Stichting NU.nl

Who we are

What is Stichting NU.nl?

Dutch foundation Stichting NU.nl is the foundation behind news organisation NU.nl. This was the first news website in the Netherlands to publish news 24/7 starting in 1999. Stichting NU.nl raises attention for the necessity of a pluriform digital media landscape which contributes to a democratic society based on the rule of law. This can never be taken for granted. Democracy and freedom of the press are under pressure globally. It is the role and responsibility of Stichting NU.nl to guarantee an independent position for the editors of NU.nl within a free and rapidly changing media landscape.

The main goals of Stichting NU.nl are to safeguard the identity of NU.nl and to further improve the quality of the editors. As a foundation we also pay attention to issues that affect any future scenarios. Whatever the scenario, Stichting NU.nl wants to ensure that the editorial team can continue to do their work autonomously and that all readers will continue to have free access to the news copy of NU.nl

What we do

Wat does Stichting NU.nl do?

The editorial statute states: ‘NU.nl is very strict on framing, lies, factual errors and other kinds of misinformation and fake news. NU.nl wants to prevent a situation in which its news items contribute to any personal gains, to any political and/or business opportunism and/or to negatively affect the public debate.’

The most important goal of Stichting NU.nl is protecting these qualities and the independence of the editorial team and editors-in-chief to make sure that they can inform their readers about topics they find newsworthy. Within this context, it is important for the foundation that all editors can do their work in a safe and socially pleasant environment.

The goals of the foundation are based on three pillars:

Safeguarding the identity, ensuring free access to all news by NU.nl and protecting the autonomy of the editors and editors-in-chief

The goal of Stichting NU.nl is to protect the identity of news organisation NU.nl. The identity of NU.nl can only be changed after approval by Stichting NU.nl. Any changes in the editorial statute must also be approved by the foundation, just like selling or ending NU.nl. Every year, Stichting NU.nl must assess whether the autonomy of NU.nl and free access to the news by NU.nl has been adhered to as agreed with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).

Stichting NU.nl attaches great value to its identity, because it emphasizes the right to being treated equally and the right to freedom of speech, but also the right to reliable news information. NU.nl is not a populist or activist news organisation, but it puts the news in the right context. NU.nl attaches great value to having a shared reality in society. In its editorial statute NU.nl states that it ‘wishes to actively contribute to a society operates on the basis of the same verifiable facts.’

Being a critical and realistic shareholder, lead by journalistic values

In order to maintain and adhere to the identity, the editor-in-chief is accountable to Stichting NU.nl. In addition, the foundation is the sparring partner of the editor-in-chief.

When a new editor-in-chief needs to be selected, Stichting NU.nl is on the appointments committee. The foundation also needs to approve of the dismissal of the editor-in-chief.

Further improving the quality of NU.nl, with the emphasis on technological and content innovation

'NU.nl has a special position in the Netherlands because it is a free news publication: we are truly here for everyone. It is reassuring that with the foundation Stichting NU.nl we now have an extra partner to talk to – always offering us advice and support. The foundation is right behind us when it comes to values such as autonomy, independence and identity.'

Lindsay Mossink, editor-in-chief NU.nl

Background

When was Stichting NU.nl founded?

Stichting NU.nl was founded on 1 October 2025. This took place after RTL Nederland was taken over by DPG Media. With this takeover, DPG has become an even more dominant player in the Dutch media landscape. Every day, millions of Dutch households are reached through the media channels of DPG. This means that DPG plays an important role in what news the Dutch see, hear and read. This role comes with a great deal of responsibility. It is up to the foundations of each news organisation to assess the intentions and practices of DPG and, if necessary, to challenge these.

The board

Who is on the board of the foundation?

The board of the foundation consists of three members. They serve for a period of three years, and this term can be extended once with another three years. So the maximum number of years on the board for each board member is six years.

The board consists of the following members:

Irene Costera Meijer

2025 — present

Over:

Irene Costera Meijer (1956) has conducted research on the impact of the media and changing media usage for more than 30 years. Initially as a (senior) lecturer of Popular Culture at the University of Amsterdam and from 2007 until 2024 as a professor of Journalism Studies at VU Amsterdam. Now she has more time for research and reflecting. She regularly advises media organisations who want to learn how to think from the perspective of their audience. She thinks with them about alternatives of how to stay meaningful for their current users. And about how to become valuable for groups who they do not yet reach now or less so.

Ronald Ockhuysen

2025 — present

Over:

Ronald Ockhuysen 1966) worked as a journalist for more than 30 years: between 1990 and 2020 he wrote for De Volkskrant and later for Het Parool about art, the media and other topics. He was editor-in-chief of Het Parool between 2015 and 2021. Ronald also made television programmes for VPRO. He became the director of the VandenEnde Foundation in 2021, which donates approx. 6 million euros to artists and art institutions every year. He published two books in the autumn of 2025 with Nijgh & Van Ditmar publishers: Welkom (about the life of luxury hotel and travel consultant Roberto Payer) and DeLaMar (about the history of DeLaMar Theater in Amsterdam).

Documents

Articles of association (in Dutch only)

Statuten Stichting NU nl

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Contact the foundation
for more information

The affiliated foundations

Stichting De Volkskrant

Stichting Het Nieuwe Parool

Stichting RTL Nieuws

Stichting ter Bevordering van de Christelijke Pers in Nederland

Stichting Democratie en Media