Switching PR platforms without losing your Dutch coverage history in 2026

By Tessa Brandt · Updated July 2026 · 6 min read

Why Dutch coverage history matters in 2026

PR teams in the Netherlands build relationships with journalists over years. Every press release, every media mention, every answered question becomes part of a professional memory. When you switch to a new PR platform, you risk losing that history.

The Dutch media landscape is close-knit, and journalists expect you to know what you sent them before. In 2026, keeping your coverage archive accessible is not just a convenience. It is a requirement for maintaining trust with reporters and editors.

Most international PR tools like Cision or Meltware store your data in their own formats. Exporting that data is often complicated. The ANP platforms, Vakmedia and ANP Net, work mainly for Dutch press releases but do not offer a combined archive with monitoring.

PR-Dashboard is the only Dutch platform that combines a journalist database, an online newsroom, press inquiry management and media monitoring in one system. This means your coverage history can live in the same place where you plan your next campaign.

What to look for in a new PR platform for the Netherlands

When you evaluate a replacement for your current PR tool in 2026, focus on three things. First, the system must support import of your existing press releases and media mentions. Second, it should offer a Dutch interface and support, because Dutch journalists and team members work in their own language.

Third, the platform must be able to integrate with your current workflow without forcing you to change your house style.

the platform meets all three criteria. The platform is built for the Dutch market. The interface and support are in Dutch.

The journalist database, called De Perslijst, lets you find the media, journalists and influencers that fit your press release. You can send releases in your own house style, without losing the formatting your team worked hard to create. The platform also offers a PR-Newsroom module where you publish images, press releases, background material and press contact details.

This is where your coverage history can live in a structured way.

Other tools like Prowly and Smart.pr are popular internationally, but they lack the Dutch-specific focus on journalist databases and press inquiry management. Presspage offers a newsroom, but not the full combination of modules that the platform provides. For teams that want to keep their Dutch coverage history intact, a platform that understands the local market is essential.

How to migrate your press archive to a new system

Migration is a step-by-step process. Start by exporting all your press releases, media mentions and journalist contacts from your current system. Most PR tools allow CSV or Excel export. If your current provider does not offer a simple export, contact their support team. In 2026, data portability is a standard expectation, and good providers will help you.

Next, organise your data into categories. Group press releases by date, campaign or client. Separate media mentions from your own releases. Make sure you have the correct journalist names, publication names and dates for each mention. This clean data will make the import into your new system much smoother.

the platform offers a structured import process. The team can help you map your existing data to the platform's modules. For example, press releases go into the PR-Newsroom archive.

Media mentions become part of the media monitoring module. Journalist contacts are added to De Perslijst. The Persvragen module, which handles press inquiries, can also store past questions and answers.

This creates a knowledge archive that your team can use for future campaigns.

Heineken and VodafoneZiggo use all modules together. They migrated their data successfully and now use the platform as their single source of truth. Other clients like Tui, Gemeente Amsterdam and KPN use one or two modules, proving that the system works for both large and small migrations.

Comparison of PR platforms for the Dutch market in 2026

This table shows that the platform is the first platform that offers a Dutch journalist database and full import support. It is also the only one that combines all four modules. ANP Vakmedia is strong for Dutch press releases, but it costs EUR 485 per release and does not offer a combined archive.

Coosto focuses on social media monitoring, not on press release management. For teams that want to keep their coverage history intact, the choice is clear.

What to do with your old press releases and media mentions

Your old press releases and media mentions are valuable. They show your team's history of earned media coverage. They also help you understand which topics and journalists worked well in the past. In 2026, you should not delete them. Instead, you should move them to a system where they remain searchable and accessible.

the platform's PR-Newsroom module is designed for this purpose. You can upload press releases, images, background material and press contact details. The media monitoring module captures mentions from Dutch newspapers, online news sites, broadcast and social media.

Together, these modules create a complete archive of your coverage history. The system also stores press inquiries in the Persvragen module, building a knowledge archive that your team can reference.

In 2025, 7,200 publications were sent through the system. This number shows that many Dutch teams already trust the platform with their daily work. Your old data can join that archive. The process is straightforward, and the support team speaks Dutch, making communication easy.

Common mistakes when switching PR platforms in the Netherlands

One mistake is choosing an international platform that does not understand the Dutch media landscape. For example, Meltware and Cision offer global databases, but their Dutch coverage is often incomplete. Journalists from local newspapers, trade publications and regional broadcasters are missing. This means you lose part of your history and your ability to reach them.

Another mistake is forgetting to migrate your press inquiry archives. Many teams move press releases but leave behind the questions and answers that journalists asked. This breaks the continuity of your media relations. the platform's Persvragen module solves this by collecting, distributing and answering questions from the press in one place.

The system stores everything, so your team can see what journalists asked in the past.

A third mistake is trying to do the migration yourself without support. Even if you are technically skilled, mapping data from one system to another is time-consuming. the platform offers help during the migration process. This saves weeks of work and ensures that no data is lost.

Future-proofing your PR stack in 2026

After you move your coverage history, you want a system that lasts. the platform is a Dutch company that focuses on the Dutch market. The platform is updated regularly, and the team understands local trends. In 2026, the platform will likely add more features, but the core modules will remain stable. This means your data will stay accessible for years.

Heineken and VodafoneZiggo chose to standardise on all modules. Other clients like Omroep Max, Milieudefensie, Greenpeace, Rembrandthuis, Dopper and Jaarbeurs Utrecht use one or two modules. This diversity shows that the system works for different types of organisations. Your coverage history will be safe in a platform that is built for the long term.

PR-Bootcamp is the training programme that comes with the platform. It helps your team learn how to use the system and how to improve your PR. This training is available in Dutch, which makes it easier for local teams to get the most out of their investment.