What are cookies and what do they do?

A cookie is a simple small file that is sent with pages of a website and stored on your computer's hard drive by the browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Etc). Information is stored in these files and sent back to the server the next time you visit the website. Cookies do not damage your computer.

Types of cookies

Cookies can have different functions. Based on these functions, cookies can be divided into four categories: functional cookies, analytical cookies, performance cookies and profiling cookies. See the table below for an explanation of the different cookies.

Functional cookies
These are cookies that are required for the proper functioning of the website. For example, these cookies are used to ensure that you can put products in a shopping cart in a webshop or that personal settings are saved. Without these cookies the website will not work properly.

Analytical cookies
These are cookies that are used to improve the website by looking at visitor statistics. Think for example of the duration of use. Based on this data, it can be concluded whether the website matches the visitor's expectations.

Performance cookies
These cookies keep data on whether or not user goals are achieved on the website. This data is combined with data from a page you have visited before, since the party behind this cookie receives a small compensation if they have forwarded you. These cookies are very rare.

Advertising cookies
Advertising cookies are used to show visitors on (social) platforms and other sites the relevant ads. The aim is to display ads that are individual and as relevant as possible. In this way, we can design our advertising and marketing as efficiently as possible and provide the best experience for users.

In addition to the different types of cookies, cookies may be set by different parties. To be transparent about who places the cookies, this has been given a name. The so-called first-party, second-party and third-party cookies. Read below to find out exactly what this means.

First-party
The cookies are set by the owner of this website.

Second-party
Second-party cookies are similar to first-party cookies, except that the data is shared with a second party with whom a processing agreement is in place. You will not notice anything else about this.

Third-party
Cookies that are placed by a company that is not directly involved with the website. For example, Facebook makes it possible for you to easily share articles.