DreamHost now runs in Europe (Amsterdam). Until now, DreamHost’s infrastructure was anchored in Ashburn, Virginia, and Hillsboro, Oregon.
The addition of Amsterdam changes that, giving EU-based site owners the ability to keep data in the region while still enjoying the same full suite of hosting plans, plus built-in AI business tools and the Liftoff WordPress site builder.
As Patrick Lane, DreamHost’s SVP of Infrastructure, puts it, “With Amsterdam now fully operational, customers worldwide can expect improved performance and greater control over their data.”
This strategic location places servers much closer to users across Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East, reducing latency and delivering faster, more reliable website performance for businesses targeting these regions.
Why the Amsterdam Data Center Changes the Game for EU Websites
With the Amsterdam data center now live, DreamHost has placed high-performance infrastructure right in the heart of northern Europe.
That means if your audience is in Europe, Northern Africa, or the Middle East, the server powering your site is far closer to them. This cuts out hundreds of milliseconds of travel time on every single request.
To see exactly what this looks like in practice, we ran speed tests on a WordPress site hosted in the Amsterdam data center using GTMetrix. We tested it from two locations:
London, UK, close to the server’s location.
Cheyenne, USA, much farther away.
| Test Location | TTFB (Server Response) | Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) | Fully Loaded Time |
| London, UK | 502 ms | 1.4 s | 1.6 s |
| Cheyenne, USA | 833 ms | 2.0 s | 2.4 s |
Even with the exact same website, the London test was ~40% faster to respond and fully load compared to the US test. That’s because visitors in Europe don’t have to wait for their requests to cross the Atlantic and back. The server is already nearby.
Why this matters for your website
A difference of 0.6 seconds in Largest Contentful Paint might not sound huge on paper, but here’s what it means in real-world terms:
- Better user experience: Pages start displaying visibly faster, keeping visitors engaged instead of making them wait.
- Improved SEO: Google’s Core Web Vitals use metrics like LCP to rank sites. Faster LCP scores in your target region can give you an edge over competitors hosted farther away.
- Higher conversions: Every extra second of load time can lower conversion rates. Mobile-specific data shows that more than half (53%) of mobile visitors leave if loading exceeds 3 seconds. Faster sites reduce drop-offs at checkout or signup.
Not just for new customers
If you’re already a DreamHost customer but your audience is mostly in Europe, you’re not missing out. You can benefit from this right now.
- DreamHost’s support team can migrate your site from a US-based data center to Amsterdam on request.
- You’ll get the same hosting plan and features, just with the advantage of faster, more region-appropriate hosting.
How DreamHost EU Infrastructure and Compliance Add Even More Value
Speed is only part of what makes the Amsterdam data center a game changer. The performance gains we saw in the tests are amplified by the technology and infrastructure behind it.
Hosting in the EU also solves critical compliance and data protection challenges for many businesses.
1. CDN-Powered Performance Across the Region
The Amsterdam facility works hand in hand with DreamHost’s global Content Delivery Network (CDN). Static files like images, CSS, and JavaScript are cached at multiple edge locations around the world, then delivered from the one closest to the visitor.
- If someone visits your site from Southern Europe, Northern Africa, or the Middle East, the CDN serves most of the page from a nearby edge node, while dynamic content comes directly from Amsterdam.
- This keeps site speeds consistently high, even for visitors not physically close to the Netherlands.
2. Enterprise-Grade Infrastructure for Reliability
Behind the speed is a data center designed for stability:
- Advanced server hardware for processing requests quickly and handling higher traffic loads.
- Redundant power and cooling systems to keep sites online in all conditions.
- Enterprise-grade security to protect your data from both physical and digital threats.
This means the faster speeds you get from the Amsterdam location aren’t a short-term boost. They’re backed by a system built for 24/7 performance.
3. Hosting in the EU for GDPR Compliance and Data Protection
For businesses serving EU customers, where your data is stored matters as much as how fast it loads. Hosting in Amsterdam means:
- Your customer data stays within the EU, under GDPR’s strict privacy and protection laws.
- You meet potential data residency requirements from clients or industries that demand regional hosting.
- You give your audience confidence that their information is being handled according to European standards.
3. Local Payments, Euro Pricing, and Transparent VAT for European Customers
While the Amsterdam data center offers clear technical advantages, it also provides practical benefits that simplify day-to-day hosting management for European customers.
One of the biggest changes is the ability to pay in euros. Instead of converting from USD and dealing with fluctuating exchange rates or extra bank fees, prices are shown in euros at checkout so you know exactly what you’re paying.
For small businesses and agencies, that clarity makes budgeting far simpler.
VAT compliance is also built into the process. DreamHost’s EU setup ensures:
- VAT is calculated automatically based on your country.
- Your VAT ID can be stored in your account for proper invoicing.
- Invoices are compliant with EU accounting standards, saving you time during tax reporting.
Launch a WordPress Site in Minutes with Liftoff and AI Tools
With faster hosting in Europe, simpler billing, and GDPR-compliant infrastructure in place, the next question is: what can you actually build on top of it?
DreamHost’s Liftoff Website Builder takes that strong foundation and turns it into a live, personalized WordPress site in minutes. No coding is required.
Instead of juggling complex installations and theme setups, you simply:
- Open DreamHost’s WordPress Install Assistant
- Choose Liftoff, answer a few quick questions about your site
- Let the AI do the heavy lifting
In under a minute, Liftoff creates a ready-to-go WordPress website tailored to your answers, complete with design, structure, and placeholder content. From there, you can customize every detail, swap layouts from the design library, add your own images and text, or use the built-in AI Content Creator to write copy and generate visuals directly inside the WordPress editor.
Liftoff also includes a smart task assistant in your WordPress dashboard to guide you through what to do next, a built-in analytics panel so you can see how your site is performing, and an AI-powered help center for quick answers without leaving your site.
How to Get Started with DreamHost in Europe Today
Getting set up on DreamHost’s Amsterdam data center is simple, and you can do it right at signup.
At the final step of signup, the Checkout page, you’ll see a “Preferred Data Center Location” dropdown. This is where you choose the physical location of the server that will host your site. The options include:
- US – East (Ashburn, Virginia)
- US – West (Hillsboro, Oregon)
- EU – West (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Selecting EU – West (Amsterdam, Netherlands) ensures your site is provisioned on DreamHost’s European servers from the start. You immediately benefit from lower latency, faster load times, GDPR compliance, and all the infrastructure advantages we’ve covered earlier.
From there, you can also check the Liftoff Website Builder option (free with hosting) to launch your WordPress site in under a minute using AI-powered setup. If you plan to run an online store, you can tick Install WooCommerce to have it ready to go as soon as your site is live.
For existing customers who want to move to the Amsterdam data center, you can contact DreamHost’s support team to request a migration. Self-service migration tools are in development to make this process even easier in the future.
FAQ
Can I choose the Amsterdam server location during signup?
Yes. At the final step of signup, the Checkout page, you’ll see a “Preferred Data Center Location” dropdown. Select EU – West (Amsterdam, Netherlands) to have your site hosted in DreamHost’s European facility from day one.
How do euro prices compare to USD plans?
DreamHost’s euro prices are aligned with their USD plans, but you avoid currency conversion fees and exchange rate fluctuations. Prices are shown in euros at checkout, with VAT calculated automatically based on your location.
Does DreamHost support free migrations for EU users?
Yes. If you’re moving to DreamPress, DreamHost offers free priority site migration. For other hosting plans, the support team can assist with migrations to the Amsterdam data center, and self-service migration tools are being developed.
Are AI tools available with all plans?
Yes. The Liftoff AI-powered WordPress builder and built-in AI content tools are included with Shared Hosting, VPS, and DreamPress plans at no extra cost.
Which EU domains are currently on sale?
DreamHost regularly runs promotions on EU country-code domains like .de, .es, .eu, .uk, .co.uk, and others. Visit the domain pricing page during signup to see the latest deals, as sales change over time.
