Phone and Internet in the Netherlands: SIM Cards, Contracts and Home Internet

1Getting connected in a nutshell

Hands holding a smartphone — A Dutch number makes everything easier, from bank verification to restaurant bookings.

2Mobile: prepaid or contract

	Prepaid	SIM-only contract	Contract with a phone
What you need	Nothing; buy it in a shop or online	Dutch bank account and address, usually	Bank account, address, credit check
Term	None	Usually 1 month, 1 year or 2 years	Usually 2 years
Price per GB	Highest	Low	Low, plus the phone instalments
BKR registration	No	No	Yes, if the phone credit is above the threshold
Good for	The first weeks	Most people	If you want to spread the cost of a phone

The networks

KPN, Odido (formerly T-Mobile) and Vodafone. Coverage is good almost everywhere.

Budget brands

Brands that rent space on those networks, often much cheaper for the same coverage.

Keep your number

You can take your Dutch number to another provider; the new one arranges it.

Roaming

In the EU you call and use data as at home, within a fair-use limit. Outside the EU it can be expensive.

3Contract terms and cancelling

1First period1 or 2 years, fixed
2Continuesautomatically, month to month
3Cancelany time with a month's notice

After the first period you are never locked in again: the contract runs on monthly.

4Home internet

	Fibre (glasvezel)	Cable	DSL
Speed	Fastest, same up and down	Fast down, slower up	Slowest
Availability	Growing quickly, not everywhere	Most homes	Almost everywhere
Installation	Sometimes a technician visit	Often a self-install box	Often a self-install box

1
Check your address
Providers' websites show which connections your postcode and house number have.
2
Order early
As soon as you have signed the rental contract; installation can take a few weeks.
3
Bridge the gap
Use your phone as a hotspot, or a mobile router, until the line is live.
4
Combine or not
Bundles with TV and mobile can be cheaper, but make switching harder.

5Paying less

1
Check what you really use
Your app shows your monthly data. Many people pay for far more than they use, as there is wifi almost everywhere.
2
Go SIM-only
Keeping your phone or buying one outright is usually cheaper over two years than a contract with a phone.
3
Look at budget brands
Same networks, lower prices; the difference is mostly in service and extras.
4
Combine with home internet, or not
A bundle discount can be worth it; check the total, not the discount.
5
Review once a year
Prices for new customers are often lower than for existing ones. Ask your provider, or switch.

6Your connection checklist

Checklist0 of 5 done

Buy a prepaid SIM on arrival
Add your Dutch number to your bank, employer and doctor
Switch to a SIM-only contract once you have a bank account
Check internet options for your address and order
Turn on two-factor login for important accounts with your new number

7Phone and internet questions

Can I use my foreign number here?

Yes, but roaming outside the EU is expensive and many Dutch services (banks, DigiD text messages, delivery companies) work better with a Dutch number.

Do I need a Dutch bank account for a contract?

Usually yes, for the direct debit. Some providers accept other euro accounts.

Is TV included with internet?

Often as a bundle option. Watching Dutch public TV online is possible without a TV subscription.

What if the provider does not deliver what it promised?

You can complain to the provider and then to the Geschillencommissie (disputes committee) for telecom.

Sources

This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.

Telecom (ConsuWijzer, ACM) (in Dutch)

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