Bulk SMS in the Netherlands is one of the simpler EU markets as of 2026: alphanumeric sender IDs need no pre-registration and Dutch and international long codes are delivered, while marketing needs opt-in consent. VoIP in the Netherlands is regulated by the ACM, which treats spoofed Dutch numbers from abroad as a breach of the Telecommunications Act; a law making network blocking mandatory is still in preparation.
Rules last checked: October 2026.
Bulk SMS in the Netherlands: sender ID rules
| Sender type | Status in the Netherlands as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alphanumeric | Supported, no operator pre-registration, usually preserved |
| Dutch mobile long code (06) | Supported, two-way capable |
| International long code | Supported |
| Short code | Not offered by the mobile operators for A2P |
The absence of a register does not mean anything goes. Providers refuse sender IDs that imitate banks, parcel carriers or government bodies, because those names drive most smishing. Use your own brand name, keep it consistent and avoid generic words. See SMS sender ID types.
Consent and content rules
Marketing SMS to consumers needs prior opt-in consent under the Dutch Telecommunications Act and the GDPR, and each message must include a free, easy opt-out. Send marketing in daytime hours. The ACM enforces the electronic marketing rules and can fine senders. Common refusals on Dutch routes are cannabis content, unlicensed gambling, phishing-like links and public URL shorteners. More in SMS opt-in and opt-out compliance and SMS content restrictions.
Dutch mobile networks
Three networks carry the traffic: KPN, Vodafone (VodafoneZiggo) and Odido (formerly T-Mobile Netherlands), plus MVNOs such as Lebara, Simyo and Ben. Dutch mobile numbers start with 06. Dutch text fits GSM-7 in most cases, so a standard message holds 160 characters (concatenated long SMS explains longer ones).
VoIP in the Netherlands: regulator and numbering
VoIP is legal and common in the Netherlands. The ACM (Authority for Consumers and Markets) supervises telecoms and issues numbers, and providers of public electronic communications services must register with it. Numbering as of 2026:
- geographic numbers start with 0 plus an area code (020 Amsterdam, 010 Rotterdam);
- mobile numbers start with 06;
- 085 and 088 are non-geographic numbers widely used by companies and VoIP services;
- 0800 is freephone and 0900 premium rate.
Mobile termination costs more than fixed, so rate decks split the two (mobile termination rates).
CLI rules and anti-spoofing in the Netherlands
Numbers may only be used by the party they are assigned to. The ACM states that spoofing Dutch numbers from abroad is prohibited under the Telecommunications Act, and it has withdrawn Dutch numbers used by fake help desks together with operators. Its powers stop at the EU border, though, and as of 2026 Dutch operators are not yet legally required to block calls from abroad that show a Dutch number, unlike Belgium and Italy (Germany suppresses the number instead). The government has consulted on an amendment to the Telecommunications Act with new numbering duties for operators and wider ACM powers against spoofing; check its status before you plan Dutch CLI on international traffic.
Since July 2021, telemarketing calls to consumers need prior consent, except to existing customers, and callers must show a number that can be called back. See CLI spoofing rules.
What buyers ask for on Dutch routes
- CLI delivery and whether the CLI is a number you hold (local CLI explained).
- Separate fixed, 085/088 and mobile rates, plus ASR and ACD for call center traffic.
- For SMS: direct connections to KPN, Vodafone and Odido and OTP delivery times.
Check coverage on the Netherlands VoIP destination page and the Netherlands SMS destination page, or read about our VoIP termination and A2P SMS routes. VoIPMatcher sources the route from its carriers and manages it; buyers and sellers never see each other. Request a Netherlands voice route or request a Netherlands SMS route.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register a sender ID in the Netherlands?
No national registration exists as of 2026, and Dutch operators accept alphanumeric sender IDs without pre-registration. Providers still check the name: IDs that imitate banks, parcel services or public bodies are refused. Use your own brand name and keep it the same across campaigns so recipients recognise it.
Are short codes available in the Netherlands?
Not for most international A2P senders. The Dutch mobile operators do not offer short codes on standard A2P routes, so businesses send from an alphanumeric sender ID for one-way traffic or from a Dutch mobile number when they need replies. Ask your provider which numeric options it can supply.
Is telemarketing by phone allowed in the Netherlands?
Only with consent. Since July 2021 companies may call consumers for marketing only if the person has opted in, or is an existing customer called about similar products. The caller must show a number that can be called back. The ACM enforces these rules and can fine companies that break them.
What are 085 and 088 numbers in the Netherlands?
They are non-geographic Dutch numbers not tied to a city. Companies use 088 numbers for national customer lines and 085 numbers are common with VoIP and cloud telephony services. Calls to them are usually charged like normal fixed calls. Wholesale rate decks often price them separately from geographic and mobile numbers.
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