Register No. 109
Is Startpage European?
Not by control. Startpage is widely held, with no shareholder in control.
Startpage's Dutch operating company has been wholly owned by System1 since 2018. System1 is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and no shareholder holds a majority of its votes: the largest, a vehicle run by its co-founder and chief executive Michael Blend, had 23.5 percent in June 2026. Other Blend family holders and managers own further large stakes, but the filings show no agreement that ties their votes together. Startpage says contracts keep privacy decisions with its Dutch team, but the company belongs to an American parent without a controlling shareholder, so it is not counted as European.
Latest
Nothing new on file since the check on 2 November 2026. Seen news about Startpage? Send it with a source.
- Controlled by
- System1, Inc. shareholders; no disclosed controlling shareholder
- Legal entity
- Surfboard Holding B.V.
- Company register
- KvK (Dutch Chamber of Commerce) · 34111280
- Seat
The Hague, Netherlands- Founded
- 2006
- Last checked
About Startpage
Startpage is a search engine that sends queries to Google and Bing on the user's behalf, without passing on the user's IP address, and shows results that are not based on a personal profile. It is run from The Hague by Surfboard Holding B.V. and says it launched in 2006. Since the end of 2018 it has belonged to System1, an American online marketing company listed in New York.
Ownership
Surfboard Holding B.V. in The Hague (KvK 34111280) owns and operates Startpage. A System1 subsidiary bought all of its shares, together with its subsidiary Startpage B.V., on 31 December 2018, and System1, Inc., listed on the New York Stock Exchange, still lists it as a subsidiary in its 2025 annual report. System1's largest holder in June 2026 was Kenloch Holdings, a vehicle managed by co-founder, chief executive and chairman Michael Blend that bought Cannae Holdings' stake in December 2025, with 23.5 percent of the votes; no shareholder or disclosed group holds a majority.
Evidence 12
- Startpage Impressum: Surfboard Holding B.V., The Hague, KvK 34111280, managing director Robert E.G. Beenssupport.startpage.com ↗
- Startpage privacy policy: Startpage is owned and operated by Surfboard Holding BV, The Haguestartpage.com ↗
- System1 registration statement (Form S-1, February 2022): purchase of 100 percent of Surfboard Holding and Startpage B.V. on 31 December 2018sec.gov ↗
- System1 2025 annual report (Form 10-K), exhibit 21.1: Surfboard Holding B.V. listed as a subsidiary of System1, Inc.sec.gov ↗
- System1 2025 annual report (Form 10-K): System1 owns and operates Startpage.com; data center space in the Netherlandssec.gov ↗
- System1 2026 proxy statement: beneficial ownership and voting power at 18 June 2026, Series A preferred stock termssec.gov ↗
- System1 Form 8-K, 3 December 2025: Cannae Holdings sells its 2,344,482 shares to Kenloch Holdings, managed by Michael Blendsec.gov ↗
- System1 Form 8-K, 24 July 2026: Series A preferred stock issued to former lenders, who elect one directorsec.gov ↗
- Startpage support: part of System1 since December 2018, revenue consolidated in System1's accountssupport.startpage.com ↗
- Startpage support: server locations in the US and the EUsupport.startpage.com ↗
- Startpage support: queries are sent to Google and Bing on the user's behalfsupport.startpage.com ↗
- Startpage support: Ad-Free subscription, monthly or yearly, in selected regionssupport.startpage.com ↗
Sources were opened and read on the date of the check. Registers and websites change; if one of these no longer says what we cite it for, tell us.
Product
Startpage
startpage.com ↗Private search with Google and Bing results, run from the Netherlands
The service is run from The Hague by a Dutch company, but that company has belonged to the US-listed System1 group since 2018, so it is not counted as European here, and the results themselves come from the two large American search providers. It suits people who want familiar search results without being tracked.
- Instead of
- Google Search and Bing
- Pricing
- Searching is free and paid for by ads based only on the search term. A paid Ad-Free subscription with monthly or yearly plans is being introduced in selected regions; Startpage's help page gives no price.
- Suits
- People who want Google and Bing results without tracking
Free plan