What is the cheapest internet for students in the Netherlands?

The internet that comes with your room, if it does. For your own contract, DSL has the lowest median price (€23.50 a month in year one), but fibre or cable split between housemates is usually better value.

What is the cheapest SIM-only plan for students?

Budget brands start around €7 to €9 a month for minutes and texts, with data added separately. A 12-month contract is cheaper per month than a monthly one.

Can international students get a Dutch phone contract?

Yes, usually with a Dutch address, ID and a euro bank account. Telecom providers may not use your BSN. Prepaid needs no contract at all.

Is internet included in Dutch student housing?

Often, especially in student complexes. Check your rental contract or ask the landlord before ordering your own.

Cheapest internet and mobile for students in the Netherlands

Many students don't need their own internet contract: student rooms often come with internet. For your phone, a SIM-only plan starts around €7 to €9 a month plus data. If you do need home internet, DSL is cheapest (median €23.50) but slow; fibre and cable cost around €34 to €36 a month in year one.

Short answer

As of 29 September 2026: the cheapest set-up for most students is the internet that comes with your room (often included in the rent or service costs) plus a SIM-only plan. Simyo's English site, for example, lists 400 minutes/texts for €7 a month on a 12-month contract or €8 on a monthly contract, with data from €0.50 to €9 extra depending on the bundle (Simyo). If you rent a studio or share a house and need your own connection, the median price for internet only in the first year is €23.50 on DSL, €34.03 on cable and €35.58 on fibre (Kiesbeter Internet Price Index). Split between housemates, fast fibre or cable is usually better value than DSL.

Do you need your own internet as a student?

Often not in a student room, usually yes in a studio or shared house. Many student housing providers include internet; check your rental contract or ask the landlord. Dutch rules on service costs are being modernised, with a new law taking effect on 1 January 2027 (Aedes).

Your housing	Typical internet set-up	Monthly cost to you
Room in a student complex	Internet often included by landlord	Included in rent or service costs
Room in a shared house	One contract, split between housemates	Price ÷ number of housemates
Studio or own flat	Own contract	Median €23.50 (DSL) to €35.58 (fibre)
Short stay (one semester)	Monthly contract or SIM with lots of data	Depends on data bundle

More options: internet in a student room (in Dutch). Ordering your own? Follow how to get internet in the Netherlands.

What is the cheapest mobile plan for students?

A SIM-only plan from a budget brand, on a contract length that matches your stay. Prepaid is fine for the first weeks. For a whole study year, a 12-month SIM-only plan is usually cheaper per month; if you are here for one semester, a monthly plan avoids paying for months you are gone.

Choose the network first: KPN, Odido or Vodafone, then the cheapest brand on it. Simyo runs on KPN's network (Simyo).
Don't overbuy data: with Wi-Fi at home and on campus, a mid-sized bundle is often enough. Check your current usage in your phone settings.
Going home for the holidays within the EU? Your bundle works there at no extra cost; see roaming with a Dutch plan.
Skip a phone contract if you don't need one: a phone on instalments with more than €250 of device credit is registered with the BKR (BKR).

What you need to sign up is in getting a Dutch SIM card. Compare plans by data bundle on SIM-only comparison.

How do you choose internet for a shared student house?

Check the address on our internet comparison to see fibre, cable or DSL.
Pick the speed for the whole house: with several people streaming and gaming in the evening, a faster connection avoids slowdowns. Our speed advice tool works it out.
Match the contract to your lease: a 1-year contract is cheaper per month, but someone stays responsible for it. After the initial term, any Dutch telecom contract can be cancelled with at most one month's notice (ACM ConsuWijzer).
Put the contract in one name and agree in writing how you split the bill and who takes over when that person moves out.

When the contract holder moves out

The contract is personal. If the holder leaves, either another housemate takes it over (ask the provider whether that's possible) or the holder cancels. Agree this at the start to avoid a surprise bill. See how to cancel a Dutch contract for the rules.

Do international students need Dutch health insurance?

In some cases, such as when you take a paid job or internship. Students who only study may be covered by insurance from home; once you work, you generally need Dutch basic insurance (Government.nl, Radboud University). See Dutch health insurance basics.

What happens to your contracts when your studies end?

You cancel them, and moving abroad usually lets you end them early. After the initial term you can cancel any Dutch telecom contract with at most one month's notice. If you leave during the initial term, KPN, for example, accepts a municipal deregistration, a job contract abroad or a statement from a foreign educational institution as proof, and a phone on instalments must be paid off first (KPN). An English template letter is in how to cancel a Dutch contract. Want to keep your Dutch number for a while without a subscription? One option is to port it to a prepaid SIM before you leave.