🇳🇱 eSIM
Netherlands eSIM – anonymous, no KYC, from $1.80/GB
KPN and Vodafone - among Europe's fastest mobile.
Per GB
$1.80
No daily fees
Networks
KPN · Vodafone
5G
Hotspot
Included
Tether laptops, tablets, consoles
The simplest Netherlands eSIM is one you install before you fly: it connects to KPN or Vodafone when you land at Schiphol, costs $1.80 per GB, and the balance never expires. The Netherlands is one of the few EU countries with no legal ID requirement for prepaid SIMs, so the real gains here are speed, no airport detour, and data that carries over to your next trip.
This page covers Netherlands eSIM basics: what it costs, which networks you get, NS trains, ID rules, setup, and how it compares with a Dutch prepaid SIM. The same balance also works in Germany, France and the UK.
How much does a Netherlands eSIM cost?
$1.80 per GB, billed per MB from a USD balance that never expires; a one-time $5 setup fee applies to a new eSIM.
One rate: $1.80/GB, metered per MB against a prepaid USD balance — this is how our no-KYC eSIM works, and the balance never expires. No daily passes, no expiring bundles, no throttling tiers - unused credit stays on your eSIM forever and works in the next country you visit.
| Top-up | Data in Netherlands | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | ≈ 2.8 GB | $1.80/GB |
| $10.00 | ≈ 5.6 GB | $1.80/GB |
| $20.00 | ≈ 11.1 GB | $1.80/GB |
| $50.00 | ≈ 27.8 GB | $1.80/GB |
A one-time $5 setup fee applies to a brand-new eSIM; top-ups to an existing eSIM carry no fee. Rates are pay-as-you-go, so light days cost cents and heavy days just draw down the balance faster.
What should you look for in a Netherlands eSIM?
Check the networks, the price per GB, expiry, hotspot, account requirements, cross-border coverage and calls.
- Networks. Look for access to KPN or Vodafone. Anon eSIM uses both, and your phone picks the stronger signal.
- Pricing model. Day-based bundles charge for time; per-GB billing charges for what you use. Anon eSIM is $1.80/GB.
- Expiry. Many bundles and prepaid SIMs expire after 30 days. An Anon eSIM balance never expires.
- Hotspot. Some plans limit tethering. Anon eSIM includes it at full speed.
- Account. Some eSIMs need an email account or an app login. Anon eSIM needs neither.
- Cross-border trips. Check that Belgium, Germany and your other stops are covered on the same eSIM.
- Calls and texts. Most travel eSIMs, including Anon eSIM, are data-only. Use WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime for calls.
What is arriving at Schiphol like?
Schiphol has no carrier stores in arrivals and its free Wi-Fi doesn't reach the train platforms, so install the eSIM before you land.
Schiphol has no carrier-run stores in arrivals, only third-party shops in Schiphol Plaza and vending machines, and SIMs there tend to cost more than the same SIM on the high street. Free airport Wi-Fi doesn't reach the NS train platforms, so install the eSIM at home or before you head downstairs. A pre-installed Anon eSIM connects to KPN or Vodafone as you leave the aircraft and keeps working on the train into Amsterdam Centraal.
How much data does a Netherlands trip use?
Most visitors use 300–500 MB a day, so a five-day trip is about 1.5–3 GB.
Five days in Amsterdam plus a day trip: maps, NS app, messaging, photos
5 days · 1.5–3 GB · $ 2.70–$5.40 at $1.80/GB
Dutch city trips run 300–500 MB a day. The NS app, maps and messaging are light; photos to the family group add up. Five days is 1.5–3 GB, or $2.70–$5.40 at $1.80/GB. Cafés and hotels almost always have Wi-Fi, which keeps the number down.
Which networks and speeds do you get in the Netherlands?
KPN and Vodafone, with 5G in the big cities and fast LTE almost everywhere else.
Anon eSIM connects through roaming agreements with KPN and Vodafone, with 5G typically available to roamers. Your phone picks the strongest partner signal automatically and re-selects as you move - there is nothing to configure.
Among the best mobile coverage in the world - flat terrain, dense towers. No meaningful dead zones.
KPN is the largest network with the widest coverage; Vodafone is close behind. Flat terrain and dense towers mean the Netherlands has no meaningful dead zones. KPN switched off 3G in 2022, so very old 3G-only phones won't connect, but every eSIM-capable phone supports LTE.
Odido (formerly T-Mobile Netherlands) isn't one of Anon eSIM's listed partners here, so your phone connects to KPN or Vodafone.
The APN is provisioned automatically with the eSIM profile. You do not need to enter APN settings manually on iOS or Android - the only switch you must flip is Data Roaming: ON for the Anon eSIM line, because the service is technically a roaming profile everywhere it operates.
KPN · Vodafone
Partner networks, selected automatically
5G
Typical roaming speeds, hotspot at full speed
200+ countries, one balance
Same eSIM keeps working across borders
Does it work on NS trains?
Yes. Most intercity routes are covered, and the high-speed line's tunnels between Amsterdam and Breda have had coverage since February 2025.
KPN led the work, with Odido and Vodafone, to cover all five tunnels on the high-speed line, including the 7 km Groene Hart tunnel. Vodafone is also upgrading coverage along dozens of rail routes, so a few regional lines still have short gaps.
You can check in at the gates with a contactless bank card or phone wallet, so it helps to have data working before you reach the platform to plan your route in the NS app.
How do you set up your eSIM for the Netherlands?
Before you buy, check that your phone supports eSIM and isn't locked to a carrier on our compatible devices page. For a full walkthrough, see how to use an eSIM for international travel.
- 1
Buy credit
Pick an amount ($5 minimum) and pay by card, Apple Pay / Google Pay, or crypto (BTC, Lightning, USDT). No account, no email, no ID.
- 2
Install the eSIM
Scan the QR code from another screen, or tap “Install on this iPhone” for a one-tap LPA install. Works on iOS 12.1+ and Android 10+ with eSIM support.
- 3
Turn on Data Roaming
Enable Data Roaming for the Anon eSIM line only. Your primary SIM's settings are untouched. APN configures itself - no manual settings.
- 4
Land in Netherlands and connect
Your phone attaches to KPN (or Vodafone) within a minute of leaving airplane mode.
- 5
Top up whenever
Balance running low? Add credit from the account page in under a minute. Same eSIM, same ICCID, no new QR - and no setup fee ever again.
Do you need ID for a SIM in the Netherlands?
No. Dutch law doesn't require ID for prepaid SIMs, and Anon eSIM doesn't ask for any either.
Dutch law doesn't require ID for prepaid SIMs: the government looked at mandatory registration and rejected it in 2017 and again in 2019. Some shops and operators still ask for details by policy, or to unlock bonus credit. Anon eSIM asks for nothing at all, and as a roaming profile issued abroad it creates no Dutch subscriber record.
Anon eSIM is an anonymous eSIM everywhere it works, including the Netherlands: no account and no ID at checkout. Your payment provider and the networks you connect to still see their own data, such as payment details and your device's identifiers.
On arrival: Schiphol (AMS) has fast train Wi-Fi into Amsterdam - complete eSIM setup en route if needed. KPN 5G reaches the arrivals hall.
Typical speeds: 80-200 Mbps on 4G; 300-800 Mbps on 5G, among the fastest in Europe. Prices from the live rates data: $1.80/GB, metered per MB against a prepaid USD balance.
Registration status
Registration by carrier policy
Anon eSIM sidesteps this entirely - the eSIM is issued from an ID-free jurisdiction and you use it as a visitor's roaming SIM in Netherlands. No local paperwork.
How does Anon eSIM compare with a Dutch prepaid SIM or a bundle eSIM?
A Dutch prepaid SIM is cheaper per GB and needs no ID, but expires after 30 days; Anon eSIM works before you land and never expires.
| Option | Typical price | ID check | Data expiry | Germany and France |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anon eSIM | $1.80/GB ($9 for 5 GB) | None | Never | Same eSIM and balance |
| Lebara prepaid SIM | €15 for 8 GB / 30 days* | Not required by law | 30 days | EU roaming terms of the plan |
| Odido prepaid SIM | €25 for 10 GB / 30 days* | Not required by law | 30 days | EU roaming terms of the plan |
| Bundle eSIM (e.g. Airalo) | About $9–11 for 5 GB / 30 days* | Email account | 30 days | Varies by plan |
*Local SIM prices as reported in September 2026; bundle price indicative. Check current prices before you buy.
Because Dutch SIMs don't need ID, a local SIM is a sensible choice for a long stay with heavy data use. For short trips, arriving connected, or a route that continues across Europe, the eSIM is simpler.
Compare providers on price, expiry and KYC in the no-KYC eSIM comparison.
Can one eSIM cover the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany?
Yes. The same eSIM and balance keep working when you cross the border; only the per-GB rate changes.
Germany and France are $1.60/GB and the UK is $1.80/GB. Check Belgium and other countries on the rates page.
The eSIM re-attaches to a local network automatically as you cross the border. There's no new QR code and no new plan.
Travel profiles for Netherlands
Trip-specific breakdowns of what to expect, how much data, and what it costs.
Popular cities in Netherlands
Netherlands eSIM FAQ
Does a Netherlands eSIM work on NS trains?
+
Yes. Most intercity routes are covered, and all five tunnels on the Amsterdam–Breda high-speed line have had mobile coverage since February 2025. Some regional lines still have short gaps while rail coverage is upgraded.
Do I need ID to buy a SIM in the Netherlands?
+
Not by law, though some shops ask anyway. Anon eSIM never does: pay $5 or more and scan the QR code.
Is 5G available to roamers?
+
Yes, in the major cities on KPN and Vodafone. Elsewhere you'll get fast LTE, often 80–200 Mbps.
Will it work in Belgium and Germany on the same trip?
+
Yes. The eSIM re-attaches to a local network as you cross. Germany is $1.60/GB; check Belgium's current rate on the rates page.
Is hotspot included?
+
Yes, at full speed with no separate cap. Tethering a laptop on the train to Rotterdam works fine.
Can I get a Dutch phone number with an eSIM?
+
Not with Anon eSIM. It's data-only, so use WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime for calls, and keep your home SIM active for texts and two-factor codes.
The bottom line
The easiest Netherlands eSIM is one you install at home: $1.80/GB on KPN or Vodafone, no airport detour, and a balance that carries over to your next trip.
If you're travelling further, the one eSIM for all of Europe page lists every country's rate, and the rates page covers the rest of the world.
Other europe destinations
Works the moment you land
Phone connects to a local network in Netherlands automatically.
Installed in 60 seconds
QR or one-tap install. APN configures itself.
One eSIM for the whole region
Cross borders and the same eSIM picks the local network.