Cookie Policy — Helder’s Spectrum
Cookie Policy
Last updated: July 2025
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how Helder’s Spectrum (operated by Helder’s Spectrum BV) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our blog, and what choices you have. This policy complies with the EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC as amended by 2009/136/EC) and the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet or smartphone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to remember your preferences and to provide information to the owners of the site. Cookies can be first-party cookies (set by the website you are visiting) or third-party cookies (set by a domain other than the one you are visiting). In addition to cookies, we may use similar technologies such as pixels, local storage and web beacons, all of which are covered by this policy.
Cookies can be session cookies, which are deleted when you close your browser, or persistent cookies, which remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them manually.
2. How We Use Cookies and Our Consent Mechanism
When you first visit Helder’s Spectrum, you are presented with a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept or decline different categories of cookies. We use Google Consent Mode v2 to manage how Google tags behave based on the consent status you choose. This means that no analytics or marketing cookies are placed unless you have given your explicit, informed consent. Consent Mode v2 transmits two specific signals — ad_storage and analytics_storage — to Google services, ensuring that data collection only occurs when you have opted in.
Your consent preferences are stored in a dedicated cookie on your device so that the site remembers your choice on subsequent visits.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
a) Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the operation of our website. They include session cookies, security cookies and the cookie that stores your consent preferences. Because they are strictly necessary, they do not require your consent under the ePrivacy Directive. Without these cookies, our site cannot function properly.
b) Analytics Cookies
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors interact with our blog. Analytics cookies collect information such as the number of visitors, the pages visited, the traffic source, session duration and bounce rate. Data is aggregated and anonymised where possible. Our GA4 measurement ID is configured in accordance with Google’s data processing terms. We have set the data retention period to 14 months, after which user-level and event-level data is automatically deleted. IP anonymisation is enabled by default in GA4.
c) Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites and display relevant advertisements. We use Google Ads remarketing and conversion tracking to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and to show personalised ads to users who have previously visited our site. These cookies are only activated when you give your explicit consent via our cookie banner.
4. Cookie Inventory
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Type | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cookie_consent_status | Helder’s Spectrum | Stores your cookie consent preferences (necessary, analytics, marketing) | Strictly Necessary / First-party | 12 months |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier | Analytics / First-party | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users for the current day to throttle request rate | Analytics / First-party | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Throttles request rate to limit data collection on high-traffic sites | Analytics / First-party | 1 minute |
| _gcl_au | Google Ads | Used by Google AdSense to store and track conversions | Marketing / First-party | 90 days |
| _fbp | Meta (Facebook) | Used by Facebook to deliver advertisements and to track conversions from Facebook ads (if applicable) | Marketing / Third-party | 3 months |
| IDE | Google DoubleClick | Used by Google DoubleClick to register and report user actions for ad targeting and remarketing | Marketing / Third-party | 13 months |
| test_cookie | Google DoubleClick | Checks whether the user’s browser supports cookies | Strictly Necessary / Third-party | 15 minutes |
5. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies are placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. We do not control these cookies. The main third-party providers are:
- Google LLC — Google Analytics, Google Ads, DoubleClick. Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
- Meta Platforms, Inc. — Facebook Pixel (if applicable). Meta’s privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/
If we embed content from other platforms (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, or social media widgets), those providers may set their own cookies. We recommend reviewing the cookie and privacy policies of any embedded third-party service.
6. How to Manage Cookies
Our Consent Banner
When you arrive on our site, you can choose between three categories via our consent banner:
- Necessary — always active, cannot be disabled
- Analytics — opt-in required
- Marketing — opt-in required
Browser Settings
You can also control cookies through your browser settings:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies
Additional Opt-Out Tools
- Google Ads Settings: https://adssettings.google.com — manage your ad personalisation preferences.
- Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout — prevents Google Analytics JavaScript from sharing visit activity data.
7. Consent Withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. To change your cookie preferences, simply click the “Cookie Settings” link located in the footer of every page on Helder’s Spectrum. This will re-open the consent banner, allowing you to update your choices. Your new preferences will take effect immediately. Previously collected data based on valid consent remains lawfully processed unless you request its deletion.
8. Impact of Disabling Cookies
If you choose to disable or reject certain cookies, please be aware that:
- Strictly necessary cookies: Blocking these may prevent the website from functioning correctly.
- Analytics cookies: Disabling these means we cannot analyse site performance or improve your experience based on usage data.
- Marketing cookies: Disabling these means you may still see advertisements, but they will not be tailored to your interests, and we will be unable to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns.
Disabling cookies does not prevent you from accessing the content on Helder’s Spectrum.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation or our data practices. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you via our consent banner or a prominent notice on the blog. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
10. Contact
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or about how we use cookies, please contact us:
- Company: Helder’s Spectrum BV
- Address: Meir 58, 3824 Antwerpen, België
- VAT: BE0644050643
- Registered at: KBO/BCE under number 0098.511.359
- Phone: +32 7 245 87 43
- Email: [email protected]
- Data Protection Officer: [email protected]
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Belgian Data Protection Authority (Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit / Autorité de protection des données): www.dataprotectionauthority.be.