Telecommunications in the Netherlands


This article is intended to give an overview of telecommunications in the Netherlands.

Mail

The postal service in the Netherlands is performed by PostNL in most cases—which has, as of 2008, a monopoly on letters lighter than 50 g. The monopoly is planned to expire in 2009. PostNL's competitors include Selekt Mail and Sandd. Post offices that are owned by Postbank and TNT Post have been earmarked for closure between 2008 and 2013.
Postal codes in the Netherlands are formed of four digits then two letters, separated by a space—, for example.

Telephone

Telephones - main lines in use:
8.000.000
Telephones - mobile cellular subscribers:
17.200.000
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellular telephone system is one of the largest in Europe with three major network operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications.
international:
9 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat

Area codes

Non-geographical codes

Starting with
  • 06 - Mobile/Cell phones
  • 066 - Pager numbers
  • 0676 - Internet service provider dial-up line
  • 0800 - Free service numbers
  • 084 - Non-geographical personal numbers
  • 085 - VoIP numbers
  • 087 - Non-geographical personal numbers
  • 088 - Large companies with more than one address
  • 0900 - Paid information numbers
  • 0906 - Adult lines
  • 0909 - Entertainment
  • 091 - VoIP numbers

Radio, television and internet

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3
Radios:
15.3 million
Television broadcast stations:
25
Televisions:
6.700.000
Internet service providers :
33
Country code : .nl

Countries and Special municipalities