Hyves returns to Dutch screens after 13 years

Hyves, once the largest social network in the Netherlands, has returned 13 years after shutting down its core platform.

Publisher Mediahuis Nederland has revived the site, bringing back familiar features such as profile customizing, animated emoticons and leaving public scrap messages on user profiles.

The revived service is not yet fully featured. Users cannot share photos or videos, private messaging is not available, and topic forums have not yet been introduced.

A Dutch challenger revived

Founded over two decades ago by a group of friends, Hyves initially held off international competition in the Netherlands. In 2010, it had more than 7.6 million visitors compared to Facebook’s 4.3 million.

Less than a year later, users shifted en masse to Facebook, leading Hyves to shut down as a social network in 2013 and transition into a gaming portal.

Hyves director Riske Betten said the revival addresses an appetite for quieter digital spaces without intrusive advertisements or addictive scrolling mechanisms.

Mediahuis built the new platform with a European partner to keep data hosting inside Europe and prevent user information from being shared with third parties. Further features are expected to roll out over time.

Source: NOS