Cellphones (Mobile Phones)

Cellphone charges can be high, so always check with your provider before dialing anywhere from Amsterdam. We've found that, for Americans, T-Mobile has decent rates worldwide (and in the Netherlands). Alternatively, you can rent a phone through Cellhire (www.cellhire.com) or another country (you'll encounter kiosks renting phones at the airport and at train stations). If you decide to go with Cellhire, you'll complete a simple online registration well before traveling, they will ship a phone (usually with a U.K. number) to your home or office. 

Another strategy: simply rely on Skype or WhatsApp, using the hotel's free WiFi, for any and all calls. Stay off the phone otherwise (it not only saves money, but may allow you to better enjoy your vacation).

To call Amsterdam from outside the Netherlands:

1. Dial the international access code: 011 in the U.S., and 00 in most other countries.

2. Dial the country code for the Netherlands: 31.

3. Dial the area code 20 and then the number. So the whole number you'd dial would be 011-31-20-000-0000.

Area Codes: The area code for Amsterdam is 020 (use just 20 when you're calling from outside the Netherlands). When making local calls in Amsterdam, you don't need to use this area code. When making local calls within other cities, you don't need to use the city's area code. You do, however, need to use an area code between towns and cities.

There are two main formats for Dutch phone numbers: For cities and large towns, a three-digit area code is followed by a seven-digit number. For smaller towns and villages, a four-digit area code is followed by a six-digit number. In addition to Amsterdam's, some other area codes used in this guide are Haarlem, 023; The Hague and Scheveningen, 070; Rotterdam, 010; Delft, 015; Leiden, 071; and Gouda, 0182.

Operator assistance: Call tel. 0800/0410.

Information: For numbers inside the Netherlands, call tel. 0900/8008; for international numbers, call tel. 0900/8418.

Toll-free numbers: Numbers beginning with 0800 within Holland are toll-free, but calling a 1-800 number in the States from Holland is not toll-free. In fact, it costs the same as an overseas call.

Special numbers: Watch out for the special Dutch numbers that begin with 0900. Calls to these are charged at a higher rate than ordinary local calls.

International calls: To make international calls from Amsterdam, first dial 00 and then the country code. To call the United States or Canada, dial 00 (the international access code) + 1 (the country code) + the area code + the number. For example, if you wanted to call the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., you would dial 00-1-202-588-7800. Other country codes are United Kingdom, 44; Ireland, 353; Australia, 61; New Zealand, 64.

Internet

Almost all hotels in Amsterdam have Wi-Fi or Internet access either in the rooms or in the public spaces, or both, usually for free.




Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.