Hyves is back: Dutch social network makes its comeback
Exactly 22 years after it was founded, Hyves is returning as a social network centred around connecting with people you know personally. At Hyves, clarity, sociability and space for genuine interaction form the foundation. Rather than an endless stream of content, it offers an environment where users decide for themselves what matters.
The timing of the relaunch was a deliberate choice. Research conducted by Newcom among more than 2,000 people in the Netherlands in April 2026 showed strong demand for the return of Hyves. Almost 60% of respondents said they would probably or definitely try Hyves. Frequently cited reasons included nostalgia, personal connection, fewer algorithms, clarity and simplicity. That’s why Hyves is choosing not to use addictive algorithms or endless scrolling.
The principle is simple: a social network should above all be social. Less noise, more clarity and more space to connect with the people who matter to users. And Hyves’ nostalgic features are returning too: krabbels, glitter images, GIFs and dancing bananas.
Over the past three days, Hyves has been hard to miss in the Netherlands. A guerrilla marketing campaign featuring the distinctive dancing banana announced its return on the streets. On Monday morning, all Chiquita bananas in Albert Heijn stores in major cities were transformed into Hyves bananas for the occasion.
A new Hyves, built for today – and far from finished
The new Hyves was developed together with Apadmi, the partner that built the app and website. The platform has been built on a European technical architecture, with hosting in Europe and no user data shared with third parties.
What’s launching today is just the beginning. This first version lays the foundation for a platform that will continue to evolve and develop over time.
Hyves won’t be developed behind closed doors. Users will play an active role, with the team asking for feedback, listening, testing and adapting along the way. Future features, improvements and ideas will be developed together with the community. Users will also continue to have control over how they personalise their own profiles, bringing the familiar feel of Hyves into a new environment.
While nostalgia is an important reason for many former Hyves users to return, the new Hyves is explicitly not aimed only at people who knew the original platform.
“A different kind of social media”
“We can see there is strong demand for a different kind of social media. For many of us, Hyves brings a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, but we also hear that younger people in particular want more calm online, fewer intrusive ads, no addictive algorithms and no endless scrolling.
I’m incredibly proud of the team that has brought Hyves back to life. We’ve responded to the desire for greater clarity and genuine personal connection. That also gives us confidence that this celebration of familiarity has a great deal to offer for the future.”
– Riske Betten, Managing Director Hyves
From followers to friends
Hyves’ central promise is simple: Good vibes. No hassle. Just connecting with people you know.
That positioning builds on the strong connection people still have with the Hyves brand. Former users associate the platform with a sense of community, personality, friendship and nostalgia.
Back to Hyves, together
The launch was made possible by a number of launch partners, including Albert Heijn, Bol, Corendon, and Chiquita.