Moving to the Netherlands means you need a BSN to open a bank account, an address to get a BSN, and somewhere in between, your landlord, your new employer, and every app you download needs a Dutch phone number.
The good news is that a Dutch phone number is one step on the checklist that you can tick off easily.
Here’s how and when you should set it up. 📱
First, book your gemeente appointment before you even land
One important step before sorting your phone number, is getting yourself registered. If you’re staying longer than four months, you have to register with your municipality within five days of arriving.
During your appointment, you’ll get your BSN, the number you’ll use for everything from taxes to healthcare. You’ll be needing this in combination with your Dutch phone number in order to get your admin life started in the Netherlands.
READ MORE | Gemeentes: what are Dutch municipalities and how do they work?
Five days sounds generous until you try to book a slot in Amsterdam or Utrecht, where the waitlist can be weeks long. So book it online as soon as you know your address, and keep the confirmation. You’ll want proof that you tried.
Get a prepaid number the week you arrive
Now, it’s time to get yourself a Dutch phone number.
This is where a prepaid phone deal earns its keep — there’s no contract, you top up what you need, and you can start using a Dutch number while your paperwork is still somewhere in a municipal queue.
READ MORE | The best prepaid SIMs for internationals and tourists in the Netherlands
You can pick up a physical prepaid SIM in phone shops across the country. Or, if your phone supports eSIM, you can skip the commute.
Make sure to check which payment methods the provider accepts, because not everyone accepts a foreign bank account on its website.
Open your bank account once your BSN comes through
Got your BSN? Great. Now that you’re armed with this and your Dutch phone number, you can get your banking set up.
With a working Dutch number in hand, you can fill in the forms, receive the verification texts, and get your bank app running without juggling your home SIM.
Upgrade once you’re settled (and keep your number)
Once you have a BSN, a bank account, and a rough idea of how much data you actually use, a monthly plan often works out cheaper than topping up.
But don’t worry, the number you’ve already given to your landlord, your employer and half your new friends can come with you.
At Simyo, for example, you can switch from Prepaid to a Sim Only plan later and keep the same number.
What about your old SIM?
If you’re coming from another EU country, your home SIM works here at domestic rates. For a while, anyway.
EU roaming rules let providers check whether you have a stable link with your home country. Use your phone mostly abroad for four months, and in some cases, your provider can send you a warning, followed by a surcharge.
READ MORE | Moving to the Netherlands: all you need to know in 2026
That makes your home SIM a great safety net for the first weeks, and a poor long-term plan. Keep it active for bank codes from back home if you need them, and let your Dutch number do the everyday work.
Your first-week checklist 📅
- Book the gemeente appointment (online, as early as possible)
- Get a Dutch prepaid number, physical or eSIM
- Open a bank account once your BSN arrives
- Switch to a monthly plan when you know your usage
Four steps, and only one of them involves waiting in a municipal queue. Which is honestly a pretty good ratio for Dutch admin.
How have you experienced getting setup in the Netherlands? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
