SIM-only or prepaid in the Netherlands: how to compare your options
A SIM-only plan gives you mobile service without financing a handset. Compare the ongoing price, minimum term, data allowance, signup requirements and cancellation rules with prepaid and temporary alternatives.
Quick answer
SIM-only: usually makes sense if you want a normal phone number, calls, SMS and recurring mobile data without buying a phone through the contract.
Monthly rolling: prioritises flexibility when your stay is uncertain. Check the notice period and ongoing price.
Fixed term: may offer a lower promotional price, but compare the cost across the full minimum term and what happens if you leave early.
Prepaid: avoids a recurring contract and can suit a short or uncertain stay, but compare bundle validity and out-of-bundle costs.
Choose the contract type before the provider
Start with how long you expect to stay and what you need from the connection. An eSIM is simply a digital SIM format: a SIM-only phone plan can use eSIM, while some travel eSIMs are data-only and may not include a phone number, calls or SMS.
Monthly rolling
A good fit when flexibility matters most. Check notice period, recurring price and whether the offer changes after the first months.
Fixed-term SIM-only
Useful when you expect to stay for the full term. Compare total contract cost, promotional period and early-exit conditions.
Prepaid / temporary
Useful for a short stay or while getting settled. Check top-up rules, bundle expiry and whether you need ordinary calls and SMS.
A Dutch number can be convenient for local contact, but it is not required for DigiD SMS verification: DigiD accepts foreign phone numbers.
How to compare SIM-only plans
Do not compare plans on the headline price alone. Check these six things side by side:
Ongoing price
Check what you pay after any introductory discount.
Minimum term
Compare monthly rolling with 12- or 24-month commitments where offered.
Data you will actually use
More data is not automatically better if you are paying for allowance you never use.
Calls, SMS and eSIM
Confirm the plan includes the services and SIM format you need.
Signup and payment
Check accepted identification, address details and payment method before choosing on price.
Leaving or switching
Check notice periods, early termination rules and what happens after the minimum term.
On Expat Holland, our provider comparison focuses mainly on expat-friendliness, including English accessibility, signup and payment requirements, and contract flexibility.
Check signup requirements before choosing a contract
There is no single BSN rule that we have verified across every SIM-only provider in our comparison. Do not assume the checks for financing a new phone also apply to a SIM-only subscription without a handset.
Bank-account and payment requirements are provider-specific. The online and assisted signup routes can also differ, especially if you are using a foreign bank account. Check this before committing to a plan purely because its advertised price looks lower.
For provider-specific notes, see the mobile comparison. Current official product information also shows that providers may offer several routes side by side: Odido links to both SIM-only and prepaid options from its English information page, while Simyo provides an English SIM-only ordering flow.
Before you order
- Does the plan include the calls, SMS and data you need?
- What is the normal monthly price after any introductory offer?
- What will the contract cost across the full minimum term?
- Are your identification, address and payment method accepted?
- Do you need a physical SIM or eSIM, and is your phone compatible?
- What is the notice period, and what happens if you leave the Netherlands early?
- What are the charges or restrictions if you exceed the allowance?
Keep the selected offer and contract summary so you can refer back to the price, minimum term and conditions you agreed to.