Buying a SIM Card or eSIM for Travel in the Netherlands
Looking to stay connected in the land of windmills and tulips, canals and bitterballen?
The Netherlands has plenty of free Wi-Fi in cafes, bars, and even on the trains. If you prefer your data to be mobile, though, the good news is that buying a local SIM card or travel eSIM is easy and depending on where and what you buy, doesn’t have to be particularly expensive.
There are some big differences between vendors, however, so it’s worth doing a bit of research ahead of time. I guess that’s why you’re here!
Here’s what you need to know.
Companies
There are three main cell networks in the Netherlands, operated by KPN, Vodafone, and Odido. KPN has the largest network, followed by Odido and Vodafone, but its resellers offer better pricing for prepaid customers.
My brother lives in the Netherlands, so it’s a country I visit regularly. Over the years I’ve used physical SIMs from Lebara and Lyca Mobile, along with eSIMs from Airalo and aloSIM.
While both Lebara and Lyca Mobile use the KPN network, I’ve had a better experience with Lyca. If you plan to use a physical SIM, that’s the company I’d recommend going with.
5G networks have been rolled out by all of the network providers in the Netherlands, but aren’t always available to prepaid customers. Lyca Mobile does offer it, for example, but Lebara doesn’t.
In reality, though, it doesn’t much matter whether you’ve got 5G service or not: LTE (4G) speeds have been extremely fast in my testing, especially with the travel eSIM providers I talk about below.
Travel eSIM for the Netherlands
Depending on how much data you need, you might well find that a travel eSIM is cheaper than getting service from the local companies.
It’s the option I went with on my last week-long trip to the Netherlands in late 2024: not only did it save me money, but it meant I was connected by the time my plane arrived at the gate, and could walk straight out of the airport and onto a train.
There’s typically little to no difference in price between the two cheapest options, Airalo and aloSIM. As I often do when writing a guide like this, I bought eSIMs from both companies to compare speeds and service.
Both were very good, with very fast speeds and good coverage everywhere I went in the Netherlands, so you can’t go wrong with either option. I’ve included the speed test results for both companies towards the end of this article.
Instabridge only has a handful of packages, but they tend to be pretty cheap. They’re worth considering if they happen to fit the length of your trip and how much data you need.
Here’s how the best eSIM companies stack up in the Netherlands. Details are updated each week, most recently on 1 Dec 2025.
| Package Name | Validity | Data | Price (USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌐 | Europe 1GB - 7 days (35 countries) | 7 days | 1GB | $5 |
| Europe 1GB - 7 days (35 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Europe 2GB - 15 days (35 countries) | 15 days | 2GB | $8 |
| Europe 2GB - 15 days (35 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Europe 3GB - 30 days (35 countries) | 30 days | 3GB | $12.50 |
| Europe 3GB - 30 days (35 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Europe 5GB - 30 days (35 countries) | 30 days | 5GB | $19.50 |
| Europe 5GB - 30 days (35 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Europe 10GB - 30 days (35 countries) | 30 days | 10GB | $36 |
| Europe 10GB - 30 days (35 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Europe Unlimited - 15 days (35 countries) | 15 days | Unlimited | $42 |
| Europe Unlimited - 15 days (35 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Europe 50GB - 90 days (35 countries) | 90 days | 50GB | $95 |
| Europe 50GB - 90 days (35 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Europe 100GB - 180 days (35 countries) | 180 days | 100GB | $185 |
| Europe 100GB - 180 days (35 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Global 1GB - 7 days (149 countries) | 7 days | 1GB | $10 |
| Global 1GB - 7 days (149 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Global 2GB - 15 days (149 countries) | 15 days | 2GB | $18 |
| Global 2GB - 15 days (149 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Global 3GB - 30 days (149 countries) | 30 days | 3GB | $26 |
| Global 3GB - 30 days (149 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Global 5GB - 30 days (149 countries) | 30 days | 5GB | $35 |
| Global 5GB - 30 days (149 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Global 10GB - 30 days (149 countries) | 30 days | 10GB | $50 |
| Global 10GB - 30 days (149 countries) | ||||
| 🌐 | Global 20GB - 30 days (149 countries) | 30 days | 20GB | $62 |
| Global 20GB - 30 days (149 countries) | ||||
| Netherlands 1GB - 7 days | 7 days | 1GB | $4.50 | |
| Netherlands 2GB - 15 days | 15 days | 2GB | $6.50 | |
| Netherlands 3GB - 30 days | 30 days | 3GB | $8 | |
| Netherlands 5GB - 30 days | 30 days | 5GB | $10 | |
| Netherlands 10GB - 30 days | 30 days | 10GB | $18 | |
| Netherlands 20GB - 30 days | 30 days | 20GB | $27 | |
| Netherlands Unlimited - 10 days | 10 days | Unlimited | $35 | |
Like most travel eSIMs, they’re data-only: you don’t get a local number. I use apps for everything from communication to transport these days, so the lack of a local number very rarely matters to me, but you might have different needs.
One thing worth noting: if you’re planning to travel to several European countries within a few weeks, it might be worth looking at some of the regional eSIM packages on offer.
There are too many to list each one separately (and they change all the time), but as a starting point, these are the Europe eSIM options from companies I’d actually consider using:
New to eSIMs? They offer big benefits to travelers in terms of how quickly, easily, and (often) cheaply you can get connected when you arrive in a new country. Most recent phones support them, and you can read all about them here.
If you’re visiting other countries as well, make sure you check out our worldwide eSIM finder before you go. It has real-world recommendations for every trip, only takes a few seconds, and could save you a lot of money!
How to Buy a Prepaid SIM Card in the Netherlands
While you can buy physical SIM cards from machines in the luggage reclaim area and vendors like Service Point in the plaza at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re desperate to get connected and can’t use a travel eSIM.
As with many airports around the world, you’re limited to overpriced tourist packages. I didn’t see any official carrier stores there; instead, it was just third parties with a small selection of expensive options from a few different companies.
You’re looking at at least €30 for a SIM with a useful amount of data, and prices only go up from there. If you’re prepared to wait until you get into the city, you’ll pay half that price for the same thing.
Once you’re in central Amsterdam (or any other city of a reasonable size), it’s easy to find and buy a prepaid SIM. I just walked into the nearest mobile phone shop with Lyca Mobile or Lebara signs in the window, and had a working connection within a few minutes.
In both cases, the vendor activated the SIM for me, but as instructions are in both English and Dutch, you could probably do it yourself if necessary. Buying the SIM card online from either company is usually free, but you’ll need a Dutch address to get it sent out to.
Need travel insurance for the Netherlands?
Need travel insurance for the Netherlands?
Getting set up with a data package on Lebara was straightforward. I just asked the vendor to add credit to my SIM after he activated it, and then texted the code in the brochure he handed me to buy the bundle I wanted. You can do it online as well.
It wasn’t as easy with Lyca Mobile, however. For some reason, none of the three places I tried in Leiden (two phone stores and a major supermarket) had data top-up packs available at the time.
That’s probably the exception rather than rule, but in the end, buying credit and activating a bundle online was the easiest option. There was no problem using an international credit card to do this, and it took a lot less time than walking around the shops!
Prepaid SIM Card Costs
Lyca Mobile and Lebara
Assuming you’re not buying at the airport (see above), €10 with Lebara gets you unlimited national calling minutes and texts, plus 12GB of data valid for a month. You’ll pay extra for the SIM card when buying instore: mine cost €10 with €5 of credit preloaded, so my total cost to get set up was €15 (~$17).
The Lyca Mobile SIM was free, but I had to top up with ten euros at the same time. For that €10, I got unlimited national calls and texts and 20GB of data, valid for a month. Bundles and specials change all the time, so check what’s on offer before you commit.
Topping Up
Lyca Mobile and Lebara
You can buy top-ups almost anywhere you see a sign for Lyca Mobile or Lebara. In the Netherlands, that seems to be about every hundred metres.
Supermarkets, convenience stores, mobile phone stores, and many others sell them, or you can buy online and save yourself the hassle.
aloSIM and Airalo
Topping up with aloSIM or Airalo is done by logging into the website or app. You just select your Netherlands eSIM, hit the top-up button, and buy the same package again.
The top-up packs have exactly the same pricing and duration as the original eSIMs: there’s little difference between topping up your current eSIM and buying a new one, other than not having to activate it.
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Coverage and Data Speeds
When it came to data speeds, Lebara was a total disappointment. Despite being on the KPN network which spans the entire country, I’d regularly struggle to get usable service even while standing in the centre of a major town or city.
I ran speed tests in Utrecht, Leiden, Amsterdam, Maastricht, and The Hague, and half the time, they didn’t even complete. Web pages would often timeout or take minutes to load. All in all, it was a very frustrating experience.
Lyca Mobile was much better anywhere and everywhere I tested it, with solid connections and fast data speeds. If you’re getting a local SIM, that’s the one to go for.
I got the fastest speeds of all, however, from my travel eSIMs. aloSIM also uses the KPN network, so you can expect the same high level of coverage around the country. LTE speeds were very fast, with over 160Mbps download and 40Mbps upload in and around Amsterdam.
Airalo goes one better in terms of coverage, with both KPN and Vodafone networks available as needed. Using the KPN LTE network, it again hit around 160Mbps download and over 40Mbps upload in central Amsterdam.
In either case, those speeds are more than fast enough to do everything you want to as a traveler, whether that’s using maps, watching or uploading video, Facetiming a friend to show them what a great time you’re having, or anything else.
EU Roaming
The Netherlands is part of the European Union, so EU roaming regulations apply. These “roam like at home” rules ended roaming charges across much of Europe in 2017, letting you use a SIM card from any EU country across all the others at no extra charge.
There are some exceptions and limits, however, especially with large data packages. Double-check the exact details at time of purchase, or use one of the regional Europe eSIMs mentioned earlier.
Check out our guides to SIM cards and eSIMs in 65+ other countries here.
Thanks for this Dave.
Off to the Netherlands in a couple of weeks and your experience matches my research.
Cheers, Paul
KPN prepaid isn’t too bad either, for data use. I pay 7,50 euros for 30 days UNLIMITED amount of internet (the speed is rather low though). If you make a lot of international calls or SMS, KPN is very expensive, in this case you can rather use Lycamobile and so.
Where do you get 5 GB of Lycamobile data for €5? The link you provide above offers 500 MB of data for €5. 5 GB of data is listed as costing €30 on the same site.
I guess that pricing must have been a promotion (although it wasn’t listed as such) — you’re right, it’s definitely changed now, for both the 3G and 4G bundles. Lycamobile is still better value, and faster, than Lebara, but the gap shrinks with that new pricing.
Ahh, the ever-changing world of prepaid SIM cards. :/
How do I sign up at Lycamobile website if I don’t have their phone #? I am planning to get a data sim package for myself to use at Amsterdam in a month later. Thanks
I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question. Which phone number do you need/want?
Hi Dave,
Thank you for this informative post. I am a first time visitor to the Netherlands. I will be in Leiden and Amsterdam. I want to get a nano sim card for the data. I looked up lebara they said it was only if you had a local address. The lycamobile site is not in english. But is it available for visitor without a dutch address?
I suspect the local address requirement you’re seeing is more for getting a SIM sent out to you, than a legal requirement for buying one.
I had no problem purchasing either a Lyca or Lebara SIM in person while I was in the Netherlands — I don’t recall if I was asked for an address, but if I was, I would have just given the address of my hotel.
Hi Dave,
I visit Netherlands very often & wish to keep my SIM. I have a HI sim card which was taken over by KPN. How often do we have to recharge it so that the my balance remains & also the number remains the same?
Thanks in advance.
Pete.
I’m not sure, sorry. You may want to check their site or contact the company direct.
Halo Dave, Are pre-paid sim card available at Schipol airport arrivals area? Can a tourist buy & get it activated immediately?
Yes, there’s at least one store to buy Lycamobile SIMs at the airport — looks like it’s called ServicePoint. http://www.lycamobile.nl/en/storelocator
Hello
My dad is in Holland and has purchased a pay as you go SIM card which charges him every time he receives calls from overseas, is this normal? Also its not possible to send him a text message from UK. He is old and not very techie, i just cant think what his doing wrong. Hope you can help. Thank you
Without knowing which company he’s using, it’s hard to offer much advice. It’s not common to be charged to receive international calls, but it’s not unheard of. Is he able to send texts internationally but not receive them, or can he not send either?
In any case, he (or you) are probably best to contact the cell company he’s using, for a faster and more accurate answer. 🙂
Hi… Just googling and found this site :-)… Hope you Can help me. Just arrived to eindhoven, staying for 6 month. Have a mobilephone with sim-card and added some foreign within the EU solution, from back home , before going so that i can Call, SMS and mms nummers from my home country. A minimum of data goes with it, and i need a solution to go online for maps, Facebook and so on, with my mobile. What can you recomment ? A simcard with free data ? Or ? I understand that lycamobile is the cheapest and fastest ? Do i just find a store that sell mobilephones, and they can help me ? Thank you SO much !!!!
Yes, just go to a phone store and ask them to help you out. Lycamobile has good rates and reasonable speeds, but I found that quite a few of the stores sell SIMs from a range of different companies, so they may have a better option depending on your exact needs for six months.
Hi,
ok, so today i’ve seen that the sim card is free and i want 1gb of lte data with the saver plan so i just topup 15 euros and activate the plan? so i will pay only 15 euros for the sim 1gb lte data?
thanks.
This page has instructions on how to activate the Saver plan. Once you’ve done that, I believe you top up online with 15 euros and activate the plan, as per this page.
That said, you’re always better off to ask the person you’re buying it from for the specific information, and/or get them to do it for you.
Our family of three is going to Netherlands (Utrecht) for 5 months beginning Aug. 1, 2017. I’m a total neophyte. WE have iphones with AT and T. Can we use these? How? If you buy a card (SIM or what kind?) is it better to buy it in Utrecht or in the US online (40.00). After you have a Sim card what is the best way to get use of the phone. Dumb questions no doubt. Is it better to buy a plan or can you just buy time. In Argentina you could just buy time.
How can you avoid being charged for receiving calls?
Is it better to use wifi at your apt.? or in cafes? to make calls? If so, why not just use Skype?
If your phones aren’t locked to AT&T, you’ll be able to use them outside the US. Check out this article for more on finding out if your phones are ready for overseas travel, and what to do about it if they aren’t.
Buying in the Netherlands will be cheaper, buying before you leave will be easier — it’s your choice.
If you only want to make calls and sent texts, you can probably just add some credit and use it up as you go. If you want to use data as well, you’re better off buying a set amount up front — it’s much cheaper. You won’t be charged for incoming calls if you’re using a local SIM — the caller bears the costs.
If all you want to do is make phone calls, and you don’t need to do so while outside your apartment, there’s no need for a SIM card at all. Just use Skype. You’re better off doing so at your apartment rather than in cafes, since it’s more secure, and the connection should be better as well (fewer people using it).
If you want to make/receive calls and texts outside the apartment, and/or have data while out and about, you’ll want a local SIM as above.
Hi hi, lovely post.
I’ll be going to Amsterdam for 2 weeks.
I need a SIM card for unlimited data for Emails, Google Maps and Instagram. I do not see myself making any calls.
Which mobile company would you recommend?
thanks so much for your help.
As per an earlier comment, unlimited (but very slow) data is available with KPN. As far as I know, no other provider offers it.
Do you know if it’s possible to acquire 2G SIM cards in the Netherlands?
You can’t buy a SIM card that’s only 2G anymore, but all of the service providers still operate a 2G network, so any SIM card will fall back to the 2G network if that’s all that’s available (or presumably, if that’s all your phone/device can support). That said, you may want to confirm your requirements beforehand with whichever provider you choose, just in case.
I will be in Amsterdam for a couple of days in June, followed by a 2 week cruise to Norway. I live in the US and ideally I’d like to get something set up while I’m still home so I can just swap SIM cards on the flight over and have it working as soon as I arrive. I see that you recommend Lycamobile and found that I can get a SIM for a penny on Amazon, but that’s for their US service that I read does not work in Europe. I found that I can buy a Vodafone NL SIM on Ebay for around $8 shipping and then sign up for service and it would appear that for 10 euros I’ll have at least 1gb and maybe 2gb with the signup bonus, and that will work in Norway. I can probably find a Lycamobile Europe SIM on Ebay if I look harder but I don’t know if it will be as good a deal.
I have a Samsung S7 Edge on Verizon. I could just pay them the $10 a day for Travelpass access for the 2 days pre-cruise in Amsterdam and then just look for Wifi while we’re in Norway, although if I can do something relatively simple like getting the Vodafone SIM set up in advance and it will work reliably, it’s probably a better choice for roughly the same price.
Suggestions? Buying a SIM when I get to Schipol is an option, but we will be arriving at 6am and I’m not sure that the mobile store there will be open.
I’m not a huge fan of buying SIMs on eBay, just because you don’t really have much recourse if things don’t work as expected, but if you want to get set up in advance and don’t want to buy something like the Orange SIM mentioned in the article, the eBay option at least looks good in terms of price.
I am posting this in 2021, I am frequent traveler and often come to the Netherlands . In terms of comparison between Lyca and Lebara as I own both I would say for amount of data and price Lyca is the way to go . It took me nearly an hour to get it connected though . It is step by step process on their website everything is straightforward . Lyca site does accept foreign adresses and debit cards unlike Lebara you have only option to pay via Ideal or Revolut if you go for sim only which is twice cheaper than prepaid. The Speeds of Lebara’s KPN network on 2x speed sim only option is very impressive . Lyca is however slower but really it is not so much noticable as it is on LTE . I would rate Lyca speed 6,5 out of 10 and Lebara 10 out of 10 with 2x sim only option . Both actualy give you enough speed for your needs . As it is 2021 and I use iphone 12 pro , fat photos , cloud , fat videos , a lot of streaming . Lebaras maximum bundle of 10 GB a month simply is not enough . So Lyca is the way to go for me with a bundle for a new customers for only 30 EUR you get 35 Gb a month .