SIM Card Guides

How to buy a Netherlands SIM card in 2025

A local Netherlands SIM card is one way to get reliable mobile data. Discover various options, prices, tourist requirements, and a digital travel solution.

Whether exploring Amsterdam’s canals, visiting for business purposes, or simply navigating everyday errands, staying connected in the Netherlands is crucial. A Netherlands SIM card is one of the many ways you can get reliable mobile data and enjoy local rates.

This Netherlands SIM card guide includes everything you need to know: best Dutch SIM card options (local and third-party), prices and packages, tourist requirements, and a digital alternative like a travel eSIM.

In this article

Can foreigners buy SIM cards in the Netherlands?

Yes, foreigners and tourists can buy prepaid physical SIM cards for the Netherlands. There are many physical SIM card options, which we’ll cover below, and even unlimited data eSIMs with minimal fuss.

Here’s what you’ll typically need:

Valid passport
Unlocked mobile phone compatible with the Netherlands frequency bands
Local currency in cash or a credit/debit card

In some cases, you might need proof of accommodation or stay. However, no Dutch bank account or BSN number is required to register a Netherlands SIM card.

Where to buy a Netherlands SIM card?

Here, you have three options: purchase a Netherlands SIM card for tourists before you travel, grab one on arrival, or install an eSIM before your trip.

Buy a Netherlands SIM card before you travel

You can order a SIM card for the Netherlands online from a third-party company, so you’re ready to connect upon arrival.

Where to buy a Dutch SIM card in the USA: Amazon, SimOptions, Orange Holiday
Where to buy a Dutch SIM card in the UK: UK Telecom, Amazon UK, SimCorner, Orange Holiday
Where to buy a Dutch SIM card in Canada: Amazon Canada, SimOptions, Global Cellular

Buy a Netherlands SIM card once you arrive

If you’d like a broader range of local Dutch SIM card options, you can also purchase after you land from airports, official mobile provider stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores, including:

Schiphol Airport
Mobile provider stores (KPN, Vodafone, Odido)
Supermarkets (Albert Heijn, Hema, Primera)

On the downside, you’ll have to budget some time for the SIM registration process, which can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on tourist queues and general rush.

Grab an eSIM for the Netherlands

If your phone is eSIM-compatible, consider a virtual SIM over a physical prepaid SIM card for unmatched convenience. On arrival, you won’t have to hunt down local SIM card providers or carry a physical chip.

Many travel eSIM companies partner with local networks, so you won’t have to sacrifice a reliable and high-speed connection. Companies like Holafly offer one of the best eSIMs for the Netherlands, making the eSIM installation process easy via QR code. You’ll also be able to keep your existing number and avoid activation costs and delays!

Holafly’s eSIM for the Netherlands: For tourists, expats, and students

Holafly offers an unlimited data travel eSIM for the Netherlands, no physical SIM card swapping, no roaming charges, and no hassle. Purchase and install your eSIM just hours before your trip, and activate during your flight or when you arrive at your destination.

Holafly offers 24/7 multilingual customer support via email or chat in case of any issues. Here are a couple of other reasons why Holafly eSIMs work well for tourists and travellers, and especially in the Netherlands:

Fast and reliable connection on local Dutch networks
Manage your plan through the dedicated Holafly app
Flexible and unlimited data plans you can match to your trip duration

Prices start at $3.79 for a one-day trip; enjoy unlimited data at high speeds with a separate 500 MB hotspot allowance!

5-day trip to the Netherlands: $20.90
7-day trip to the Netherlands: $29.90
9-day trip to the Netherlands: $34.90

If you’re heading to the Netherlands for an extended stay, consider Holafly Plans instead. This monthly eSIM subscription offers unlimited data in over 170 destinations and is perfect for frequent travellers, remote workers, and digital nomads.

How to buy the best prepaid SIM card for the Netherlands

As mentioned above, there are three ways to get a Dutch SIM card. If you choose to buy a local Netherlands SIM card upon arrival, you can select from the top mobile service providers in the area: Vodafone, KPN, and Odido.

In this case, you have different options in the country for getting prepaid SIM cards, such as mobile phone shops, convenience stores, retailers, or vending machines.

Keep reading for a brief overview of how to get a Netherlands prepaid SIM card and what each mobile service provider offers.

How to get a Vodafone Netherlands SIM card for tourists

Vodafone offers SIM cards and various data packages for tourists in the Netherlands. You can choose from three data packages: 2 GB, 4 GB, and 10 GB for €10 to €30 (~$12-32 USD). You can also include call and text add-ons.

Here’s where you can find a Vodafone Netherlands SIM card:

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (Airport Telecom Shop, L-Mobile Shop, The Travellers Electronics Company)
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (Telecom shop)
Vodafone Store Amsterdam Centrum
Media Markt Rotterdam Centrum
Vodafone Store The Hagye

Head into any of these stores or kiosks to get started on the staff-supported SIM registration process.

How to get a KPN Netherlands SIM card for tourists

KPN offers mobile services across the Netherlands and is the same network that Holafly’s eSIM for the Netherlands operates on. This mobile operator offers packages for Netherlands prepaid SIM cards from 6 GB to unlimited data for €16-22.50 (~$18-24) with varying voice minutes and text allowances.

Here’s where you can grab a KPN prepaid SIM card in the Netherlands:

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Airport (KPN kiosks in the arrivals hall)
Official KPN stores (Amsterdam Centraal Station and Utrecht Centraal)
MediaMarkt Rotterdam Centrum

How to get an Odido Netherlands SIM card for tourists

Odido also sell prepaid Dutch SIM cards for tourists. Some of their fundamental physical prepaid SIM card plans include 10 GB data, 10 minutes, and 10 SMS for 10 (~$12), 2 GB, 15 minutes, and 15 SMS for 15 (~$17), and 4 GB, 20 minutes, and 20 SMS for 23 (~$24).

Here’s where you can find an Odido SIM card for the Netherlands:

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (kiosks at the arrivals hall)
Official Odido stores (Amsterdam Centraal Station and Utrecht Centraal)
MediaMarkt Rotterdam Centrum

Which is the best prepaid SIM card for the Netherlands?

Choosing the best prepaid Netherlands SIM cards for tourists depends on your needs, data usage, budget, and length of stay. All three providers mentioned above offer competitive mobile data packages and prepaid SIM card plans.

That said, an increasingly popular choice is to skip the physical SIM card swap altogether and opt for an eSIM for the Netherlands. With instant activation on mobile phones, no need to hunt for a store, and unlimited data plans, Holafly’s Netherlands eSIM offers one of the most seamless ways to stay connected in a foreign destination with peace of mind.

Check out our SIM card content on surrounding destinations to stay informed before you travel:

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Mahnoor Bangush

SEO Content Writer

Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!

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