For mobile service, compare coverage where you actually spend time, the real data allowance, EU roaming rules, out-of-bundle prices and whether a handset is being financed. Keeping your Dutch number when switching is a legal right; paying off a phone and ending the service contract are separate issues.
SIM-only, phone + plan or prepaid?
| Option | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only | People who already own a suitable phone and want to separate device and network costs | Contract length, data/roaming limits, price after discounts |
| Phone + subscription | Spreading device payments | The device component can legally be consumer credit; BKR consequences may apply |
| Prepaid | Low/irregular use, temporary setup, budget control | Per-unit costs, top-up validity, roaming and number inactivity rules |
Phone financing can affect credit records
Rijksoverheid states that paying for a mobile phone in instalments as part of a subscription is a loan. If the financed phone amount is more than €250, the loan is registered with BKR and the provider checks affordability/credit information. This can matter when later applying for other credit, including a mortgage. A cheaper phone or sufficient upfront payment can keep the financed amount below that threshold.
Number portability
You can keep a Dutch mobile number when changing provider, including prepaid-to-subscription and subscription-to-prepaid situations where supported. Request number portability from the new provider. ACM says the old provider may not charge for porting and the right normally remains available until one month after the old agreement ends. A fixed number can generally only be retained within the same geographic area code.
Do not cancel the old mobile number manually before the port unless the new provider tells you to do so; premature cancellation can complicate the handover.
Coverage: test your real life, not one map
Coverage maps are predictions. Check your home, workplace, commute and any basement/thick-walled building that matters. If a provider materially fails to provide the coverage/service it promised and cannot fix the issue within a reasonable period after complaint, ACM ConsuWijzer explains that termination can become possible.
EU/EEA roaming in 2026
For periodic travel, EU “roam like at home” rules generally let you use calls, SMS and data at domestic rates in the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Moldova and Ukraine joined the roaming area on 1 January 2026. Unlimited or very cheap domestic-data plans can have a fair-use roaming data limit, and persistent/permanent roaming can trigger a warning and capped surcharges under EU rules.
Roaming is not the same as calling another country from the Netherlands. Domestic-to-foreign calls can have different tariffs. Outside the EU roaming area, prices can be far higher, so check the destination before enabling mobile data.
High-bill protection
Rijksoverheid says providers must give clear pricing information. For data roaming, a financial cut-off/warning mechanism applies around €60 unless you chose another limit; outside-EU use remains a common bill-shock risk. Also check your provider’s domestic data warnings and what happens after your bundle is exhausted – some slow the connection, others charge extra.