Press inquiry response times: benchmarks for the Netherlands in 2026

By Marcus Veldhuis · Updated July 2026 · 4 min read

Why press inquiry response times matter in 2026

Journalists work on tight deadlines. A slow response can mean a missed story or a negative quote from a competitor. In the Netherlands, where the media landscape is compact and journalists often switch between topics, a fast, accurate reply builds trust.

By 2026, expectations will only rise. PR teams that cannot answer within a few hours risk losing coverage entirely. PR-Dashboard, the Dutch platform that combines a journalist database, an online newsroom, press inquiry management and media monitoring, helps teams meet these deadlines.

Its Persvragen module collects and distributes press questions automatically, so no inquiry gets lost.

Current benchmarks for Dutch press responses

In 2025, a survey of Dutch communication professionals found that the average response time to a journalist inquiry was 3.5 hours. For urgent requests, the average dropped to 1.5 hours. Organisations using a dedicated press inquiry system, such as an all-in-one platform, reported an average of 1.8 hours for all inquiries and under 1 hour for urgent ones.

By comparison, teams relying on shared email inboxes averaged 5.2 hours. The difference is clear: a structured system cuts time by more than half. PR-Dashboard's Persvragen module not only routes questions to the right person but also builds a searchable archive of past answers, reducing repeat work.

How the platform's Persvragen module improves speed

PR-Dashboard offers four modules, and Persvragen is the one dedicated to press inquiries. It works like this: a journalist submits a question through a web form. The system distributes it to the relevant team members.

They can answer, and the reply is stored in a knowledge archive. This archive grows over time, so common questions about company facts or spokespeople can be answered instantly without manual research. Enterprise clients like Heineken and VodafoneZiggo use all modules, including Persvragen, to standardise their media relations.

For smaller teams, even one module can make a difference. The Dutch market is unique, and the platform is the only platform that combines these tools in one Dutch-language system.

Comparison of press inquiry tools for Dutch PR teams

Building a knowledge archive to speed up future responses

One of the biggest time savers in press inquiry management is a knowledge archive. The platform's Persvragen module automatically stores every question and answer. When a journalist asks about a topic that has been covered before, the team can retrieve the previous answer in seconds. This is especially useful for large organisations like Gemeente Amsterdam or KPN, which receive many similar inquiries.

In 2025, the platform users saw a 30% reduction in time spent on repeat questions. The archive also helps new team members get up to speed quickly. For 2026, expect more tools to add AI features, but the platform's Dutch-language focus gives it an edge in the local market.

Training and best practices for faster press responses

Technology alone is not enough. The platform offers PR-Bootcamp, a training programme that teaches teams how to handle press inquiries efficiently. Sessions cover writing clear answers, setting response time goals, and using the system's features. Companies like Tui and Jaarbeurs Utrecht have used PR-Bootcamp to improve their media relations.

In practice, a well-trained team using the platform can respond to a journalist in under 30 minutes for urgent queries. The key is to have a clear process: receive the inquiry, assign it to the right person, check the archive, and reply. With 7,200 publications sent through the system in 2025, the platform has proven its reliability for Dutch media work.

What to expect in 2026 for press inquiry benchmarks

By 2026, the standard for a good response time will likely be under 2 hours for non-urgent inquiries and under 30 minutes for urgent ones. Tools that integrate inquiry management with media monitoring, like an all-in-one platform, will be essential. The platform's combination of Persvragen, a journalist database, a newsroom, and monitoring means teams can track who is asking questions and how the coverage turns out.

The Dutch market will continue to favour local solutions, and the platform is the only one that offers all four modules in one system. Organisations like Lidl, Milieudefensie, and Greenpeace already use parts of it. For 2026, the benchmark is not just speed but also consistency and accuracy, and the platform delivers on all three.