One regulation, two countries, different enforcement
Belgium and the Netherlands share the same privacy regulation. The GDPR, known as AVG (Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming) in Dutch, applies identically in both countries. The rules about processing personal data, obtaining consent, maintaining a processing register, and informing data subjects are exactly the same whether you are based in Antwerp or Amsterdam.
Where the two countries differ is in enforcement. Belgium has the GBA (Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit, or APD in French). The Netherlands has the AP (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens). Both authorities enforce the same GDPR rules, but they have different priorities, different fine levels, and different approaches to enforcement.
For small businesses operating in Belgium, the Netherlands, or both, this creates a practical challenge: you need a GDPR tool that understands these nuances without requiring you to become an expert on either authority.
Why most tools fall short for both markets
Many GDPR tools on the market are either too generic or too country-specific:
Generic international tools provide templates that cover the GDPR broadly but miss the practical details. They do not account for the Belgian social secretariat system, the Dutch BSN (citizen service number) rules, or the differences in how each country handles sector-specific processing.
Country-specific tools focus on one market only. A Dutch AVG tool may not consider Belgian employment law practices. A Belgian tool may ignore the Dutch UAVG (Uitvoeringswet AVG) and its specific provisions on national identification numbers and healthcare data.
GDPRWise bridges this gap by offering a platform that works for both markets, with sector dossiers that account for the specific business practices in each country.
How GDPRWise covers both markets
AI-powered scanning works everywhere
The GDPRWise website scan is not country-specific. It analyses your website and detects cookies, trackers, third-party scripts, and forms regardless of whether your domain ends in .be, .nl, or anything else. The scan identifies what your website does technically, and that is the same whether you are based in Ghent or Groningen.
Within two minutes, you get a complete overview of your website’s privacy situation, including which tools process personal data and what risks they present.
Sector dossiers for both regions
The three-layer dossier model is where the cross-border advantage becomes clear:
Layer 1 - Sector foundation: GDPRWise maintains pre-built dossier foundations for dozens of industries. These foundations cover the common processing activities for each sector. A physiotherapy practice in Belgium processes largely the same types of data as one in the Netherlands, so the foundation applies to both.
Where there are differences, such as the way employee data processing is structured around Belgian social secretariats versus Dutch payroll providers, the dossier accounts for these variations through the guided refinement questions.
Layer 2 - AI scan results: Your specific website findings are layered on top, regardless of your location. The scan detects the actual tools and trackers on your site.
Layer 3 - Guided refinement: The platform asks targeted business questions to fill in the gaps. These include questions about your country-specific setup, such as whether you use a Belgian social secretariat or a Dutch payroll provider, ensuring the dossier matches your actual situation.
Full Dutch-language support
Both Flemish business owners in Belgium and Dutch business owners in the Netherlands want to work in their own language. GDPRWise offers full Dutch-language support, from the scan interface to the generated documents.
Your privacy policy, processing register, and cookie report can all be generated in Dutch. This means your customers, employees, and the supervisory authority all receive documentation in the language they expect.
The platform also supports French (relevant for Wallonia and Brussels), German, and English, making it suitable for multilingual Belgian businesses as well.
Belgian GBA vs. Dutch AP: what you need to know
While the GDPR rules are identical, the enforcement landscape differs in a few important ways:
Fines and enforcement style
The Dutch AP has historically focused on large-scale data processing and big technology companies, though it has increasingly turned its attention to smaller organisations. The Belgian GBA has been active across the board, including actions against small businesses and local organisations.
Both authorities can impose fines of up to 20 million EUR or 4% of global annual turnover for the most serious violations. In practice, fines for SMEs are much lower, but they can still be painful for a small business.
National implementation laws
Each country has a national law that complements the GDPR:
- Belgium: the Data Protection Act of 30 July 2018
- Netherlands: the UAVG (Uitvoeringswet Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming)
These laws fill in areas where the GDPR gives member states discretion, such as the age of consent for children, the processing of national identification numbers, and specific provisions for journalism and research.
GDPRWise accounts for these differences. When you indicate your country during setup, the sector dossier and generated documents reflect the relevant national provisions.
Cross-border businesses
If you run a business that serves customers in both Belgium and the Netherlands, such as a web shop that ships to both countries or a consultancy with clients on both sides of the border, you do not need separate dossiers.
Your GDPR obligations are based on what personal data you process and how you process it, not on the nationality of your data subjects. A single GDPRWise dossier covers all your processing activities.
The one consideration is your supervisory authority. Generally, your main establishment determines which authority has primary jurisdiction. If your company is registered in Belgium, the GBA is your lead authority. If you are registered in the Netherlands, the AP takes that role.
This does not affect your dossier contents, but it is useful to know in case of complaints or inquiries from a data subject.
Free for SMEs on both sides of the border
Belgian and Dutch SMEs share a common challenge: GDPR compliance sounds expensive. Consultants in both countries charge similar rates, typically 2,000 to 5,000 EUR for a basic dossier.
GDPRWise offers two options designed for small business budgets:
Free Scan gives you a complete dossier at no cost. Full AI scan, sector dossier, guided refinement, all generated documents, and export capabilities. No account or credit card needed.
Peace of Mind (EUR 29/month, yearly billing) adds continuous monitoring. Periodic rescans, change detection, regulatory update alerts, and priority support. Ideal if you want to stay compliant without having to remember to check.
Both options work identically for Belgian and Dutch businesses. There is no country surcharge or separate pricing structure.
Getting started takes minutes
Whether you are a Belgian frituur owner or a Dutch web developer, the process is the same:
- Enter your website URL and run the free scan
- Review the results and create your account
- Answer the guided business questions
- Review and export your completed dossier
The entire process typically takes one to three hours. Your dossier, including processing register, privacy policy, cookie report, employee privacy policy, and action list, is ready to use the same day.
Whether you are based in Belgium, the Netherlands, or both - GDPRWise builds your complete GDPR dossier in hours. Dutch-language support, sector dossiers, and affordable pricing.