Traveling to The Netherlands and flying to Amsterdam and wondering if you can buy a prepaid sim card on arrival at Amsterdam Airport? Don't get stuck with high roaming costs or slow overseas data roaming plans. This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at Amsterdam Airport.
Find out everything you need to know about where to buy a prepaid sim card at Amsterdam Airport, up to date prices as per January 2024, my recommendation, a vlog with my experiences on arrival, the best e-sim cards for The Netherlands, info about international sim cards and more.
Buying a prepaid sim card at Amsterdam Airport is much more expensive than ordering a sim card for The Netherlands or Europe on the internet.
In the past buying a local prepaid sim card was always the first thing I did when arriving in a new country. Nowadays I mostly use e-sim cards to stay connected when traveling abroad.
Traveltomtom encourages travelers to stay connected for many reasons but not to waste money on high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans.
Since I am on a journey to visit every country in the world I get to a lot of different countries and because I like to document all my travel tips you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world on Traveltomtom: USA, New York, Thailand, USA, Kigali, Cameroon, Panama, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Canada, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Barcelona, Dublin, London, Rome, etc.
I am from Holland, but I haven't lived in my own country for more than 10 years now, so even I, every time I visit The Netherlands I need to figure out a way to stay connected. As I mentioned before I mostly get an e-sim card nowadays.
Looking for travel inspiration and things to do in The Netherlands then check out my list of the best places to visit in The Netherlands. Remember this is my country, locals know best!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends an e-sim card for The Netherlands, easy fast and cheaper than the prepaid sim card plans they sell at Amsterdam Airport.
However, if you insist on buying a sim at Amsterdam Airport than Traveltomtom recommends buying a sim card at L-Mobi at Amsterdam Airport near arrivals 3. Here you can get the best sim card deal for The Netherlands. However, the best deal means €40 EUR for 15 GB data. They do NOT sell e-sim cards at Amsterdam Airport, only physical prepaid sim cards are available for tourists.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for The Netherlands via either Nomad, SimOptions or Airalo.
Prepaid sim cards for the Netherlands at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol are expensive. You will find cheaper deals buying a sim card in Amsterdam city center at one of the official mobile internet operator stores in The Netherlands like: Vodafone, KPN or T-Mobile.
A great option for travelers is an international sim card. On Traveltomtom you can find an article with a comparison of the best international sim cards with global coverage in 2024. Some of the offers are much better than the local prepaid sim cards for The Netherlands they sell at Amsterdam Airport. Find the one that fits your trip in the link above or even easier an e-sim cards for The Netherlands/Europe.
Best e-sim cards for The Netherlands
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to the Amsterdam in 2024 is an e-sim card. You can order one on the internet and it takes just a couple minutes. No more visiting a sim card store and swapping a physical prepaid sim card.
You order an e-sim card for The Netherlands on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Netherlands e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Amsterdam it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for The Netherlands.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards for pretty much every country in the world. Check out the Airalo e-sim card plans for The Netherlands in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD
Click here for more info or to order a Netherlands e-sim card via Airalo.
The above HèHè e-sim cards are only valid in The Netherlands and do not support calling/texting. They are 5G ready and operate on the 4G/5G mobile network of KPN and Vodafone.
SimOptions
Traveltomtom has used SimOptions in more than 50 countries around the world. SimOptions sells international e-sim cards for traveling to The Netherlands. These e-sims are valid in multiple countries, include free EU data roaming and support calls and texting:
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data (5G ready) + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 50 GB data (5G ready) + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 28 days = $59.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for traveling to The Netherlands via SimOptions.
Nomad
Nomad is another e-sim provider tested and reviewed by Traveltomtom in more than 10 countries around the world. Here are the Nomad e-sim card plans for The Netherlands in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $19 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD
Click here for more info or to order an e-sim card for The Netherlands via Nomad.
Make sure your phone is unlocked and is e-sim card compatible before ordering an e-sim card for the Netherlands.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then Traveltomtom recommends buying a physical prepaid sim card for Netherlands online. For $44.90 USD you get 30 GB data including unlimited texting and calling all over Europe.
Click here for more info and offers or to order a physical prepaid sim card for The Netherlands via SimOptions.
Netherlands sim cards and free EU roaming
Free EU roaming means that you can use your data, voice and text allowance on Netherlands sim cards all over Europe. No borders, no roaming fees! Therefore you can use a France sim card in Holland and a Greece sim card in Denmark without any extra charges. Good thing about Netherlands sim cards are that they all include free EU data roaming.
But that does not mean that sim cards from The Netherlands are the best ones for traveling in Europe. Check out Traveltomtom's list of the best sim cards for Europe travel in 2024.
Or check out all my tips and find more info about EU data roaming costs in my guide for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe, including a list of the best prepaid sim card for tourists per EU country.
Looking for an Amsterdam Airport Hotel? I stayed in Van Der Valk A4 Hotel, with a free shuttle from the airport and an amazing breakfast from 5:00 am onwards.
Traveling to the Netherlands? This is your chance to go off the beaten path! Netherlands is more than Amsterdam! Check out my blog about all the amazing places to visit in Netherlands.
Arriving Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has very fast, reliable and free WiFi for everyone. Well done! That is at least what I call a warm welcome to my country.
After disembarking the plane you will end up in the main airport between all departing passengers. There is no separate access for arriving and departing passengers. Which means Amsterdam Airport is very busy, but it also means you have access to all shops, facilities and restaurants before you go through customs and pick up your luggage.
The sign posting is very clear and if you follow the signs you will get to passport control first and then directly behind passport control there are the luggage belts.
At the luggage belts there are ATM's, airline service desks and public transport ticket machines.
There are three Arrival Halls: 1, 2 and 3 and depending on the airline and the origin of your flight you will end up in one of them. Every Baggage Claim hall has one sliding door into the arrival hall.
Once you get to the arrival hall there are loads of shops, supermarkets, (fast food) restaurants, bars and convenience stores.
Where to buy a sim card at Amsterdam Airport
We always think we have everything so damn well organized here in our small country. But where are the mobile interner operator stores at Schiphol? Where is Vodafone, KPN or Odido? Why is there no official phone store at Amsterdam Airport?
All info and prices below are updated as per January 2024. Prices are in Euros and €1 EUR = $1.09 USD and $1 USD = €0.91 EUR.
L.Mobi Kiosk main hall Amsterdam Airport
When you walk from Arrivals 3 straight into the main hall of Schiphol Airport there is something like a trolley or tiny little kiosk of L.Mobi Mobile. Here you can buy your prepaid sim card for the Netherlands. See the prices below.
For €40 EUR ($44 USD) you get 15 GB data and unlimited calls in The Netherlands. Only physical prepaid sim cards are available, no e-sim cards.
For example an Ireland prepaid sim card gives you 20 GB data for €20 EUR ($22 USD), sim cards at Amsterdam Airport are expensive compared to other European countries.
Service Point Store
Between Arrivals 3 and 4 there is another place to buy a prepaid sim card at Amsterdam Airport and it is called Service Point. There is a price sheet available when you walk in. It is a pretty busy store, not just for sim cards, so expect a little less service here.
However, it is a very easy conclusion that the sim cards here are more expensive as you only get 10 GB data for €40.
Airport Telecom
Now there is finally a proper place to buy a sim card at Amsterdam Airport, but the offers aren't that great.The Airport Telecom store is located between Arrivals 1 and 2. They sell sim cards from multiple operators like Vodafone and Lycamobile.
These are the up to date prices for an Amsterdam airport sim cards as per January 2024. For €40 EUR ($44 USD) you get 12 GB data. A simple comparison tells us that this is also less value for money than other offers we have seen.
Unfortunately buying a sim card at Amsterdam Airport is not great for if you are traveling onwards in Europe. Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a sim card for your trip to Europe at Amsterdam Airport. Online you can find way better Europe sim card deals with for example 20 GB data for $49.90 USD. Click here to see my list of the best European sim cards in 2024.
Best Amsterdam Airport sim card in 2024
Although rather expensive the best sim card at Amsterdam Airport can be bought from the L.Mobi Mobile shop nearby Arrivals 3. You pay €40 EUR ($44 USD) and get 15 GB data.
As said before buying a sim card at Amsterdam Airport is expensive and not recommended. For those looking to get an e-sim card, you can only order them online. You can not buy an e-sim card at Amsterdam Airport as of January 2024.
A better option is to wait until you get to Amsterdam city center and buy a sim card for The Netherlands there. Read my article about the best prepaid sim card for tourists in The Netherlands in 2024 for all available Dutch sim cards in stores across Netherlands.
Too much hassle? I understand. Ordering an e-sim card for The Netherlands is not only easier and done faster and you are online as soon as the plane lands... it is also cheaper!
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for The Netherlands via either Nomad, SimOptions or Airalo.
Order a prepaid sim card for The Netherlands online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Amsterdam online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in The Netherlands with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Amsterdam, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for The Netherlands:
1. O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data
- $2 calling credit (no top-up)
- valid for 30 days
- valid in 34 countries
- 4G/LTE
2. Three Data Pack - $24.90
- 10 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms
- Valid 30 days
- Valid in 56 countries
- 4G/LTE
3. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90
- 12 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 30 minutes worldwide
- 200 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
- Valid in 34 countries
- 4G/LTE
4. Bouygues Telecom - $44.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- Valid 30 days
- Valid in 47 countries
- 4G/LTE
5. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
- Valid in 34 countries
- 4G/LTE
Click here for more info or to order an international prepaid sim card for The Netherlands via SimOptions.
Personally Traveltomtom recommends the Bouygues Telecom or the Orange sim card with 30 GB data. I have used these sim cards a lot in the past and never had an issue.
But as mentioned many times before nowadays when traveling to Europe or The Netherlands I always use an e-sim card. It is just so easy and done fast and as soon as the plane lands you are online.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for The Netherlands via either Nomad, SimOptions or Airalo.
Want to see all the options then check out my lately updated article about the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024.
If you really want to buy a sim card in the Netherlands then wait till you get to Amsterdam city center and search for either a KPN, Vodafone or T-Mobile shop nearby. In this link you can read all about the best prepaid Netherlands sim card.
My to go to hotel at Schiphol Airport is the Van Der Valk A4 Hotel. It provides a free shuttle from the Amsterdam Airport.
If you are interested what it looks like traveling to every country in the world then check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom for some serious wanderlust. As of January 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.
For any specific questions please leave me a message below. I am happy to help you out with your travel questions about traveling in the Netherlands or buying a sim card for your trip to Europe.
Enjoy your trip to my beloved country!
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for traveling to Amsterdam are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you.