Knowledge base
SIM-only & mobile
Data, coverage, eSIM and calling abroad without surprises. 6 guides.
All guides 6
Cheapest SIM-only deals in the Netherlands: how to compareThe cheapest Dutch SIM-only plan is the one that matches your data use on a network that works where you are. Compare the price per month over the whole term, the network (KPN, Odido or Vodafone), contract length, roaming in the UK and Switzerland, speed caps and the annual price increase. Example: Simyo on KPN from €6 a month for 400 minutes.7 min lezen
Dutch mobile number and eSIM for newcomers: keeping your home number with dual SIMYou can't move a foreign number to a Dutch provider, but you can keep it: put your home SIM and a Dutch SIM or eSIM in one dual-SIM phone. KPN, Vodafone, Odido and many budget brands offer eSIM at no extra cost on a new plan. What permanent EU roaming allows, when you need a Dutch 06 number and how to set it up.7 min lezen
Mobile coverage and 5G in the Netherlands: KPN, Odido and Vodafone comparedThe Netherlands has three mobile networks (KPN, Odido and Vodafone) and all three score among Europe's best: 988, 987 and 972 out of 1,000 in the umlaut/connect test of early 2026. 5G is available almost everywhere; each operator won 100 MHz of 3.5 GHz spectrum in 2024. Budget brands use one of these networks. What that means for choosing a plan, and the 2G/3G switch-off dates.7 min lezen
Credit checks for a Dutch phone contract: BKR and Preventel explainedA SIM-only plan normally involves only a check against Preventel, the telecom register of unpaid bills. A phone on instalments with €250 or more of device credit is also checked and registered with the BKR, plus an income and expenses test. Newcomers without Dutch ID or history may have to pay for the phone upfront. How both registers work and what to do if you are refused.7 min lezen
Roaming with a Dutch mobile plan: EU, UK, Switzerland and calling homeWith a Dutch plan you use your bundle at no extra cost in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and, since 1 January 2026, Ukraine and Moldova. The UK and Switzerland are not covered by EU law; whether they're included depends on your provider. Calls from the Netherlands to other EU countries are capped at €0.19 a minute.6 min lezen
Getting a Dutch SIM card as an expat: prepaid or SIM-only?Start with a prepaid SIM on arrival (supermarket or phone shop, no contract), then switch to a monthly SIM-only plan once you have a Dutch address and a euro bank account. SIM-only plans start at around €7 to €9 a month plus data. A phone on instalments with more than €250 of device credit is registered with the BKR credit agency.7 min lezen