with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) costs just €82.25 as of January 2025. Web hosting prices vary, but most small to medium businesses can find suitable packages at competitive rates.

The real cost comes from getting it wrong. Beyond the potential fines, there’s the reputational damage of having an inaccessible website or suffering a data breach because you skimped on proper hosting.

“I had a client who went with the cheapest hosting option they could find,” recalls Chen. “Three months later, they were offline for two days because of a DDoS attack. By the time they sorted it out, they’d lost customers and their Google rankings had tanked.”

What you actually need to do 

For most businesses, the checklist isn’t as scary as it sounds. Register your .nl domain through an accredited provider. Choose Dutch hosting that includes proper security measures and supports accessibility standards. Make sure your website meets the WCAG 2.1 requirements. Implement proper cookie consent. Keep records of everything.

The Netherlands still ranks fourth globally for ease of doing business, and its digital infrastructure is world-class. But the days of throwing up a quick website and hoping for the best are over. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, getting the technical foundations right from day one will save you headaches—and money—down the line.

As De Vries puts it: “The rules might seem tedious, but they’re actually protecting businesses as much as consumers. A properly set up website with solid hosting and good security is just good business sense in 2025.”