To call the Netherlands from Belgium, dial 0031 or +31, then the Dutch number without its first 0. A Dutch mobile number like 06 12 34 56 78 becomes +31 6 12 34 56 78. From a Belgian GSM, a call to the Netherlands is an international call, not roaming, so it is usually not included in your bundle. EU rules cap the price at €0.19 per minute and €0.06 per text, excluding VAT, which comes to about €0.23 and €0.07 including 21% VAT. For calls without a per minute rate, use WhatsApp, FaceTime or another internet calling app over wifi or mobile data. This guide shows how to dial every type of Dutch number, what each Belgian operator charges and how to keep the cost down.
How to dial a Dutch number from Belgium
Replace the first 0 of the Dutch number with the Netherlands country code, +31 or 0031. Both work from a Belgian GSM, and +31 also works from abroad, so save your Dutch contacts in that format.
Dutch number | What it is | Dial from Belgium |
|---|---|---|
06 12 34 56 78 | Mobile number | +31 6 12 34 56 78 |
020 123 45 67 | Landline in Amsterdam | +31 20 123 45 67 |
010 123 45 67 | Landline in Rotterdam | +31 10 123 45 67 |
070 123 45 67 | Landline in The Hague | +31 70 123 45 67 |
0800 or 0900 number | Free or paid service line | Often not reachable from abroad |
A Dutch number has nine digits after the country code. If you count ten, you probably kept the 0. The Netherlands is in the same time zone as Belgium, so you never need to calculate a time difference before you call.
What does a call to the Netherlands cost?
A call to the Netherlands from Belgium costs about €0.22 to €0.23 per minute on most Belgian mobile plans, because it is billed at the international EU rate. Unlimited calls in most Belgian plans only cover numbers in Belgium. These are the standard rates without an extra option, as listed by CallMePower in October 2026:
Operator | Per minute to the Netherlands | Per text | Option for calls abroad |
|---|---|---|---|
Proximus | €0.23 | €0.07 | 25 minutes and 25 texts for €4.99 a month, or 250 minutes for €9.99 a month |
Orange | €0.2299 | €0.0726 | International calling options from €5.95 a month |
Telenet | €0.22 | €0.07 | 2,000 minutes to 46 countries for €10 a month |
BASE | €0.22 | €0.07 | 60 minutes for €5, 180 for €10 or 600 for €15 |
Mobile Vikings | €0.22 | €0.07 | Flat rate, no option |
Scarlet | €0.2299 | €0.0726 | No option |
hey! | €0.2299 | €0.0763 | No option |
Check your own plan before you call often, because some business plans and options include minutes to the EU. If you are on an option and want the regulated EU rate instead, you can ask your operator to switch you back, which the BIPT says must happen free of charge.
International call or roaming?
The rate depends on where you are, not on where the number is from:
Situation | What you pay |
|---|---|
You are in Belgium and call a Dutch number | International rate, up to €0.19 per minute excluding VAT |
You are in the Netherlands and call a Dutch number | Roaming at Belgian rates, within your bundle |
You are in the Netherlands and call a Belgian number | Roaming at Belgian rates, within your bundle |
So a call from Antwerp to Breda costs more than the same call made from Breda. Inside the EU, "roam like at home" covers you when you travel, but not when you call abroad from home.
How to call the Netherlands for free
Call over the internet instead of the phone network, and you pay no per minute rate at all. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal and Google Meet all work if the other person uses the same app. On wifi the call costs nothing, and on mobile data it uses very little:
Activity | Data used |
|---|---|
WhatsApp voice call | 0.3 to 0.5 MB per minute |
WhatsApp video call | About 5 MB per minute |
WhatsApp message | Under 1 KB |
A 20 minute voice call every day for a week | About 70 MB |
These figures come from Firsty's guide on how much data WhatsApp uses. When you need to reach a landline, a Dutch business or someone who is not on an app, a normal call is still the only way. For that, Firsty's international calling reaches more than 200 countries with credit from €1 that never expires, and shows the rate before you dial.
Who calls the Netherlands often?
Calls to the Netherlands are part of daily life for many Belgians: families split across the border, Flemish students in Maastricht or Eindhoven, people who work in Breda or Rotterdam, and anyone who buys from a Dutch webshop. If that is you, a few minutes a week quickly add up to a few euros a month on top of your plan. Want your number hidden when you call a company? Read how to hide your number when calling in Belgium.
Telecom that works for you
Calling a country one hour up the motorway should not cost extra. Firsty is building telecom that works for you, not against you: no SIM card to swap, no roaming setting to remember, no zone chart to check and no surprise bill. Firsty's Belgian plans are on their way, from Firsty 15GB and Firsty 100GB for Belgium and the EU to Firsty World for people who travel far, and the waitlist is open. Every connection Firsty sells also connects someone in Belgium who needs it, not as charity, but because that is how the business works. Things are moving, so keep an eye on what Firsty is building and discover more at Firsty.app.
FAQ
What is the country code of the Netherlands?
The country code of the Netherlands is +31, or 0031 when you dial from a Belgian phone. Put it in front of the Dutch number and drop the first 0, so 06 12 34 56 78 becomes +31 6 12 34 56 78.
Which country uses 0031?
0031 is the international prefix for the Netherlands. A call from a number starting with +31 or 0031 comes from a Dutch phone or line, and Dutch mobile numbers continue with a 6.
Is calling the Netherlands from Belgium free?
No, not with a normal call from a Belgian GSM. A call to the Netherlands counts as an international call, capped by the EU at €0.19 per minute excluding VAT. Calls through WhatsApp or FaceTime over wifi are free.
Is calling the Netherlands included in my unlimited calls?
Usually not. Unlimited calls in most Belgian plans only cover Belgian numbers, so calls to the Netherlands are billed per minute unless your plan or option includes EU minutes.
Do I pay roaming when I call from the Netherlands?
No extra roaming charge applies inside the EU. When you are in the Netherlands, calls to Dutch and Belgian numbers count as roaming and are billed as in Belgium, within your bundle and its fair use limits.
Why can't I call a Dutch number from Belgium?
Check that you dialled +31 or 0031 and removed the first 0 of the Dutch number. Some Dutch 0800 and 0900 service numbers cannot be reached from abroad, so look for a regular +31 number on the company's website instead.
