Discovering The Netherlands

Communication and Media There is a considerable range of telephone, internet, and mobile options depending on your individual needs. It is advisable to refer to consumer advice centers or the Internet in order to find the current best possible offers.

Telephone and Internet Land Lines

The international telephone country code for The Netherlands is +31 or 0031. To call The Netherlands, dial +31 followed by the area code (two digits) or mobile code (six) followed by the actual phone number. There are different telephone systems available: + Analogue: one phone line (no internet). Least expensive system + ISDN: Minimum of two phone lines and three phone numbers, several extra features, faster data transfer + ADSL: Access technology that transfers data considerably faster than ISDN. Available almost throughout Netherlands, but not available in some remote areas or some parts of the city Internet There are several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) serving The Netherlands. Cable broadband is the most common connection; fiber optics are gaining ground. Broadband connection takes about five working days . There are different plans available with each service. For example, though the vast majority are fee-based, free dial-up is an option, although you pay for the telephone calls used to connect. Otherwise, plans are typically pay per use, flat rate, or a combination of the two. Some providers charge a set-up fee. Some providers plans impose a downloading limit. Plans that mention a Fair Use Policy “Geen Datalimiet” have no data limit. Internet censorship is practically nonexistent in The Netherlands. Call by Call The Dutch telecommunications system is one of the best in the world. Its fully automatic telephone system is excellent. Most telephone operators speak English, and all information operators are multilingual. Companies offering telephone service through cable connections still rely on a single network. Cable telephone is available from companies like UPC and Ziggo, mainly bundled with television and Internet. Activating a new phone line requires proof of identification, residence permit or employment contract. Non-EU expatriates need to pay a deposit to obtain a telephone number. Public Telephones With the proliferation of cell phones, public telephones have been nearly obsolete, but you can still find some in the certain areas. Though there are fewer of them out there, they can be identified by a green booth with advertising. Phones take phone cards and credit cards.

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Discovering The Netherlands