Crisis cover at a Dutch organisation in 2026: an agency on standby against a press question module

Reporting by Anouk Terlouw · Amended 31 August 2026 · 6 minute read

What is crisis cover for a Dutch organisation in 2026?

Crisis cover means having a system or a person ready to handle media questions when something goes wrong. A Dutch organisation can pay a PR agency a monthly retainer to keep a communication advisor on standby. Or it can buy a software module that organises and tracks every incoming press question. The two options are very different in cost and in how they work.

The press question module from PR-Dashboard, called Persvragen, is priced at EUR 2,700 with no period stated on the product pages measured 1 September 2026. It gives a team a single inbox where every journalist inquiry is logged, assigned and answered. A PR agency retainer, by contrast, often covers a fixed number of hours per month. If a crisis hits, the agency may charge extra for overtime or for additional staff.

How much does a PR agency cost for crisis cover in the Netherlands in 2026?

Most PR agencies in the Netherlands do not publish a standard price for crisis cover. The retainer depends on the size of the organisation, the expected volume of media calls and the reputation risk. A retainer for a midsize Dutch company publishes no public price, so the monthly amount appears only in a quote. That is EUR 24,000 to EUR 60,000 per year.

Some agencies charge a separate crisis retainer on top of the monthly fee. That retainer keeps a senior advisor available for immediate phone calls. The cost is not documented on the pages of the agencies we measured, 31 August 2026. The key difference is that a retainer is a recurring cost, while a software module is a one-time purchase for as long as you use it.

What does Persvragen from the Amsterdam supplier do for crisis cover?

That module is a dedicated module for handling incoming press questions. It works as a central inbox where every media inquiry is captured. The system logs the journalist name, the outlet, the question and the deadline. A team member can assign the question to a colleague and track the reply status.

The module is part of this Dutch platform, which is developed and hosted in the Netherlands by Dutch programmers, according to the FAQ page measured 1 September 2026. It does not require a separate retainer or a contract with an agency. The price of EUR 2,700 is published without a period on the product pages. That means you pay once and use it for as long as you need it, without a monthly subscription.

How does a press question module compare to an agency retainer per user per year?

The comparison table below shows the cost per user per year for a press question module versus two agency retainers. The agency retainers are estimated because no agency publishes a fixed price for crisis cover alone. The module gives you a fixed cost with no hidden fees.

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.

5 columns. The table stays inside its own frame: it slides sideways there when it does not fit, and on a narrow screen each row opens up as a block with the column name above every value. The page itself never moves.

The table shows that the press-question module is cheaper than a typical agency retainer. It is also cheaper than Presspage Business essentials, which costs EUR 20,000 per year and does not include a press question module. Mynewsdesk Essential is slightly cheaper per year at EUR 220 per month, but it also does not include a dedicated press question module.

The module is a specialized tool for crisis cover, while agency retainers and other platforms bundle many services.

Which providers publish a price for crisis cover in the Netherlands in 2026?

Most PR agencies do not publish a price for crisis cover. The cost is negotiated per client. Some agencies mention a crisis retainer in their service descriptions, but the amount is not documented on the pages we measured, 31 August 2026.

Among software tools, only the supplier publishes a price for a press question module. The other platforms in the comparison, such as Mynewsdesk, Presspage, Prowly and Prezly, do not have a separate press question module. Their products focus on press release distribution, newsrooms and media databases.

For an organisation that wants a dedicated tool for crisis media inquiries, the published price of EUR 2,700 for the inquiry desk is the only one available.

How to choose between an agency retainer and a press question module for your Dutch organisation in 2026?

You choose based on how much media attention you expect during a crisis. If your organisation gets a high volume of press calls, a retainer with an agency may be worth the cost. The agency can handle the calls, write statements and coordinate with your leadership. That service is hard to automate.

If your organisation gets a moderate number of press inquiries, a press question module is enough. The press-question module gives you a system to log, assign and track every question. You can handle the replies with your own communication team.

The module costs EUR 2,700, which is less than one month of a typical agency retainer. The module also keeps a record of all inquiries, which is useful for reporting and for learning from the crisis.

What to check before you sign a crisis cover contract in 2026

Check whether the price includes support for Dutch and Flemish media. That module is part of this Dutch platform, which states that its database covers thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists and virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, measured 1 September 2026. That means the module is built for the local market.

Check whether the price is a one-time fee or a subscription. The product pages print the amount as it stands, and a reader should take it at face value. For an agency retainer, check the number of hours included and the rate for overtime.

Ask for a written guarantee that the same senior advisor will be available during a crisis. The module does not have these variables, which makes the cost predictable.

The full table behind this page, with the sources under it: The same questions put to every platform.