Netflix will bring a cheaper subscription with advertising to the Netherlands and Belgium in 2027. The service therefore follows the model that has existed in other countries for some time, with which Netflix offers a lower entry price in exchange for short commercial breaks before and during films and series.
This not only means that a new, cheaper basic subscription with advertising will be added, but also that Netflix will probably tighten its price structure again. Multiple sources, including the NOS and RTL Boulevardreport that Netflix wants to widen the difference between the subscriptions, which means that a price increase for the ad-free formulas cannot be ruled out.
Basic subscription with advertising
Netflix has been offering a subscription with advertising in various countries for several years. So it comes as no surprise that this subscription is also coming to the Netherlands and Belgium. Netflix’s Basic subscription with ads is the streaming service’s cheapest payment plan and is aimed at viewers who want to pay as low as possible. In exchange for that lower price, Netflix shows advertising before and while watching films and series.
This gives you access to the same Netflix offering as in the other plans, but with limitations associated with the advertising model. Besides ads, you also get other restrictions such as no offline downloads and a lower image quality of up to 720p.
Netflix currently offers a Basic subscription without advertising, which will be replaced in 2027 by a Basic subscription with advertisements. The exact prices have not yet been announced for the Netherlands and Belgium, but in Germany this subscription costs €4.99 per month and in France €7.99.
Effect on other subscriptions
The introduction of a cheaper advertising subscription could influence current pricing structures. It is likely that Netflix wants to further increase the price differences between the new low-cost plan and the existing subscriptions, which could lead to price increases for the Standard and Premium subscriptions.
Currently the entry price in the Netherlands is around 9.99 euros, while in Belgium it is 10.99 euros, with higher subscriptions above that. In markets where the advertising subscription is already operational, the low-cost plan is actually designed to attract new customers without driving down the prices of the more expensive options too much.
Available in 2027
Netflix has not yet mentioned an exact date, only the year 2027. This means that the introduction will take place sometime in that year, but without a concrete quarter or month. For now, it remains to be seen how exactly Netflix will redistribute the Dutch and Belgian prices.