Directus
✓ Verified by EU AltsOpen-source data platform and headless CMS that wraps any SQL database — a Dutch alternative to Strapi.
Overview
Directus builds cms, developer tools, and open source software since 2012 and is listed with a Amsterdam, Netherlands base. Its EU presence does not change its ownership: EU Alts has verified that Directus is owned by Monospace Inc. (Delaware-incorporated US company; Brooklyn, NY / Stamford, CT) (United States), and hosts customer data with Google Cloud Platform (per third-party source; Directus's own docs list only region names, not the vendor) in Multi-region incl. EU (e.g. europe-west/Frankfurt) but underlying cloud vendor is US-owned, so it may still fall under the reach of the US CLOUD Act — worth weighing against WordPress / WP Engine on this specific point.
Why European teams pick Directus
Teams in Europe still consider Directus for its cms product and Netherlands presence, operating since 2012, but unlike a fully EU-owned provider, Directus is owned by Monospace Inc. (Delaware-incorporated US company; Brooklyn, NY / Stamford, CT) (United States), and hosts customer data with Google Cloud Platform (per third-party source; Directus's own docs list only region names, not the vendor) in Multi-region incl. EU (e.g. europe-west/Frankfurt) but underlying cloud vendor is US-owned — so it does not fully avoid US CLOUD Act exposure the way some other alternatives to WordPress / WP Engine do.
See more EU cms tools or browse other startups from Netherlands.
About
Directus is a Netherlands-based open-source data platform and headless CMS that wraps any SQL database — PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MariaDB, SQL Server — with a real-time API and a no-code data management interface. Unlike traditional CMSs, Directus does not impose a content schema — it works with your existing database structure. It is fully self-hostable under the BSL 1.1 licence and can be deployed on any EU server. Directus Cloud is also available. Because it connects directly to your existing database, all content data stays wherever your database is hosted. It is popular among EU development teams and enterprises that need an admin panel and API layer for their existing PostgreSQL or MySQL databases without migrating to a proprietary CMS data model.
Details
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Ownership
- Owned by Monospace Inc. (Delaware-incorporated US company; Brooklyn, NY / Stamford, CT) (United States)
- Hosting
- Google Cloud Platform (per third-party source; Directus's own docs list only region names, not the vendor), Multi-region incl. EU (e.g. europe-west/Frankfurt) but underlying cloud vendor is US-owned
- CLOUD Act
- Exposed
- Verified
- 2026-07-31
- Last checked
- 2026-07-31
- Company size
- 51–200 employees
Categories
Compare with the US product you may be replacing
Directus is listed in a category that our US-product comparison pages cover. See every EU option side by side:
Also from Netherlands
2 other listed companies are based in Netherlands. In the same categories as Directus:
Other EU startups like Directus
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- Budibase ✓ Verified by EU AltsUnited Kingdom — Open-source low-code platform for building internal tools — a UK alternative to Retool.
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- Hygraph ✓ Verified by EU AltsGermany — GraphQL-native headless CMS — a German alternative to Contentful.
Frequently asked questions
What does Directus do?
Directus is open-source data platform and headless cms that wraps any sql database — a dutch alternative to strapi. It is listed under cms, developer tools, and open source on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European cms tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from WordPress / WP Engine.
Is Directus GDPR compliant?
Directus is listed with a Amsterdam, Netherlands base, but its recorded ownership is based in United States, so EU jurisdiction is not assumed. However, EU Alts has verified that Directus is owned by Monospace Inc. (Delaware-incorporated US company; Brooklyn, NY / Stamford, CT) (United States), and hosts customer data with Google Cloud Platform (per third-party source; Directus's own docs list only region names, not the vendor) in Multi-region incl. EU (e.g. europe-west/Frankfurt) but underlying cloud vendor is US-owned, which means — unlike a fully EU-owned provider — it may still be reachable under the US CLOUD Act, similar to WordPress / WP Engine in that respect.
How do teams switch from WordPress / WP Engine to Directus?
Teams evaluating a move from WordPress / WP Engine to Directus should note: Directus is owned by Monospace Inc. (Delaware-incorporated US company; Brooklyn, NY / Stamford, CT) (United States), and hosts customer data with Google Cloud Platform (per third-party source; Directus's own docs list only region names, not the vendor) in Multi-region incl. EU (e.g. europe-west/Frankfurt) but underlying cloud vendor is US-owned, so this switch narrows but may not fully close the US CLOUD Act gap. Weigh that against the cms workflow fit before treating it as a complete Schrems II fix.
Where is Directus based?
Directus is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company was founded in 2012. Its main website is https://directus.io.