From the train at Schiphol to your hotel and the first museum ticket, almost everything in Amsterdam runs through your phone. Before you land, decide how you will get mobile data. There are three common options.
1. Roaming with your own provider
The easiest option: do nothing and your phone connects to a Dutch network. Inside the EU, most plans include roaming at home prices ("roam like at home"). From outside the EU – the UK, the US, Asia – roaming can be expensive or capped at a small amount of data. Check your provider's travel package before you leave, not after the first bill.
2. A travel eSIM
An eSIM is a digital SIM card you install by scanning a QR code or through an app. Most recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones support it. You keep your own number on your physical SIM for calls and texts, and use the eSIM for data.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, and only switch it on when you arrive.
- Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, and turn off data roaming on your home line to avoid charges.
- Most travel eSIMs are data-only: no Dutch phone number.
3. A Dutch prepaid SIM card
Prepaid SIM cards are sold in phone shops, supermarkets and at the airport. You get a Dutch number, which is handy if you stay longer or need to be called by local businesses. You will be asked to register the card in some cases, so keep your ID at hand.
Is my phone unlocked?
A local SIM or eSIM only works if your phone is not locked to your home provider. Many phones bought on a contract are locked. Ask your provider before you travel, or test with a friend's SIM card. On an iPhone you can check under Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock.
SIM not detected?
If your phone shows "No SIM" or "No service" with a card that works in another phone, the SIM tray or the SIM reader inside the phone may be damaged – for example after a drop. Bring it in for a free diagnosis; many of these problems are solved the same day.
Related: Free Wi-Fi in Amsterdam and how to stay safe · Offline maps for Amsterdam
Visit PhonePlus
PhonePlus, Binnen Bantammerstraat 4, Amsterdam – near the Nieuwmarkt and about ten minutes' walk from Centraal Station. Walk in without an appointment: free diagnosis and a fixed price before we start.
- Monday: 10:00–19:00
- Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00–21:00
- Sunday: 12:00–21:00
