Cellphone Service Provider in Netherlands
May 4, 2017 12:23 PM Subscribe
Another question related to our upcoming vacation trip to Amsterdam. We're bringing an unlocked GSM smartphone with us and planning on buying a SIM with a small pay-as-you-go plan so we can use apps like maps and such while walking around without having to duck into places to use WiFi. We'll want 4G/LTE, since all we will really use is data. If we can get the SIM delivered to us in the US and topped up online prior to departure, that would be a plus. Please recommend a carrier to use (or to avoid).
I would also recommend using a navigation app that works offline; that'll save you tons of data. I use the one from wego.here.com and download the maps that I'll need beforehand (in your case: the Netherlands). It works brilliantly.
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:28 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:28 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I agree about offline maps- I use another called maps.me. If that's all you really need at first, you shouldn't need to worry about getting a SIM card in advance. It will be easy to get one when you arrive from a mobile store. On my last trip, I got a card from Lycamobile (not sure if there's any difference in coverage in comparison to Vodafone, but it worked well for me. I also needed it for local calls).
posted by pinochiette at 4:56 PM on May 4, 2017
posted by pinochiette at 4:56 PM on May 4, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks, we know all about the offline maps.
posted by briank at 5:52 PM on May 4, 2017
posted by briank at 5:52 PM on May 4, 2017
Best answer: I used a Vodafone SIM when I was in the Netherlands in 2015. It was cheap and easy; I popped into a store and 10 or 15 minutes later I was back on the street with working cellular data. I think it also came with a modest amount of texting and call time but I never used either of those; I only wanted the data. It made it fantastically easy to navigate Amsterdam and get around using their public transportation system.
My plan didn't work in other countries, though, so definitely see if you can get what humboldt32 mentions unless you will only be in the Netherlands during your trip.
posted by Nerd of the North at 6:21 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
My plan didn't work in other countries, though, so definitely see if you can get what humboldt32 mentions unless you will only be in the Netherlands during your trip.
posted by Nerd of the North at 6:21 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I JUST did this with Vodafone NL and my data worked perfectly in Portugal and the UK as well as the Netherlands. This is an exhaustive guide: http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Euro8
posted by mdonley at 12:48 AM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by mdonley at 12:48 AM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
You can buy sim cards anywhere in The Netherlands - think supermarket anywhere. They often hand out sim cards at Schiphol arrivals. Companies like Lebara have great deals. These are the cards I buy when I have guests from abroad staying over.
posted by ouke at 2:33 AM on May 5, 2017
posted by ouke at 2:33 AM on May 5, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by humboldt32 at 1:21 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]