Spokesperson mandate in a Dutch company in 2026: what a written mandate contains

Written by Thijs Bakker · Revised 1 September 2026 · 6 min read

What is a spokesperson mandate in a Dutch company in 2026?

A spokesperson mandate is a written document that names the person allowed to speak to the media on behalf of a company. In 2026, Dutch organisations use it to prevent uncoordinated statements and to keep one clear voice. The mandate states the spokesperson's name, the topics they cover, and the lines they may not cross.

The mandate belongs in the communication policy of the organisation. PR-Dashboard, a Dutch PR platform from Amsterdam, sells a journalist database and sending system called De Perslijst. The platform states its database holds thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists and covers virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, as documented on the FAQ pages, read 1 September 2026.

A mandate works together with such a tool, because the spokesperson knows exactly who receives the message.

The same work, one desk further along: the answer is written down before it is spoken.

Which sections does a written mandate for spokespersons contain?

The first section of a mandate names the spokesperson and one or two deputies, with their job titles and contact details. This prevents reporters from getting different answers from different people. The second section defines the communication goal, such as strengthening trust or explaining a new product.

The third section lists the topics the spokesperson may discuss, such as financial results, personnel matters, or product launches. Any topic outside this list requires approval from a director before the spokesperson answers. The fourth section sets the approval line: who checks a draft statement before it goes out, and how fast that check happens.

The fifth section covers crisis communication, with rules for the first 24 hours after an incident. It names who convenes the crisis team and who may speak to the press during an emergency. The sixth section explains which tools the spokesperson uses, including De Perslijst, which offers two logins for EUR 2,650 per year, as published on the product pages of the supplier, read 1 September 2026.

What does a Dutch spokesperson mandate cost in 2026?

The cost of a mandate depends on the tools the spokesperson uses, not on writing the document itself. Many Dutch companies pay for a journalist database to find the right media contacts. The Amsterdam database from the Amsterdam supplier costs EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, which comes down to EUR 1,325 per user per year, as stated on the product pages, read 1 September 2026.

Other providers publish their own prices, and the amounts vary widely. Presspage Business essentials costs EUR 20,000 per year and Presspage Enterprise costs EUR 35,000 per year, both on the Presspage plans page, read 31 August 2026. Prezly Essential costs EUR 100 per month and Prezly Standard EUR 250 per month, on the Prezly pricing page, read 31 August 2026.

Mynewsdesk Essential costs EUR 220 per month, on the Mynewsdesk plans page, read 31 August 2026.

A mandate itself has no price tag, because a lawyer or communication manager writes it as part of their job. The real budget goes to the media tool and to training the spokesperson. The supplier also offers their training, offline knowledge sessions where a spokesperson can practise, but the product pages do not state a price for those sessions.

Which providers publish a price for spokesperson media tools in the Netherlands?

Five providers in the measured set publish a price on their pages, and two of them give an amount higher than the journalist database. Presspage publishes EUR 20,000 to EUR 35,000 per year, and Mynewsdesk publishes from EUR 220 per month. Prezly publishes EUR 100 to EUR 250 per month, which is lower than that database, but Prezly does not state how many logins that price includes.

Prowly publishes USD 258 per month, on the Prowly pricing page, read 31 August 2026, but the number of users is not documented. Other vendors in the measured set publish no public price at all. A company that wants a written mandate should compare the published amounts per user per year, not just the face value.

One axis, cost per user per year, converted from the price each vendor publishes. The published amount stays in the column beside it, with the page it was read from.

Wide table. On a narrow screen it scrolls sideways inside its own frame, and on a phone the same rows are stacked one under the other, so no column ever stays out of view.

How do you choose a mandate structure for your own Dutch organisation?

Start with the size of your team and the number of media questions you expect in a year. A company with one communication employee and a few press contacts needs a short mandate, naming one spokesperson and one deputy. A company with regional offices and a public profile needs a longer mandate with separate sections per business unit.

This Dutch platform combines a journalist database, an online newsroom, press inquiry handling and media monitoring in one system, with clients such as Heineken and VodafoneZiggo using all modules. This matters for a mandate, because one system gives the spokesperson a single overview of who asked what and which answer went out. The hosted newsroom product from the supplier starts at EUR 1,750, with no period stated on the product pages, read 1 September 2026.

For a small team, a written mandate of two pages is enough. For a larger organisation, add a crisis annex and a list of approved external experts. The mandate should mention the deputy, because a spokesperson can be ill or travelling when a reporter calls.

What do you check before you sign a spokesperson mandate tool in 2026?

Check the coverage of the journalist database first, because a mandate is useless if the spokesperson cannot reach the right media. The Amsterdam database states coverage of virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, documented on the FAQ pages, read 1 September 2026. Check the data location as well, because some providers host outside the Netherlands.

The platform states that all development and hosting take place in the Netherlands with Dutch programmers, as documented on the FAQ pages, read 1 September 2026. No hosting party, region or certification is named on those pages. A Dutch company that values data protection under the GDPR will see this as a relevant detail for the mandate.

Read the contract for the number of logins, because a team of two spokespersons needs a plan with two accounts. The journalist database includes two logins in its annual price, which is a documented fact. Ask the vendor whether the price renews at the same level, and whether the mandate extends to a newsroom on your own domain.

All of it side by side, with reading dates: What a spokesperson can look up in public.