Accidentally stuck in a 3-year De Telegraaf subscription — would give it away

Hey everyone,

I’m a student living in the Netherlands and I somehow ended up with a 3-year paid subscription with Mediahuis / De Telegraaf (€22.50 per month).

When I signed up, I thought it was just a short-term or trial offer, but apparently it’s a full 3-year contract that can only be cancelled after the period ends. I even got a message from their collection agency.

I honestly don’t read the paper at all, and as a student it’s getting really hard to pay for something I don’t use.

I already contacted Mediahuis to ask if they could at least let me end it after 1 year, referring to Article 6:236(j) BW (Dutch Civil Code – unreasonable clauses). I also filed a complaint with ACM/ConsuWijzer.

Has anyone here been in the same situation or found a way to negotiate out of this kind of contract?

Any advice or stories would really help 🙏