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Holland South Local Reference INFOrmation
Essential contact information for landline telephones, mobile cellular phones and Internet connections for private, domestic or business use in the Netherlands, as provided by the national telecommunications supplier and other suppliers.
Land LinesThe market is privatised although the original state-run KPN is still the largest telecom company in the country providing many business and private connections. Other telephone providers include Twinner and UPC which offer phone connections through cable networks; a cable connection (for television and/or Internet) is necessary to use either of these. There are other landline telephone providers, but these are largely for business customers. To get a land line telephone service with KPN:
Once an appointment has been set up, it should take five working days to get connected. The following are needed to get a telephone connection:
There are two types of connections available:
Three different types of contract are offered:
BillingThere is a monthly base fee and VAT, with additional charges for actual calling time. Discounts: Up to ten frequently called numbers (one of which can be a mobile) may be registered as "favourites" (Voordeelnummers) for a 10 percent discount for numbers within the region, plus the mobile number, and 20 percent discount on numbers outside the region. Up to three international telephone numbers may be registered for a 30 percent discount on international calls. Cellular/Mobile TelephonesKPN, while still state-owned, was the first operator to introduce mobile telephones in the country. There are now many operators available: Vodafone or KPN operate on a GSM 900 network, Orange, Telfort and T-Mobile operate on a GSM 1800 network. Therefore, nearly all cellular telephones in the country are at least dual-band and many of them are tri-band and work on the North-American GSM 1900 network. Note: hands-free sets are mandatory when driving in the Netherlands. Getting connected to a Dutch mobile phoneGetting connected can be done online, via telephone or in a shop - the documents required are:
The following is a list of the major providers:
There is a choice between subscribing to a contract (abonnementen), or taking a pay-as-you-go (prepaid) system. The rates can vary from one company to another as well as the way charges are calculated (rates of calls made during the day, evening or weekends). Using a foreign mobile telephone in the NetherlandsIf the cellular telephone is GSM compatible, and its current provider allows international roaming, then it may be possible to use a foreign telephone in the Netherlands. However, most providers will charge both for incoming and outgoing calls so this might be quite expensive. Another option is to use the foreign cellular telephone with a Dutch SIM card provided the telephone is not locked. SIM cards are available at most phone shops. Information and comparisonsThe following links (all in Dutch) provide information and comparisons for telephone products and services: Lost or stolen mobile telephonesAll mobile phones have a unique code, the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) code. This belongs to the handset and is associated with a card, the SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card, which holds the telephone number assigned to a customer.
The IMEI number provides protection if a phone is lost or stolen. The IMEI code is clearly shown on the paperwork at time of purchase. Note it down and keep it separate from the mobile. Or to find the IMEI number, enter: * # 0 6 # on the keypad. If the phone is stolen, a declaration can also be made at the nearest police station; police must be supplied with IMEI number. Public TelephonesPublic telephone booths are widespread, particularly in the main towns and cities. They accept €2, €1, 50c, and 20c coins. Many public telephones also use telephone cards which can be bought at any railway station, post office and most newsagents. International calls can be made from most public telephones by dialling 00 followed by the relevant country code. If a public telephone can't be used to make an international call go to the nearest post office where they should be able to help. Internet in the NetherlandsGetting connected to the Internet is quite straightforward in the Netherlands. Various options include: Dial-Up, ISDN, ADSL, or Cable. Powersocket, Fiberglass, WiFi and Satellite connections are also available although less common. Most providers have good connections and services. They offer similar packages and reasonable customer service. Getting connected to the InternetBroadband connections take about five working days to be installed. Most connections are paid services, but some free Dial-Up connections are also available, in which case there is still a charge for the telephone call. Getting connected can be done online (but most websites are in Dutch only) or via telephone. The company will run a postal check, and explain the various options available (download/upload speed, contracts). A form then needs to be filled in and the connection is established once the contract is signed. There are many Internet provides to the Netherlands. The website Internetten (in Dutch) gives comparisons on the various packages and products available. Dial-UpMost Dial-Up Internet service providers offer three types of access :
Dial-up providers
Free Dial-up provider: High-Speed AccessADSL and Cable connections are widely available, and there are many options to choose from. In some cases, set up fees and modem costs will be charged, in other cases not. Some providers may set a downloading limit, look for the words "Fair Use Policy" or Geen Datalimiet (no data limit) for unlimited use. ADSL providers:
Cable providers:
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