In this guide
Six VPNs are compared below on what a VPN can actually do for you: encryption, privacy features, how many devices you can connect and how the refund works. NordVPN is the all-round pick. ProtonVPN and Mullvad are the choices if privacy matters to you more than anything else, and Surfshark suits households with many devices.
This guide looks at a VPN for privacy and for public Wi-Fi.
Disclosure: this page contains affiliate links to NordVPN. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The other VPNs on this page are not linked and we earn nothing from them. See how we earn.
💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026 — covers ABN, ING, Bunq, Wise, Revolut & 5 others by expat use case.
Quick Comparison: Best VPNs for Expats in the Netherlands
All details come from each provider’s own website, checked on 5 October 2026. Prices change often and depend on plan length and promotions, so check the current price on the provider’s site.
| VPN | Best for | Devices at once | Money-back period | Network (provider’s own figure) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Overall best for expats | 10 | 30 days | Servers in 225+ locations |
| Surfshark | Many devices | Unlimited | 30 days | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| ExpressVPN | Simple setup | 10, 12 or 14 (by plan) | 30 days (first-time users) | Servers in 113 countries |
| CyberGhost | Longer trial period | Not checked | 45 days | Not checked |
| ProtonVPN | Privacy, with a free plan | 10 (Plus) | 30 days | 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries (Plus) |
| Mullvad | Maximum anonymity | 5 | 14 days (not for cash payments) | Not checked |
What a VPN Does for Expats in the Netherlands
1. Encrypts Your Connection on Public Wi-Fi
When you arrive, you spend a lot of time on networks you do not control: hotel and short-stay Wi-Fi while you look for housing, train Wi-Fi, cafés, coworking spaces and libraries. On an open network, other users and the network owner can potentially see unencrypted traffic. A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN server, so that is no longer readable on the local network. NordVPN describes it as protecting your traffic “as it travels through the internet, making it unreadable to cybercriminals”, for example on public Wi-Fi.
This matters most for what you do in your first months: DigiD logins, banking, emails with passport scans and rental contracts.
2. Privacy from Your Internet Provider and Network Owner
Without a VPN, your internet provider can see which websites you visit through the DNS requests your device sends, unless those are encrypted (NordVPN’s explanation of VPN encryption). With a VPN on, your provider, or the employer or landlord whose network you use, sees that you are connected to a VPN server, not which sites you visit through it.
3. Safer Logins and Banking When You Travel
The same applies when you travel within Europe or back home: airport, hotel and holiday-park Wi-Fi are networks you cannot vouch for. Switching on the VPN before you open your banking app or email keeps that connection encrypted.
What a VPN Does Not Do
- It does not make you anonymous. Websites you log in to still know who you are.
- It is not antivirus. Some providers add extra tools, such as NordVPN’s scam and phishing protection, which filters traffic through NordVPN’s DNS servers to block ads and malicious domains while you are connected. That is a separate feature, not something every VPN does.
Detailed VPN Reviews
1. NordVPN – Best Overall for Expats
NordVPN is our top recommendation for expats in the Netherlands because it combines the privacy features that matter with apps for every common platform.
What NordVPN offers, according to nordvpn.com (checked 5 October 2026):
- 10 devices at the same time on one account
- AES encryption, which NordVPN calls “the gold standard of encryption used by high-end services, including NordVPN”
- Kill Switch on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux: if the VPN connection drops, it blocks your internet access until the connection is restored
- No-log policy that NordVPN says has been “five-times verified” by independent practitioners; the company is based in Panama
- Scam and phishing protection, which filters your traffic through NordVPN’s DNS servers to block ads and malicious domains while connected
- Servers in 225+ locations, plus extras such as Double VPN and Meshnet
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Pricing: the price depends on plan length and current promotions. Check the current price on NordVPN’s site before you buy.
Limitations:
- 10 simultaneous devices; a household with more devices may prefer Surfshark
- The extra protection tools differ per plan, so check which plan includes what
Our verdict: The best all-round VPN for expats who want public Wi-Fi protection, privacy from their provider and a kill switch on every device, with a 30-day money-back guarantee if it does not suit you.
Check NordVPN’s plans and 30-day money-back guarantee
2. Surfshark – Best for Many Devices
Surfshark’s main difference is the device limit: there is none.
What Surfshark offers, according to surfshark.com (checked 5 October 2026):
- Unlimited devices: “You can protect as many devices as you like”
- Audited no-logs policy
- Double VPN, which routes traffic through two VPN servers
- 4,500+ servers in 100 countries
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Our verdict: A good choice for families or anyone with many devices.
3. ExpressVPN – Simple Setup
What ExpressVPN offers, according to expressvpn.com (checked 5 October 2026):
- 10, 12 or 14 simultaneous devices, depending on the plan
- Servers in 113 countries
- 30-day refund for first-time users: “If you’re not satisfied in the first 30 days, just ask Support for a refund”
Our verdict: An option if you want a mainstream provider with a higher device limit on its larger plans.
4. CyberGhost – Longest Money-Back Period
What CyberGhost offers, according to cyberghostvpn.com (checked 5 October 2026):
- 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest of the six here
- Dedicated IP available as a paid add-on
Our verdict: Worth a look if you want more time to try a VPN before you commit. We did not check its device limit or audit record for this guide.
5. ProtonVPN – Best for Privacy-Focused Expats
ProtonVPN comes from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail.
What ProtonVPN offers, according to protonvpn.com (checked 5 October 2026):
- Swiss privacy and a no-logs policy
- Open source apps that are independently audited
- Free plan with servers in 10 randomly selected countries
- Plus plan: 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries and 10 devices at a time
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Our verdict: The best choice if privacy credentials come first, and the only provider here with a free plan we would consider.
6. Mullvad – Maximum Anonymity
What Mullvad offers, according to mullvad.net (checked 5 October 2026):
- Account number instead of personal details: you generate an account and “immediately get an account number”
- Flat price of €5 a month, with no discounts for longer terms
- Cash accepted, sent by post, as well as iDEAL, cards, PayPal and cryptocurrencies
- Up to 5 devices
- 14-day money-back guarantee, except for cash payments
Our verdict: For people who want the least personal data possible tied to their VPN.
Which VPN Is the Most Private in 2026?
No-logs policies explained
Every provider on this page advertises a no-logs policy: it does not record what you do while connected. The value of that promise depends on whether anyone independent has checked it.
What an audit proves
An audit means an outside firm checks whether the no-logs claim holds in practice. Two things are worth knowing:
- Repetition beats a one-off. A provider that has its policy checked repeatedly shows more than one audited once. NordVPN says its no-log policy has been verified five times.
- Open source is a different kind of check. ProtonVPN publishes its app source code, so anyone can inspect the apps, not only a paid auditor.
An audit says nothing about jurisdiction. ProtonVPN operates from Switzerland, NordVPN from Panama.
What do a kill switch and DNS leak protection do?
A kill switch blocks your internet traffic the moment the VPN connection drops, so your device does not quietly fall back to your normal connection and expose your real IP address. DNS leak protection makes sure the lookups that turn website names into addresses also go through the VPN tunnel, rather than to your internet provider. Both are settings in the VPN app; switch them on once and leave them on, especially on public Wi-Fi.
| VPN | No-logs claim | Independent check (provider’s own statement) | Notable privacy feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mullvad | Yes | Not checked for this guide | Account number instead of personal details; cash accepted |
| ProtonVPN | Yes | Open source, independently audited | Swiss jurisdiction |
| NordVPN | Yes | Verified five times, according to NordVPN | Kill Switch on all major platforms; based in Panama |
| Surfshark | Yes | Audited, according to Surfshark | Double VPN |
| ExpressVPN | Yes | Not checked for this guide | — |
| CyberGhost | Yes | Not checked for this guide | — |
For most expats, public Wi-Fi and the internet provider’s view of their browsing are the realistic concerns, and any of the six handles those. For journalists, lawyers and people working with sensitive data, the sign-up and payment questions Mullvad and ProtonVPN answer are worth weighing.
VPN Comparison by Use Case
| Use case | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Public Wi-Fi and everyday privacy | NordVPN | 10 devices, Kill Switch on all major platforms, 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Families / many devices | Surfshark | Unlimited devices |
| Longest trial | CyberGhost | 45-day money-back guarantee |
| Privacy above all | ProtonVPN | Swiss, open source, free plan |
| Maximum anonymity | Mullvad | Account number, cash accepted, flat €5 a month |
How to Set Up a VPN in the Netherlands
Step 1: Choose and subscribe
Pick a VPN from the list above. We suggest starting with NordVPN for the best all-round experience, or Surfshark if you have many devices.
Step 2: Download and install
- Desktop: download from the VPN provider’s website
- Mobile: download from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
- Router: some providers publish guides for setting up the VPN on a router, which covers devices that cannot run a VPN app
Step 3: Connect
For privacy on public Wi-Fi and from your internet provider, a server in or near the Netherlands is usually the logical choice.
Step 4: Configure for convenience
- Auto-connect: let the VPN switch on automatically when you join a Wi-Fi network
- Kill switch: turn it on, so your traffic stops if the VPN drops
- Split tunnelling: if your app offers it, choose which apps use the VPN; useful if a work app or your employer’s own VPN needs a direct connection
Tips for Using a VPN as an Expat
On public Wi-Fi
Switch the VPN on before you connect to Wi-Fi on trains, at stations, in cafés, libraries or hotels. Auto-connect does this for you.
For work
- If your employer uses a corporate VPN, that is a separate thing from a personal VPN. Check your employer’s IT policy before installing a personal VPN on a company-managed device.
- If both run on the same device, split tunnelling can prevent conflicts.
For banking
- Use the VPN when you log in to your bank or DigiD on a network you do not control.
- For international transfers, a service like Wise is often simpler than keeping everything at your home bank. See our guide to the best bank accounts for expats.
Is It Legal to Use a VPN in the Netherlands?
Yes, using a VPN is legal in the Netherlands. Using a VPN to do something illegal remains illegal.
Workplace VPNs. If you use a corporate VPN for work, check whether your employer’s policy requires it for all traffic or only for work traffic.
Our Final Recommendation
For most expats in the Netherlands, NordVPN is the sensible all-round choice for public Wi-Fi and everyday privacy. Surfshark suits households with many devices. ProtonVPN or Mullvad suit people for whom privacy comes before everything else.
A VPN encrypts your connection on networks you do not control and keeps your browsing private from your internet provider. That is what to buy it for.
Get NordVPN – Our #1 Pick for Expats in the Netherlands
For more on getting set up, see our complete relocation guide, our guide to the best SIM cards for expats and our best internet providers in the Netherlands guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use a VPN in the Netherlands?
Yes. Using a VPN is legal in the Netherlands. Using a VPN to do something illegal remains illegal.
What does a VPN actually protect me from?
A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN server. On public Wi-Fi, that means other users of the network and the network owner cannot read what you send. At home, your internet provider sees that you are connected to a VPN, but not which sites you visit. A VPN does not make you anonymous to the websites you log in to, and it does not protect you from phishing or malware on its own.
Do I need a VPN for online banking in the Netherlands?
Not to reach your bank. A VPN is useful when you bank or log in to DigiD on a network you do not control, such as hotel, train or café Wi-Fi, because it encrypts that connection. If your home-country bank has trouble with logins from abroad, ask the bank how to use its app while you live abroad.
Should I use a free VPN in the Netherlands?
Be careful. A VPN provider can see your traffic, so how it makes money matters. NordVPN itself warns that free VPN services often collect and sell user data. ProtonVPN is the exception among the six here, with a free plan that connects to servers in 10 randomly selected countries.
Can I use a VPN on all my devices?
Most VPNs limit how many devices can be connected at the same time. NordVPN allows 10, ProtonVPN Plus 10, ExpressVPN 10, 12 or 14 depending on the plan, and Mullvad 5. Surfshark lets you protect as many devices as you like.
Which VPN has the strongest privacy credentials in 2026?
ProtonVPN and Mullvad are the two options here that put privacy first. ProtonVPN is Swiss, says its apps are open source and independently audited, and runs a no-logs policy. Mullvad gives you an account number when you sign up, accepts cash and charges a flat €5 a month. Among the mainstream all-rounders, NordVPN says its no-log policy has been independently verified five times, and Surfshark advertises an audited no-logs policy.
What does a no-logs VPN policy actually mean?
It means the provider does not record what you do while connected, such as the sites you visit. A policy is a promise in the terms; an independent audit is an outside party checking whether the promise matches practice. Look for providers that have their policy checked repeatedly.