Every mobile phone in the Netherlands runs on one of three networks: KPN, Odido and VodafoneZiggo. Many more brands sell SIM cards, but each of them uses one of those three, so two brands with different names can share the same network. At the end of 2025 there were 25.8 million mobile connections in the country.
Three networks and the brands that use them
KPN and Odido each held 25 to 30 percent of the mobile market at the end of 2025, VodafoneZiggo 20 to 25 percent, and all brands without their own network together another 20 to 25 percent. The operators have to provide mobile coverage on at least 98 percent of the territory of every municipality, but that obligation applies outdoors only.
These brands state on their own websites which network they use. On KPN: Simyo, Youfone, Budget Thuis, Lyca Mobile. On Odido: Ben, Simpel. On Vodafone: hollandsnieuwe, 50plusmobiel. This is not a complete list or a recommendation; it shows that a smaller brand can use the same network as the operator itself.
Prepaid or SIM-only, and how long you are tied
A prepaid SIM works without a subscription: you buy credit in advance and there is no fixed term. In 2019 the justice minister rejected a registration requirement for prepaid SIM cards; we found no later rule that introduced one.
A SIM-only subscription is a contract, and a provider may not tie you to it for more than 2 years. After the fixed term it continues and you can cancel at any time with one month's notice, the same rule as for home internet.
Keeping your number and using it abroad
You can always take your mobile number with you, prepaid or on a contract, and your contract does not have to have ended. You request it from the new provider, the old one may not refuse or charge for it, and the right lasts until one month after the contract ends.
Within the European Union you pay the same for roaming as at home, prepaid or on a contract, and the same applies in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Moldova and Ukraine. A provider may add a surcharge in a few cases, for example when you spend more than four months mostly in another EU country.
Antenna sites in the cities we cover
The national antenna office counted 15,722 antenna installations for mobile communication in August 2026, and it updates the file every month with data from the operators. The table counts the distinct antenna locations per city in that file, and how many of them carry 5G.
| City | Antenna sites | Sites with 5G | Sites per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maastricht | 94 | 88 | 7.5 |
| Rotterdam | 480 | 458 | 7.1 |
| Eindhoven | 176 | 160 | 7.1 |
| 's-Hertogenbosch | 110 | 106 | 6.8 |
| Breda | 128 | 124 | 6.8 |
| Arnhem | 113 | 109 | 6.7 |
| Utrecht | 227 | 219 | 6.0 |
| Amsterdam | 539 | 507 | 5.8 |
| Delft | 59 | 58 | 5.4 |
| Nijmegen | 98 | 92 | 5.2 |
| Groningen | 123 | 114 | 5.0 |
| Leiden | 62 | 62 | 4.7 |
| Tilburg | 109 | 109 | 4.7 |
| The Hague | 263 | 252 | 4.6 |
| Almere | 101 | 100 | 4.4 |
| Haarlem | 71 | 71 | 4.2 |
| Amstelveen | 37 | 35 | 3.9 |
In every city at least 91 percent of the sites carry 5G. Per resident, Maastricht has the most sites at 7.5 per 10,000 people and Amstelveen the fewest at 3.9.
A site count is not a coverage map. One location can hold several antenna installations, the register is not designed to map a whole network, and emergency service antennas are left out. The coverage obligation is also an outdoor one, so reception inside a building is not guaranteed. For home internet, see our internet guide, and for the neighbourhoods behind these cities, our city pages.
Frequently asked questions
How many mobile networks does the Netherlands have?
Three: KPN, Odido and VodafoneZiggo. All other brands use one of these networks.
Do I need to register a prepaid SIM card in the Netherlands?
In 2019 the justice minister rejected a registration requirement for prepaid SIM cards, and we found no later rule that introduced one.
Can I keep my Dutch phone number when I switch provider?
Yes, always, prepaid or on a contract. You request it from the new provider, and the old provider may not refuse or charge for it.
Does my Dutch SIM work at the same price in other EU countries?
Yes. Within the EU you pay the same as at home, and the same applies in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Moldova and Ukraine. A surcharge is possible if you stay abroad for more than four months.