Phone Numbers in the Netherlands

Quick Reference

• Country: Netherlands
• Country Code: +31
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

Overview

Discover the intricacies of the Dutch telephone numbering plan with this comprehensive guide. Learn about the structure, formats, and dialing procedures for various phone numbers, including landline, mobile, toll-free, and premium-rate numbers. This guide is invaluable for telecom professionals, developers, and anyone interested in understanding Dutch phone systems.

Number Formats

General Structure

Dutch phone numbers are organized as follows:

• Country Code: +31
• National Prefix: 0 (for domestic calls)
• Area Code: Varies by region or service
• Subscriber Number: Length varies by service type

Number Format Table

Type of Number	Format	Example
Geographic	0[1-9]X{7}	0201234567
Mobile	06[1-58]X{7}	0612345678
Toll-Free	0800X{4,7}	08001234
Premium Rate	090[069]X{4,7}	09061234
Emergency	112	112

Geographic Numbers

• Format: 0[1-9]X{7}
• Example: 0201234567 (Amsterdam area code)

Mobile Numbers

• Format: 06[1-58]X{7}
• Example: 0612345678

Toll-Free Numbers

• Format: 0800X{4,7}
• Example: 08001234

Premium Rate Numbers

• Format: 090[069]X{4,7}
• Example: 09061234

Regular Expressions

Use these regular expressions to validate Dutch phone numbers:

• Geographic: ^0[1-9]\d{7}$
• Mobile: ^06[1-58]\d{7}$
• Toll-Free: ^0800\d{4,7}$
• Premium Rate: ^090[069]\d{4,7}$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial 0 + Area Code + Subscriber Number (e.g., 0201234567).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial 0 + Mobile Number (e.g., 0612345678).
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial 0 + Mobile Number (e.g., 0612345678).
• Mobile to Landline: Dial 0 + Area Code + Subscriber Number (e.g., 0201234567).

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 + Country Code + Area Code (if applicable) + Subscriber Number (e.g., 0031201234567 to Amsterdam).
• Incoming: Dial +31 + Area Code (if applicable) + Subscriber Number (e.g., +31201234567).

Number Portability

• Mobile Number Portability: Available, allowing number retention when switching providers.
• Fixed-Line Number Portability: Also available for landline numbers.

Major Telecom Operators

The Netherlands' major telecom operators include:

• KPN: Offers a wide range of geographic and mobile numbers.
• VodafoneZiggo: Primarily provides mobile numbers.
• T-Mobile Netherlands: Focuses on mobile numbers.

ITU Standards and Recommendations

The Netherlands adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard, which defines the international public telecommunication numbering plan.

Number Allocation and Management

• Regulatory Body: The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) manages phone number allocation.
• Number Allocation: Based on demand, ensuring availability for all services.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Special numbers available at a premium.
• Number Blocking: Users can block specific numbers or types through their provider.

Technical Considerations

For Developers and Systems Administrators

• Validation: Use the provided regular expressions to validate numbers in applications.
• Formatting: Handle international formats (+31) correctly in systems.
• Portability: Update systems to reflect changes in carrier information due to number portability.