NordVPN’s National Privacy Test 2025 asked over 30,000 people across 185 countries about online habits, privacy awareness, and risk tolerance. In the Netherlands, people scored 57%, just one point above the ground average of 57%. Belgium came just below with 56%. These scores place the Netherlands 6th and Belgium 7th globally.
Despite respectable scores, both nations show some worrying trends. Dutch respondents improved slightly in daily digital habits but dropped in digital risk tolerance. Only about 5% knew the correct answer about privacy risks tied to using AI at work. Belgian participants also improved somewhat in daily routines but showed less progress in recognizing online threats.
Across Europe, many countries mirror the pattern: strong knowledge in basic areas like creating strong passwords and recognizing phishing or suspicious offers, yet weak understanding when it comes to newer threats, metadata collection, or secure privacy tools. Overall, Europe’s awareness remains stable but shows little significant progress. The global NPT-score holds at 57 out of 100.
What Works Well in the Netherlands and Belgium
People in the Netherlands and Belgium perform well when questions touch on basic privacy hygiene. A large majority know how to create robust passwords, identify suspicious streaming offers, and avoid sharing private data on social media. Dutch scores in those areas are strong and often match or exceed European averages.
Belgian respondents do well too in recognizing basic threats and showing awareness of app permissions and suspicious communications. These skills are crucial first lines of defense. Belgium also edges ahead in awareness of what internet providers collect in metadata, about 17% correct responses among the higher scores for that metric in Europe.
Where the Gaps Lie: What Europe Must Improve
Even with strengths, many gaps remain. Only 5% of Dutch participants correctly identified privacy risks around AI use at work, a remarkably low number. Many also lack clear knowledge about how to respond to a data breach or services that leak personal data.
Belgium shows similar deficits: while daily habits improve slowly, risk awareness declines in specific questions. For example, fewer Belgians knew what to do in case of data leaks than the global average. Both countries also showed declining or weak scores on digital risk tolerance.
Across Europe, understanding of metadata collection, Wi-Fi security at home, safe storage of passwords, and using privacy-enhancing tools stays low. These are often the weak spots, and criminals exploit them.
Why These Findings Matter for Businesses and Organisations
These results carry practical implications. First, companies operating in the Netherlands or Belgium must assume that many users, clients, or employees have gaps in privacy knowledge. Without proactive training, the risk of phishing, data exposure, or misuse of AI tools grows.
Regulatory compliance depends on basic practices. The EU’s laws (like GDPR and upcoming cybersecurity regulations) require organisations to protect data, understand risk, and respond correctly in breach situations. Weak digital risk awareness among citizens or employees makes organizational compliance harder.
Also, in recruitment and hiring for cybersecurity roles, these insights shape what skills are most in demand. Roles that help close these knowledge gaps, like security awareness trainers, compliance officers, or digital risk analysts grow more important.
How to Raise Digital Privacy and Risk Awareness in the Netherlands
Organisations can act now. First, embed regular training on privacy basics and threat recognition. Focus on phishing, AI-driven scams, secure Wi-Fi, and strong password practices.
Second, update internal processes so that employees understand what to do in case of a data leak. Simulated breach drills, or tabletop exercises, can help.
Third, clarify what privacy tools are safe and teach how to use them properly, VPNs, password managers, encrypted messaging apps.
Fourth, make continuous evaluation part of your privacy strategy. Collect feedback, run internal tests, and adjust training based on what people struggle with.
The 2025 National Privacy Test shows that while people in the Netherlands and Belgium understand many basic privacy and security principles, they remain vulnerable where matters are evolving fast. AI, metadata, breach response, and digital risk tolerance present major challenges.
By investing in education, improving internal policies, and hiring for roles that bridge awareness gaps, organisations can raise their overall privacy posture. These simple actions help reduce risk and protect reputation in a world where digital threats grow daily.
