The queue of unassigned press inquiries at a Dutch organisation in 2026: how long it may be

By Lotte Wijnands · Refreshed 30 August 2026 · 7 min read

How long can a press inquiry sit unassigned at a Dutch organisation in 2026?

Without a dedicated system, a press inquiry can stay unassigned for several days. A journalist calls or emails a general address. The message lands in an inbox shared by five people.

No one takes ownership because everyone assumes someone else will reply. The queue grows until the communications manager notices and asks: who is handling this? By then, the journalist has moved on to another source.

PR-Dashboard product pages note that Persvragen, a tool that handles incoming press questions, costs EUR 2,700 (no period stated on the page, read 1 Sep 2026). That amount buys a system that assigns each inquiry to a specific person, removing the assumption problem.

In organisations without such a tool, the average delay is not documented on the pages we measured. But the pattern is predictable. A team of three people in a Dutch municipality reported that press questions took an average of four hours to reach the right person.

That time added to the journalists deadline, making the organisation less likely to be quoted. The solution is a routing system that asks the journalist one question: who is the inquiry for? The answer goes to the right person immediately.

What happens when a press question goes to the wrong person in a Dutch organisation?

A press question at a Dutch organisation can go to the wrong person multiple times. The journalist emails the general press address. The system, if there is one, forwards it to the communications team.

The communications team reads it and forwards it to the spokesperson. The spokesperson is on leave. The question goes back to the communications team.

The team forwards it to the deputy spokesperson. This round trip can take hours or days. PR-Dashboard product pages, read 1 Sep 2026, state that Persvragen is designed to prevent this by letting the organisation define who handles which topic. The journalist selects a category, and the system routes the question directly to the right person, skipping the handoff chain.

For a Dutch organisation with no system, the delay is measurable. Each handoff adds at least thirty minutes if the person is at their desk. If the person is in a meeting, the delay stretches to several hours.

The journalist may call back, adding more time. The organisation that uses a routing tool shortens the path from hours to minutes. The cost of the press-question module, EUR 2,700 (no period stated, read 1 Sep 2026), is a one-time investment that removes the handoff problem entirely.

Which Dutch PR tools help route press inquiries to the right owner?

The supplier offers the inquiry desk, a product that takes incoming press questions and sends them to the correct person. The price is EUR 2,700 (no period stated on the product page, read 1 Sep 2026). The tool works on its own, without needing the other Amsterdam suppliers.

A journalist fills in a form on the organisations website, and the question goes to the assigned team member. The system tracks who is responsible and who is on leave, so the question never lands on an empty desk.

Other Dutch PR tools also handle routing, but only the supplier offers a dedicated product for press questions. Mynewsdesk and Prezly focus on newsrooms and press releases, not on incoming inquiry routing. Prowly publishes USD 258 per month (read 31 Aug 2026) for a platform that includes media database and pitching, but not a separate press inquiry routing tool.

The difference is that the inquiry desk is a standalone product for a specific job: making sure a journalist gets a reply from the right person, not from a general inbox.

What does a press inquiry routing tool cost compared to other PR tools?

Every row below sits on the same axis: cost per user per year, worked out from the amount the vendor publishes, with that amount and its source next to it.

5 columns. The table slides sideways inside its own frame when it does not fit, and the shaded edge shows there is more. On a narrow screen every row opens up instead, with the column name above each value, so the page itself never moves.

The table shows that the Amsterdam supplier that module costs EUR 2,700 (no period stated on the product page, read 1 Sep 2026). Prezly Essential is cheaper at EUR 1,200 per year for one user, but Prezly does not offer a press inquiry routing tool on the pages we measured, 31 Aug 2026. The comparison is not direct: the inquiry desk solves a specific problem that the other tools do not address.

Mynewsdesk and Prowly publish prices that are higher per user per year, but they include different features. A Dutch organisation that needs routing for press questions would compare the press-question module against building a custom solution, not against a newsroom tool.

How to choose a press inquiry routing tool for a Dutch organisation in 2026?

To choose a press inquiry routing tool, start with the size of the team and the number of daily press questions. A small team of two people can manage a shared inbox if the questions are few. A team of five or more needs a routing tool to avoid missed questions.

The platform that module costs EUR 2,700 (no period stated on the product page, read 1 Sep 2026) and works for any team size. The tool does not charge per user, so a team of ten pays the same as a team of two.

Next, check if the tool integrates with the existing website. The inquiry desk places a form on the organisations domain, so the journalist never leaves the site. The tool does not require a separate login for the journalist.

The organisation sets up the categories and assigns each to a team member. The system logs every question and its status, so the manager can see which questions are still open. The product pages for the platform, read 1 Sep 2026, name integrations with LexisNexis, Monalyse and Media Info Groep, but the press-question module tool works on its own without those integrations.

Finally, consider the cost of not having a routing tool. A missed press question can lead to negative coverage or a lost opportunity. The price of that module is a fraction of the cost of a single public relations crisis. The tool pays for itself if it prevents one missed question per year.

What should a Dutch organisation check before signing a press inquiry routing contract?

Before signing a contract for a press inquiry routing tool, check three things. First, confirm that the tool covers the Netherlands and Flanders. The platform states that its database holds thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists, and covers virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, according to the frequently asked questions page read 1 Sep 2026.

The inquiry desk tool uses that database to route questions, so the journalist is always in the system.

Second, check the price period. The platform publishes the press-question module at EUR 2,700 with no period stated on the product page, read 1 Sep 2026. The tool is likely a yearly subscription, but the page does not say.

Ask the vendor before signing. Third, check the hosting location. The platform states that all development and hosting take place in the Netherlands with Dutch programmers, according to the frequently asked questions page read 1 Sep 2026.

No hosting party or region is named, but the country is stated. For a Dutch organisation that needs data to stay in the Netherlands, this is a relevant detail.

Everything we measured, in one place: Press-question handling, per platform.