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Facebook Ads CPC Benchmarks for Entertainment in Netherlands

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CPC (Cost Per Click) for Entertainment in Netherlands

January 2025 - January 2026

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

Entertainment advertisers in the Netherlands saw a year defined by an unusually low-cost first three quarters and a dramatic Q4 reset. Compared to the global Facebook Ads benchmarks, Dutch CPCs were consistently lower for most of 2025, before surging to parity and slightly above in November and December. The pattern is seasonal, but the amplitude is striking: a deep midsummer trough, a steady rebuild into early fall, and a sharp cost lift in late Q4.

This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks. This analysis explores ad performance trends for Entertainment in the Netherlands compared to the global benchmark.

The story in the data

  • Starting the year at 0.38 in January, Entertainment CPC in the Netherlands ended at 1.17 in December, a +205% rise.
  • The annual average landed at 0.48, far below the global 2025 average of 1.13.
  • Highs and lows: a July low of 0.06 contrasted with a November high of 1.32 — a swing of over 20x. December remained elevated at 1.17.
  • Monthly momentum favored late-year increases: CPC climbed in seven of eleven transitions, including a four‑month run from August to November. The sharpest jump came in November (+0.79 vs. October); the steepest drop came in July (−0.29 vs. June).
  • Volatility averaged 0.20 points month to month, over three times the global benchmark’s 0.06, signaling a much choppier year in the Netherlands.

By half-year, H1 averaged 0.34 while H2 averaged 0.62 — an 85% step-up. Even so, H2’s higher costs were still below the global yearly average, with the exception of late Q4.

Seasonal and monthly dynamics

The rhythm followed a classic entertainment pattern, but with exaggerated lows and highs:

  • Q1–Q2 held steady at modest levels (Q1 average 0.35; Q2 average 0.33).
  • Q3 softened further, bottoming in July at 0.06, then recovering through August (0.21) and September (0.47). Q3 averaged 0.25.
  • Q4 brought the reset: October at 0.52, a November spike to 1.32, and December easing to 1.17. Q4 averaged 1.00 — roughly quadruple Q3.

Globally, CPC patterns were more muted: a gentle drift around 1.10–1.15 for most months, a November spike (1.32), and a December reset (1.05). The Netherlands mirrored that shape but with deeper early-year discounts and a steeper holiday lift.

Country vs. Global

  • On average, Entertainment CPC in the Netherlands was about 58% below the global benchmark in 2025 (0.48 vs. 1.13).
  • The gap was widest in July, when the Netherlands trailed the global level by roughly 95% (0.06 vs. 1.10).
  • The gap narrowed through fall: 57% below in September and 53% below in October.
  • Late Q4 flipped the relationship: November effectively matched the global benchmark (1.32 vs. 1.32), and December finished 11% above global (1.17 vs. 1.05).
  • Trajectory diverged as well: the global line inched down slightly from January to December (−6%), while the Netherlands surged (+205%), making the local trend more volatile and momentum‑driven than the market at large.

Closing

In sum, Facebook Ads benchmarks for CPC in the Entertainment industry show the Netherlands running well below global country-specific ad costs for most of the year, then converging — and briefly exceeding — the market during peak Q4. Understanding CPC trends and industry ad performance for Entertainment in the Netherlands helps teams contextualize cost dynamics against the steadier global pattern.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Cost Per Click (CPC) is the amount advertisers pay each time a user clicks on their Facebook ad. In the Entertainment industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting Netherlands, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

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The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

Netherlands Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 20Easter Sunday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 26King's Day
May 5Liberation Day
May 29Ascension Day
Jun 8Pentecost Sunday
Jun 9Pentecost Monday
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas and Boxing Day sales), Spring holidays (April–June tourism)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during spring holiday cluster when travel and leisure ads see elevated engagement. Liberation Day (May 5) is mandatory national holiday—ad inventory might shrink. Ad competition increases in late December for holiday promotions. Few summer holidays mean more consistent campaign performance through summer.

What exactly is CPC in Facebook Ads?

CPC (Cost Per Click) is what you pay each time someone clicks on your ad, on any Facebook Ads placement. It's calculated by dividing your total spend by the number of clicks received. Facebook Ads lists Clicks, Link Clicks and Outbound Clicks separately. The former is the sum of all types of clicks (including, for example, clicks to your profile page, to a link or to a comment).

What's considered a good CPC for Facebook ads in 2025?

The truth is that varies, so play with our tool to get some benchmarks that are relevant to you. CPC values are highly dependent on the region, industry and campaign objective. The US is one of the most expensive markets.

What influences cost per click on Facebook?

Several factors affect CPC: your audience targeting, competition in your industry, ad relevance score, and creative performance. If your ad isn't getting engagement or relevance is low, CPC tends to spike.

Why is my Facebook ad CPC suddenly increasing?

CPC spikes usually happen because of increased competition in your target audience, seasonal trends (like holidays), poor ad relevance scores, or algorithm changes. Check if your audience targeting has become too narrow or if your creative is showing fatigue.

Do desktop and mobile Facebook ads have different CPCs?

Yes, there's a noticeable difference between platforms. Mobile CPCs often run lower than desktop. How many times do check Instagram on your phone and how often do you open it in your computer? There's simply much more mobile inventory. Tip: segment your performance data by placement to understand where your clicks are coming from. Spoiler: it's likely all mobile.

Should I optimize my campaigns for CPC or conversions?

For most businesses, optimizing for conversions will deliver much better ROI than focusing purely on CPC. A low CPC is meaningless if those clicks don't convert. However, if you're running awareness campaigns or some kind content promotion, CPC optimization might potentially make sense, although most experts have switched to conversion optimization by now.

Why do my CPC benchmarks differ from published industry averages?

Your specific audience targeting, creative quality, bidding strategy, and account history all influence your CPC. Industry averages provide a reference point, but your historical performance is a more reliable benchmark for setting expectations and measuring improvement.

Are CPCs cheaper on Instagram or Facebook?

Instagram CPCs are generally slightly higher due to stronger purchase intent and higher competition among advertisers. But it depends on the audience and creative.