Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a good idea if you want to stay secure online in Amsterdam, whether you’re a resident of the Dutch capital or simply visiting as a tourist. We’ve ranked all the top services to help keep you safe online and securely access geo-restricted content in Amsterdam.

A VPN service will encrypt your internet traffic and hide your internet address, allowing you to browse the web without exposing your personal data and whereabouts to internet service providers, governments, corporations, cybercriminals, and other third parties.

Traveling away from Amsterdam and want to access content from back home? Choosing a VPN server in Amsterdam will allow you to get an Amsterdam IP address and stream Dutch TV channels and other websites from anywhere.

Travelers often use VPN services to securely access online content that isn’t available in their current location, particularly TV shows and movies on streaming platforms.

Today, many of the world’s biggest VPN providers offer servers in Amsterdam and other cities across the Netherlands. To help you pick a service, we’ve tested and rounded up the best VPNs for Amsterdam.

Best VPN for Amsterdam:

  • NordVPN: Best VPN for Amsterdam. More than 5250 international servers, with 182 located in Amsterdam. Impressive performance and support for 4K streaming. Highly secure and easy-to-use.
  • Surfshark: Best value VPN. Secure all your devices thanks to an unlimited device policy. Affordable premium subscriptions. Easy-to-use apps. A decently sized server network, with one in Amsterdam.
  • ExpressVPN: A well-rounded VPN service with 3000 international servers, including some in Amsterdam and other Dutch cities. 4K streaming support, easy-to-use apps, and more.
  • CyberGhost: A VPN with a massive 7200-server network, and 209 are located in Amsterdam. Multi-platform apps, unlimited bandwidth, a kill switch, and more.
  • IPVanish: Offers 59 VPN servers in Amsterdam, an unlimited device policy, advanced encryption, 24/7 customer support, and more.
  • PrivateVPN: A great streaming VPN that works with Netflix and supports 4K video. Secure up to six devices simultaneously. Sports an Amsterdam-based VPN server.
  • Hotspot Shield: Provides a virtual location in the Netherlands, along with 3200 international VPN servers. Stay secure online thanks to military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and phishing protection.

See also: Best VPNs for the Netherlands in 2023

There are thousands of VPN services available on the market. Unfortunately, not all of them are great; some provide poor speeds and compromise security. However, all the services listed in our roundup of the best Amsterdam VPNs have the following in common:

  • Servers located in Amsterdam and other countries across the world
  • Unlimited bandwidth so you can stream as much content as you’d like
  • Decent server speeds to avoid buffering and slow-loading websites
  • Easy-to-use VPN clients for computers and phones
  • Robust security and privacy features to protect you when using the internet
  • Great customer support, letting you resolve any issues quickly
  • A money-back guarantee to try before you buy

We explain exactly why we chose the above criteria below.

Best VPNs for Amsterdam

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for Amsterdam:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN is our favorite service for Amsterdam. One of its standout features is a global network comprising high-speed connections, with 182 located in the Dutch capital city of Amsterdam.

Under a single account, you can use NordVPN on up to six devices at the same time. What’s more, NordVPN doesn’t have speed or bandwidth restrictions, so you’re free to use it as much as you’d like. On top of this, NordVPN offers easy-to-use apps for major operating systems like Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and many others.

When it comes to security and privacy, NordVPN sports a strict no-logging policy, AES-256 encryption, double VPN, obfuscated servers, a built-in kill switch, Onion over VPN, browser extensions, DNS leak prevention, a malware and advert blocker, multi-factor authentication, dedicated IP, and many other features that will help protect you online. Additionally, NordVPN has a 24/7 live chat and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Large server network
  • Six device limit
  • Good for Netflix
  • Multi-platform apps
  • Impressive security and privacy

Cons:

  • No Android kill switch

Our score:

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a great Amsterdam VPN that won’t put a dent in your bank account because its premium subscriptions cost as low as $2.49 a month. You get access to over 3200 international VPN servers for this bargain price, including one located in Amsterdam.

Unlike many other VPN providers, Surfshark doesn’t impose a device limit. So, you’re free to use it on all your devices. As well as this, Surfshark offers user-friendly apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and other operating systems. But should you ever need help using them or have a different issue that needs to be resolved, you can get expert help via Surfshark’s live chat facility.

It offers lots of features for improving your online security and privacy, including a strict no-logging policy, a kill switch, private DNS and leak protection, AES-256 encryption, a camouflage mode, a whitelister, protection against online security threats like malware and web trackers, a range of secure protocols, and more.

  • A large server network

  • Safely stream Netflix

  • Unlimited device policy

  • Easy-to-use apps

  • Lots of security features

  • Smaller server network than NordVPN

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN is another provider that operates servers in Amsterdam, along with others in Dutch cities like Rotterdam and The Hague. Overall, ExpressVPN has more than 3000 servers in 94 countries across the globe.

While you can only use ExpressVPN on up to five devices simultaneously, it offers unlimited bandwidth and easy-to-use apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and other operating systems. If you ever need help, ExpressVPN operates a 24/7 live chat function on its website.

In terms of other features, ExpressVPN has a robust no-logging policy, a kill switch, VPN split tunneling, AES-256 encryption, TrustedServer technology, private DNS, a built-in speed test, how-to privacy guides, sports streaming guides, IP address masking, a 30-day refund period, and more.

FAST SERVERS:ExpressVPN provides some of the fastest servers we’ve ever used. A 3000 server network, with servers in Amsterdam. No issues with Netflix. 4K streaming. Unlimited bandwidth. 24/7 customer support. Highly secure.

  • 3,000 servers

  • Securely access Netflix

  • 24/7 customer support

  • Ample security and privacy

  • More expensive

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

When we tested CyberGhost, we experienced average speeds of 58Mbps. While CyberGhost doesn’t offer the best speeds provided by a VPN service, it supports 4K streaming and offers unlimited bandwidth. And you can use it on up to seven devices at the same time.

Like most top VPN services, CyberGhost has apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and other platforms. If you ever run into an issue and need help, you’ll be happy to learn that CyberGhost offers 24/7 customer support. Impressively, it also provides a 45-day money-back guarantee.

What’s more, CyberGhost has an excellent range of online security and privacy functions. They include a no-logging policy, AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, the ability to switch between different security protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard), and many others.

THE BIGGEST SERVER NETWORK:CyberGhost offers 7200 VPN servers globally. 209 servers located in Amsterdam. 4K streaming support. Multi-platform apps. A kill switch, strong encryption, and several security protocols. A 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • A large international server network

  • Multi-platform apps

  • Unlimited bandwidth

  • Impressive security features

  • Won’t work in China

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

Along with mixed streaming capabilities, IPVanish only averages speeds of 52Mbps. While that’s lower than some competitors, it joins Surfshark as a small handful of VPN providers that offer unlimited device usage policies. So naturally, IPVanish is a great VPN service for gadget lovers and large families.

Other features provided by IPVanish include advanced encryption, a no-logging policy, a proxy web server, a wide range of connection protocols to choose from, multi-platform apps, and 24/7 customer support. You also get 30 days to ask for a refund if you feel like IPVanish doesn’t suit your needs.

AN UNLIMITED DEVICE USAGE POLICY:IPVanish will let you secure as many devices as you’d like using its VPN solution. 1600 servers, with 59 located in Amsterdam. Advanced encryption, a no-logging policy, and many other security features. 24/7 customer support.

  • A decently sized server network

  • An unlimited device policy

  • Advanced encryption

  • 24/7 support

  • Doesn’t work with some major streaming platforms

Read our full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN is a well-rounded virtual private network that provides a server in Amsterdam and many other international servers. Although its 200-strong server network is modest, they provide impressive speeds of 71 Mbps on average.

You can download PrivateVPN on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Overall, its apps are straightforward to use, and there’s a decent 6-device limit. PrivateVPN offers some great security and privacy features, such as zero-logging, a kill switch, AES-256 encryption, several VPN protocols, and IPv6 leak prevention. There’s also a customer support live chat facility and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

AN EXCELLENT STREAMING VPN:PrivateVPN works with top streaming platforms like Netflix and supports 4K streaming. A six-device limit. A kill switch, AES-256 encryption, and other great security features. 30 days to get your money back.

  • Impressive speeds

  • 4K streaming

  • Support for up to six devices

  • Multi-platform apps

  • A small server network

  • Live chat isn’t 24/7

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

7. Hotspot Shield

Website: www.Hotspotshield.com

                    Editor’s Note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company.

With a Hotspot Shield subscription, you’re able to secure up to five devices simultaneously. In addition, it has apps for a wide variety of operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Chrome users can download a Hotspot Shield browser extension, too.

Additionally, Hotspot Shield provides military-grade encryption, a kill switch, several protocols (Hydra, IPSec, and OpenVPN ), protection against phishing threats, streaming and gaming modes, unlimited bandwidth, 24/7 live support, a 45-day money-back guarantee, and a free subscription tier.

THE BEST FREE VPN:Hotspot Shield offers a free subscription, letting you try before you buy. 3200 servers. A kill switch, military-grade encryption, and phishing protection. Unlimited bandwidth. 24/7 support.

  • A free plan

  • Multi-platform apps

  • 24/7 live support

  • Military-grade encryption

  • Expensive premium plans

Read our full Hotspot Shield review.

How to use a VPN in Amsterdam

Below we reveal exactly how to get set up with a VPN while visiting Amsterdam. Never used a VPN before? Not to worry, the process to get setup is simple.

Here’s how to use a VPN in Amsterdam:

  • Firstly, select one of the best Amsterdam VPNs and sign up for a subscription. We’d recommend choosing NordVPN.
  • Once you’ve chosen a provider and signed up for a subscription, you’ll need to download and install its app on your device.
  • When you’ve downloaded and installed the app, you can sign in to your account and set it up.
  • Now that the VPN app is up and running, you can connect to a server located in your chosen location. The best providers offer clear lists of their international VPN servers, so this should be pretty straightforward. A nearby server will offer the best speeds but American travelers can choose a server in the US to regain access to Hulu, for example.
  • Finally, you can enjoy enhanced online security and privacy in Amsterdam.

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for Amsterdam

Over the past few years, lots of VPNs have entered the market. And when you consider the fact that there are currently thousands of options to choose from, you might have a hard time picking the perfect provider.

But it’s imperative to do your research and carefully select a VPN as you don’t want to end up with a service that’s slow, difficult to use, or logs your internet data. To help find the best VPNs for Amsterdam, we followed these guidelines:

These are just some of the features we analyze when choosing a VPN. You can read more about our full VPN testing methodology here.

How to get an Amsterdam IP address from anywhere

If you would like to access Dutch TV Channels, streaming services or region-locked websites from abroad, you’ll need an IP address from back home.

Here’s how to get an Amsterdam IP address:

  • Choose one of the best Amsterdam VPNs and sign up for a subscription. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
  • Sign up for a subscription, the download and install the appropriate app on your device.
  • Sign in to your account.
  • Select a server in Amsterdam.
  • That’s it! You will now have an Amsterdam IP address and every website you visit will think you are located in Amsterdam.

As well as providing privacy and security benefits, VPNs will also allow you to access geo-restricted online content in Amsterdam. So, if you end up traveling to Amsterdam on holiday and want to stream content that is only available back home, you can unblock it by connecting to a VPN server based in your native country. Or should you wish to access Dutch streaming services from abroad, you can connect to a Netherlands VPN server and bypass geo-restrictions. VPNs are also great at preventing issues like bandwidth throttling and DDoS attacks, ensuring any movies and TV shows you stream in Amsterdam don’t stop to buffer.

Some free VPNs can even put your online security and privacy at risk. Often, they collect your internet browsing data before selling it to third parties in a bid to generate revenue. But this is highly unethical behavior.

If you want to stay secure online and bypass geo-restrictions by using a VPN service in Amsterdam, we’d recommend choosing a premium offering.