de Volkskrant

The second biggest Dutch newspaper, founded in 1919, has its roots in the catholic labour union. It is still a center-leftist paper but it does not do much to preserve its catholic identity. Just like De Telegraaf, the Saturday edition is great if you are looking for work or housing. Part of PCM which also publishes NRC Handelsblad and Trouw.

Het Algemeen Dagblad

Third biggest daily national newspaper (morning). Easy to read and popular with no affiliation with any political ideology or religion, it serves a wide audience. Part of AD Nieuwsmedia (joint venture between PCM uitgevers and Koninklijke Wegener, 2005) along with several regional newspapers.

NRC Handelsblad

A Rotterdam based newspaper that ranks in the top five Dutch national newspapers. As the name implies, it was originally a business paper and you can still expect an extensive coverage of business news. In 1970, the NRC Handelsblad came into existence through a merge of two old business newspapers (Algemeen Handelsblad, 1828, and Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, 1844). Politically the NRC is situated in the centre, but is by no means a mainstream paper; it is rather a pluralist paper. It generally targets a high(er) educated audience. It is Part of PCM Uitgevers, which also publishes de Volkskrant and Trouw. Since 2006, NRC publishes a morning edition in tabloid format under the name NRC Next.

Trouw

Founded in 1943 as an illegal prothestant paper under the German occuption, it is now one of the five biggest daily newspapers in the Netherlands. It is praised for its in depth articles about both national and international topics. A separate section is dedicated to christian news. It is Part of PCM, which also publishes de Volkskrant and NRC Handelsblad.

Telegraaf

A mainstream morning paper with flashy headlines and color pictures. Extensive sports coverage and in the weekend, it is the paper to read classified ads. Sometimes a bit sensationalist, sometimes even populistic, it is by far Holland's most popular newspaper. It profiles itself as a politically and ideologically neutral paper, as the founder intended it in 1893.

Het Financieele Dagblad

The Dutch Financial Times, founded in 1796. Offers news and information about the Dutch corporate life, the national and international economy, the financial markets and all developments that affect these markets. For those of you who wondered whether I made a spelling mistake: Two e's at the end of a syllable! Yet, this really is the way to write the name of this newspaper. It is how the word was spelled at the time the newspaper was founded.

Het Parool

A national evening newspaper covering international and national news but with its main focus on Amsterdam. The first paper in the Netherlands to be issued in a handy tabloid format. Established in WWII as an underground paper distributed by the Dutch resistance. Founding editor, Jaap Nunez died in Auschwitz after he had been arrested by the Gestapo in 1942. Today, the newspaper still positions itself center-left in the political specter.