Privacy statement
General
Ontdek-utrecht.nl is the online travel guide for Utrecht and the surrounding area. Here you will find all the information you need about the most famous sights. Ontdek-utrecht.nl is part of Stichting Utrecht Marketing, the organisation responsible for processing your personal data.
Stichting Utrecht Marketing (also known as Utrecht Marketing) is the central tourist organisation for the city of Utrecht. Utrecht Marketing is located in Utrecht at Ganzenmarkt 1 (3512 GC). Utrecht Marketing organises, supports and coordinates various activities and campaigns and is responsible for processing your personal data in this context. This privacy statement relates to the collection and use of this personal data.
We believe it is important that you are aware of what personal data we request from you in which situations and why. We therefore ask you to read this privacy statement. Is anything unclear? Or are we missing something? Feel free to send an email to privacy@utrechtmarketing.nl and ask your question.
Newsletter
Sign up
When you sign up for the newsletter via this website, you can expect to receive a (monthly) digital newsletter with tourist and cultural tips from the Utrecht region.
Purpose of processing and legal basis
The purpose is to send you the newsletter on the legal basis of consent.
What personal data do we process and use?
Email address (mandatory): the email address is, of course, necessary to send you the digital newsletter.
First name (optional): we like to address you personally and want to personalise our newsletters, e.g. “Dear Robin”.
Other data (optional): if provided by you and with your consent, we may link additional data (such as purchase information) to your email address in order to better tailor our newsletters to your interests.
By subscribing to this newsletter, you give us permission to use the personal data mentioned above for sending the newsletter and similar types of emails. We store this data in our email system, Spotler Mail+, and use it solely for the distribution of the newsletter and comparable communications.
Unsubscribe
You may withdraw your consent to receive our newsletter at any time. At the bottom of each mailing, there is a link labelled ‘Change your details or unsubscribe’. You may indicate that you wish to unsubscribe from the newsletter or have your details amended or deleted by contacting privacy@utrechtmarketing.nl.
Data processing
We use a processor, Spotler Mail+, with whom we have concluded a processing agreement, to send our newsletter and mailings.
Visual material
Ontdek-utrecht.nl features images of (icons of) the city of Utrecht that help tell the story of Utrecht. These images may include portraits, which constitute personal data. Utrecht Marketing bases the processing of this personal data on the GDPR principle of “legitimate interest”. The photos published on Ontdek-utrecht.nl are used for journalistic (or artistic) purposes. Utrecht Marketing wants to use these images to share information about the city of Utrecht. Utrecht Marketing carefully considers privacy issues when selecting photos. If you appear in a published photo without your consent, you can submit a request for removal via privacy@utrechtmarketing.nl.
Social media
Photographs may be taken at events organised or co-organised by Utrecht Marketing and at locations in and around the city of Utrecht. These photographs may then be shared on the social media channels of Ontdek-utrecht.nl. Utrecht Marketing bases this on the legitimate interest of promoting the city of Utrecht and its events. If you appear in a published photo without your consent, you can submit a request for removal via privacy@utrechtmarketing.nl.
Retention periods
Utrecht Marketing will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, unless this data must be retained on the basis of a legal obligation or until you ask us to delete your data. We will retain the email addresses we use to send our newsletters for as long as you are registered as a newsletter subscriber. Unsubscribed email addresses are removed from the system annually. We apply a retention period of five years for the images on the Ontdek-Utrecht.nl website in order to ensure that the information is up to date and relevant.
Rights
The GDPR grants you various rights. Would you like us to remove your data from our system? Please send an email to privacy@utrechtmarketing.nl stating “Remove my data from Ontdek-utrecht.nl” and include your surname and the email address you used to register. To prevent misuse, we may ask you to identify yourself adequately.
If you wish to access personal data linked to a cookie, you must send a copy of the cookie in question. You can find this in your browser settings. We can use this information to locate you and delete your data. All data is sent via an SSL connection.
Other rights you have under the General Data Protection Regulation are the rights to access or change your personal data or the right to object to the processing of your personal data. If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please email privacy@utrechtmarketing.nl.
Complaints
If you believe that we are not complying with the applicable privacy regulations, we will be happy to help you find a solution. In addition, you always have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Authority.
Changes
This privacy statement came into effect on 1 September 2024. Utrecht Marketing reserves the right to change and update this privacy statement. The last (partial) revision took place on 19 September 2025.
Questions and requests
Do you have a question, comment or complaint about this privacy statement or about the processing of personal data by Utrecht Marketing? Please contact us by calling 030 232 3080 or sending an email to privacy@utrechtmarketing.nl.
Utrecht Marketing Cookie Policy
At Utrecht Marketing, we want to share with you how we collect and use your data when you visit our website. This cookie policy explains how we use cookies and how you can consent to our cookies.
What are cookies?
- Cookies are small data files that are stored in your browser or device. They can be provided by the entity that manages the website you are visiting (‘first-party cookies’) or by other companies (‘third-party cookies’). For example, we work with external analytics providers, such as Google, who place cookies when you visit our website. This helps us understand how you use our services so that we can improve them.
- Pixels are small images on a web page or in an email. Pixels collect information about your browser or device and may set cookies to enable us, for example, to learn more about your interactions with email or web content.
- Local storage allows data to be stored locally on your browser or device and includes local HTML5 storage and browser cache.
How we use cookies
We use cookies for various reasons – cookies help us see which pages are most popular on our site, count visitors to a page, improve our users’ experience, see how effective our advertisements are, tailor advertisements to the recipient and keep our site secure. The cookies we use fall into one of the following categories:
- Functional cookies: These cookies are essential for the proper functioning of our website. They remember your preferences, such as language settings or selected region, so that the website can be displayed according to your preferences and you have an optimal user experience.
- Analytical/performance cookies: These enable us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users can easily find what they are looking for.
- Tracking cookies: These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our website and the advertisements displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.
Our cookies by category:
Functional cookies: Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
On this website, we use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), a web analytics service provided by Google LLC. GA4 enables us to analyse the use of the website and optimise the user experience. Both first-party and third-party cookies are used, with data collected via client-side and server-side tracking.
Type of tracking and data processing:
- Third-party cookies (client-side tracking)
With standard tracking, data is collected via Google cookies and transferred to Google servers. These servers may be located outside the European Economic Area (EEA), including in the United States. - First-party cookies (server-side tracking)
We also use server-side tracking via a partner integration with Stape. Data processing takes place via servers in the Netherlands. This approach limits direct data sharing with Google, offers more control over data processing and enhances data security.
We take appropriate measures to protect personal data. Where possible, data is anonymised or pseudonymised before being shared with Google. For example, IP anonymisation is enabled by default; the last octet of the IP address is removed before storage or transfer.
Retention periods:
- Event-level data: maximum of 2 months
- User-level data: maximum of 14 months
We have entered into a processing agreement with Google, which includes agreements on the security and use of personal data. Google may provide data to third parties when required by law or when these third parties act on behalf of Google. For data transfers to third countries, Google relies on the Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission.
You can limit the sharing of your data with Google Analytics by:
- Installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Adjusting your cookie preferences at the bottom of this page
Marketing cookies: Meta Conversions API and Meta Pixel
On our website, we use Meta Pixel and Meta Conversions API to optimise and personalise our advertising campaigns on Meta platforms, such as Facebook. These technologies enable us to share data that we have obtained lawfully, such as information about your interactions with our website. This data helps us to display more targeted and relevant advertisements that are better suited to your interests.
We attach great importance to your privacy and ensure that your data is treated securely and confidentially. The Meta Conversions API is designed to respect the privacy choices you make within Meta, such as the use of the Off-Facebook Activity tool. This means that if you choose to limit your off-Facebook activities, these choices also apply to the data shared via the Conversions API.
These technologies allow us to tailor our advertisements more effectively to your preferences, while complying with applicable privacy laws and protecting your personal data.
Marketing cookies: Google Tag
We use a Google Tag that enables us to re-approach visitors to our website via retargeting on Google Ads and other Google platforms. This also involves the use of a Google Ads retargeting tag, which allows us to display targeted advertisements based on your previous interactions with our website. This only happens if you agree to the use of marketing cookies.
Marketing cookies: Second, extended Google Analytics 4 tracking
If you agree to marketing cookies, we also use a second Google Analytics 4 (GA4) property. This is only loaded after your explicit consent and collects additional website statistics, such as aggregated demographic data. The data is shared directly with Google via third-party cookies (client-side tracking); server-side tracking is not used for this purpose. The information helps us to better understand our website audience and optimise our marketing activities. Processing is carried out in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, including the GDPR. Google processes this data as personal data. For more information, please refer to Google’s privacy policy.
Marketing cookies: Retargeting Pixel DPG Media
We use a retargeting pixel from DPG Media. This pixel enables us to re-approach visitors to our website with more relevant advertisements on the DPG Media platforms. This only happens if you agree to the use of marketing cookies.
Marketing cookies: Hotjar
We use Hotjar Ltd (registered in Malta, St Julians Business Centre, 3, Elia Zammit Street, STJ 1000) to analyze website usage and improve user experience. Hotjar collects data such as mouse movements, clicks, scroll behavior, and page interactions, and may use heatmaps or feedback tools. Your device’s IP address may be processed temporarily, but is anonymized (for example by masking the last octet) so you cannot be personally identified.
Hotjar is classified as a marketing/analytics cookie. We only deploy it with your consent via our cookie banner or cookie settings. You may withdraw this consent at any time, for example by changing settings in the banner, deleting cookies, or via Hotjar’s opt-out tools.
For more details about which Hotjar cookies are used, retention periods, and how to disable Hotjar, see:
Hotjar’s Cookie Information page and the Hotjar Privacy Policy.
Enabling, disabling and deleting cookies
More information about enabling, disabling and deleting cookies can be found in the instructions and/or by using the Help function of your browser.
Change your cookie preferences here
More information about cookies?
You can find more information about cookies on the following websites:
Consumentenbond: What are cookies? | What are cookies used for? | Deleting cookies | Disabling cookies
Your Online Choices: A guide to online behavioural advertising
The cookie statement from cookierecht.nl served as the source for the creation of this document. This statement has been compiled with the utmost care. However, Ontdek-Utrecht is not liable for any direct or indirect damage that may arise from the use of the information provided herein. No rights or claims can be derived from the content of this statement in any way.
