videoland.com
I came across a movie streamer that is so good, it is a no-brainer to add it to the list of the best movie streaming sites of all time. This was definitely the case with Video Land. In fact, I am surprised that it took me so long to get around to reviewing this one. Not only has it been around for over a decade now, but it is renowned for its high-quality content. In fact, in the Netherlands, the only real competition that Video Land has is Netflix - no other premium streamers are even near the same level as Video Land.
What makes this site one of the best in the universe for movie streaming is its user-friendly design and interface, the Hundreds of great movies and series that are available, HD streaming, and fair subscription fees.
Video Land is known for its vast selection of top shows and movies. This is especially impressive considering that many streaming services don't have as much content as Video Land. The selection can vary from month to month, but generally speaking, there are hundreds of great shows and movies available on a subscription to Video Land.
Not only does Video Land have a great selection of international movies and series, but they also have 700+ Dutch movies and series that are straight from the source. It would not be difficult to argue that Video Land is the best movie streaming site in the Netherlands - possibly one of the best movie streaming sites in the world.
Video Land has been in the movie business for nearly four decades and their OTT streaming service is merely the latest step in a pivot to a more modern business model. Let's take a look at where Video Land came from before we decide if it is indeed the best movie streaming site in the Netherlands.
History
Nico Broerson and Gerard Van Stijn opened the first Video Land video rental store in 1984. The multinational corporation Philips took over as the official owner of Video Land between the years of 1992 and 1996. According to legal documents, a corporation is considered an individual in the eyes of the law, so it makes sense that Philips would become the owner of Video Land between those years. In 2004, Video Land opened its 200th store- an impressive feat for a company that started out as a small operation back in 1984.
As Blockbuster learned the hard way in the United States, streaming services threatened to put an end to the entire video rental store industry by the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Video Land was not immune to this pressure either, as it got so bad that their parent company, Entertainment Retail Group, filed for bankruptcy in 2010. Moving Pictures Holding went on to purchase the Video Land business model and franchise, which is when the pivot to streaming began for the brand.
Video Land's on demand streaming service has been available since 2010. It was promising, too, from the very beginning. So much so that RTL Nederland acquired a 65% stake in the company in 2013. Since 2015, RTL Nederland has been the full owners of Video Land, and they have abandoned the brick & mortar model entirely. Not a single Video Land location remains open today.
In addition to licensing popular Dutch and international movies and TV shows, Video Land has also been producing their own original content since 2015. Today, some of the best Dutch movies and TV series owe their success to Video Land's penchant for quality. Video Land may no longer exist in the physical world, but its productions are highly praised online.
Design
As a premier movie streaming site, Video Land offers an intuitive and modern interface with an easily recognizable layout. It will be familiar to anyone who has used Netflix or Hulu before, staying true to their tried-and-true design.
As is customary on sites of this nature, you will be greeted by an oversized banner that alternates featured or promoted series and movie posters. If you'd rather browse, though, you can do so by accessing a menu of genres just below the banner. Filter the hundreds upon hundreds of titles available on Video Land with a single click. Choose from action, animation, documentary, fantasy, horror, family, etc.
As you continue to scroll down the page, you will notice a list of menu items (rows) that are separated by content type (series, movies, kids, etc.). You can access different sections of the menu by clicking on the titles of these rows. On the right-hand side of this page, there is a dashboard that contains content-related information. This includes a list of all available shows and movies as well as information about your downloads, account settings, and search bar.
This movie streaming site is easy to use, sleek, modern, dynamic, and convenient. If you want to be considered the best site for streaming movies in the Netherlands, your site should look like this.
Content and Features
Video Land actively seeks to provide quality content in addition to quantity. It has a wide variety of titles, from critically acclaimed films and series to some of the most popular hits. Additionally, it has a great blend of international and Dutch titles.
As of the time of this review, there are 728 Dutch movies and shows available on Video Land. With new movies and series being added on a regular basis, the number is expected to increase. Of these 700+ Dutch movies and series, users will find plenty of their favorite movies and shows, as well as a great selection of Video Land originals.
Video Land offers a large number of international films and series, many of which are popular American and British vehicles that are not typically found on most other Dutch movie streaming sites. This adds to the Video Land library, making it one of the best movie streaming sites in the Netherlands.
Some noteworthy features of Video Land are that members can stream on up to four screens at the same time, and they can download titles and stream offline. Video Land is easily one of the best deals in the world of streaming subscriptions.
Mobile and Desktop Experience
If you are a mobile streamer, I have some good news and some potentially bad news. The good news is that Android users will have no issue taking advantage of the gorgeous and intuitive app that is available on the Google Play Store. As for iOS users, I was unable to find a Video Land app on the Apple App Store. Hopefully this is something that gets addressed ASAP.
There is some cross-platform compatibility with Video Land, though as far as TV and console accessibility is concerned, Video Land can be viewed on Chrome Cast, Apple TV, Ziggo Box, and PlayStation. Perhaps the movie streaming site's one fatal flaw is its relatively short list of compatible devices.
Pricings and Plans
One of the things I appreciate about Video Land is that it offers three subscription tiers - Base, Plus, and Premium. The Base membership is ad-free, while Plus and Premium memberships include ad-supported content. The prices and perks for each membership are as follows:
Base allows you to view one screen at a time, without downloading, and it is not available on all devices.
This Plus plan offers two screens and downloading capability on all compatible devices.
The premium plan offers four screens, downloads, and access to all devices.
Video Land is an affordable movie streaming site that offers users a lot of value for their monthly payment. Additionally, each option includes a 14-day free trial.