Traditionally a politically neutral, non-confessional, business-oriented newspaper for the higher educated, it has followed its main competitor, de Volkskrant, in a more opinionated, human interest oriented approach. The paper is now less dull, at the expense of a flood of columnists who mostly write indigestible garbage, and awkward, sometimes outright painful attempts to cover lifestyle in a way that suits its conservative readership.

It has limited, but excellent coverage of Internet issues.