What is a country calling code?

A country calling code is the numeric prefix you dial before a national phone number to route a call to a specific country. For example, +1 reaches the United States and Canada, +44 reaches the United Kingdom, and +91 reaches India. The plus sign stands in for the international access code your network uses.

How do I dial an international number correctly?

Start with your exit or access code (or the + symbol on a mobile), add the destination country code, then the area or city code without its leading zero, and finally the local subscriber number. So a London line looks like +44 20 7946 0000.

What does the plus (+) sign mean in a phone number?

The + is a universal placeholder for the international dialing prefix. Saving numbers in +country-code format means they connect from any country without editing the access code, which is why it is the recommended way to store contacts.

Why do the United States and Canada share the country code +1?

Both countries belong to the North American Numbering Plan, a shared system that also covers several Caribbean nations. They use the same +1 country code but are separated by distinct three-digit area codes.

Do I need to remove the leading zero from a phone number when calling internationally?

Usually yes. Many countries print a trunk prefix, often a 0, for domestic calls. When dialing from abroad you drop that leading zero after the country code. For example, a UK mobile written as 07700 900000 becomes +44 7700 900000.

What are the area codes for Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and why does it matter for letsdial virtual numbers?

Amsterdam uses area code 20 and Rotterdam uses 10; The Hague uses 70 and Utrecht uses 30. These four cities form the Randstad, the Netherlands' primary economic zone. If you're setting up a letsdial virtual number for the Dutch market, a 20 (Amsterdam) number carries the strongest commercial recognition internationally.

What is Dutch business communication culture like, and how does it affect how I use letsdial?

The Netherlands is known for its direct, to-the-point communication style — Dutch business contacts generally prefer concise, agenda-driven calls without lengthy small talk. Scheduling a letsdial call via email first is good practice, but once confirmed, expect a brisk and efficient conversation. Hierarchy is relatively flat, so direct communication with decision-makers is more accessible than in some other European cultures.

What time zone is the Netherlands in, and when is the ideal calling window?

The Netherlands operates on CET (UTC+1) in winter and CEST (UTC+2) in summer. Standard business hours are 9 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday. For callers in the US Eastern time zone using letsdial, the ideal overlap window is 9–11 AM CET, which is 3–5 AM ET — meaning pre-scheduled early-morning US calls or end-of-day Dutch calls work best.

Are Dutch mobile numbers different in format from landlines in letsdial?

Yes — Dutch mobile numbers start with 06 domestically (e.g., 06 12 345 678), which becomes +31 6 12 345 678 in international format (the trunk zero is dropped from 06 to become 6). Landlines have area codes starting with 0 domestically. letsdial handles both correctly when entered in full +31 international format.

Can letsdial help my business establish a Dutch virtual number for inbound customer calls from the Netherlands?

Yes. letsdial provides Dutch virtual numbers with Amsterdam (020/+31 20) and other regional area codes that allow international businesses to receive calls from Dutch customers at local rates. The number rings on your team anywhere in the world, and Dutch customers see a familiar local number — particularly important given the Netherlands' high internet and e-commerce adoption rate.

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Netherlands

+31

Country code

International prefix

The Netherlands' country code +31 connects one of the world's most open and trade-focused economies. Home to Philips, ASML, Shell, and a world-class logistics network via Rotterdam, the Netherlands is the natural European headquarters for many global companies.

Best hours:9 AM – 5 PM CET

Language:Dutch

Capital:Amsterdam

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🇳🇱

Netherlands

NL · Europe

+31

dial code

Capital

Amsterdam

Currency

EUR (€)

Language

Dutch

Population

18 million

Best calling window

9 AM – 5 PM CET

12 AM

12 PM

11 PM

Central European Time (CET) · UTC+1 to UTC+2 (CEST)

Country

Netherlands

2 Digit ISO

Country Calling Code

+31

ISO Alpha-3

NLN

Loading map…

Amsterdam

Capital

Live

Amsterdam

--:--:-- --

Time Zone

Central European Time (CET)

Quick Facts

CurrencyEUR (€)

LanguageDutch

Population18 million

GMT OffsetUTC+1 to UTC+2 (CEST)

Best Hours9 AM – 5 PM CET

Step by step

How to call Netherlands from abroad

International dialing is a four-step process.
Use + on mobile to skip the exit code entirely.

Step 01

Exit code

Dial from US/Canada (or use +)

Step 02

+31

Country code

Netherlands international prefix

Step 03

Area / city code

Local routing prefix

Step 04

123 4567

Local number

Subscriber number

dialing-example.txt

International format

00—31—20—123 4567

Shorthand (works from any device): +31 20 123 4567

Calling Guide

Best time to call Netherlands · Central European Time (CET)

View guide

Why letsdial

Benefits of calling Netherlands
with letsdial

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Get a local +31 number

An Amsterdam +31 20 or Rotterdam +31 10 caller ID signals a Dutch business presence — essential in one of Europe's most internationally open economies.

Netherlands and 50+ countries, one plan

Call the Netherlands and 50+ European and global markets from one letsdial subscription — no per-city add-ons.

Full call analytics

Monitor every Dutch call in CET/CEST — track answer rates, agent performance, and peak business hours in one real-time dashboard.

Works on any device

Mobile app, desktop, or IP phone — your +31 number lets your team present as locally based in the Netherlands from anywhere.

Unified Communications

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

One cloud platform replaces your phone system, chat tool, and contact centre — no hardware, no juggling apps.
Reach Netherlands and 50+ countries from one dashboard.

50+

Countries covered

99.9%

Uptime SLA

2 min

Setup time

Hardware needed

Voice & Video Calls

Crystal-clear HD calls to Netherlands and 50+ countries from one number.

Team Messaging

Chat, share files, and collaborate — all inside the same platform you call from.

Real-Time Analytics

Live dashboards for call volumes, answer rates, and agent performance.

Global Number Coverage

Local +31 numbers plus 50+ country codes — managed from one dashboard.

Format reference

Netherlands& neighbouring countries

Dutch numbers under +31 use area codes of 2–3 digits — Amsterdam (20), Rotterdam (10), The Hague (70) — followed by 7-digit local numbers. Always drop the leading 0 from the area code.

CountryLocal formatInternational format

Netherlandscurrent123 4567+31 20 123 4567

Germany1234 5678+49 30 1234 5678

United Kingdom7123 4567+44 20 7123 4567

France23 45 67 89+33 1 23 45 67 89

Sweden123 456 78+46 8 123 456 78

Switzerland123 45 67+41 44 123 45 67

Good to know

Tips for calling Netherlands

4 things to check before you dial internationally

Drop the leading 0 from Dutch area codes

Dutch area codes start with 0 domestically (020 Amsterdam, 010 Rotterdam) — drop that 0 when dialling from abroad. A Rotterdam number 010 123 4567 becomes +31 10 123 4567.

Email is the preferred first contact

Dutch business culture values directness but tends toward email for initial outreach. A clear, concise email before calling sets expectations — the Dutch appreciate efficiency and respond promptly.

Show a local +31 caller ID

Dutch contacts frequently screen unknown international calls. A letsdial +31 20 (Amsterdam) or +31 10 (Rotterdam) caller ID signals a legitimate Dutch business and significantly improves your chances of being answered.

Netherlands is CET — 6 hours ahead of ET

The Netherlands runs on CET (UTC+1) in winter and CEST (UTC+2) in summer. Business hours are 8:30 AM–5:30 PM. The Netherlands is consistently 6 hours ahead of New York (ET) year-round.

Market data

Netherlands communication insights

96%

Internet penetration

96% of the Dutch population uses the internet, one of the highest rates in the EU.

95%

Mobile users

88% of Dutch residents use mobile phones, with advanced 4G and 5G network coverage.

79%

Smartphone owners

78% of Dutch adults own smartphones, supporting a mobile-first professional environment.

95%

Digital businesses

94% of Dutch businesses have adopted digital communication tools and cloud platforms.

Global directory

List of Country Codes

50+ countries listed with their international dial prefix and ISO code.

Filter by letter or search to find any country code instantly.

Netherlands calling FAQs

Frequently asked about Netherlands

Yes, Dutch numbers are written domestically with a leading '0' (e.g., 020 XXX XXXX for Amsterdam), which you replace with +31 when dialing internationally. The number +31 20 XXX XXXX is the correct format for letsdial. Drop the zero — so 020 becomes +31 20, not +31 020.

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Build trust with Netherlands customers using a local +31 virtual phone number — from the same letsdial dashboard your whole team already uses.

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Looking up US area codes? Browse all US area codes →

Netherlands

Netherlands

How to call Netherlands from abroad

Benefits of calling Netherlandswith letsdial

Get a local +31 number

Netherlands and 50+ countries, one plan

Full call analytics

Works on any device

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

Netherlands& neighbouring countries

Tips for calling Netherlands

Drop the leading 0 from Dutch area codes

Email is the preferred first contact

Show a local +31 caller ID

Netherlands is CET — 6 hours ahead of ET

Netherlands communication insights

List of Country Codes

Frequently asked about Netherlands

Get a local Netherlands number in minutes.

Benefits of calling Netherlands
with letsdial