Home Internet
Though there is a wide range of choices of providers in the Netherlands, although the market is fairly dominated by KPN, UPC, and Tele2. In theory all of them can connect you within five working days – the reality, though, is that you could be waiting as long as a month. Getting an ultra-high-speed line (more than 60 mbps) might entail a longer waiting period.
Most connections start at 4 mbps and the ultra-fast connections go up to 120 mbps. Internet only packages start at about 10 euro per month with faster connections obviously costing more. Getting an annual contract, rather than an indefinite one, can be relatively cheaper. There is considerable value and convenience in getting your phone, internet, and television connections from the same provider.
You can order from KPN, UPC, or Tele2 online. Many expats moving into short term accommodation (especially those premises previously occupied by other expats) often find that there is an internet connection in place already and transferring this connection to your own name can take time. Often the providers do not notice this until after the new modem has arrived and the signal fails to work. To be on the safe side, contact your chosen provider by telephone as soon you move in to check the status of your address.
Your potential provider will ask for the address of the house and number of apartment. The latter is very important and is usually denoted on your rental agreement.
Assuming there is already a phone hook up, most providers will simply send a modem and instructions to install it yourself. If there is no phone connection, a technician will need to come to install it for you. This is usually possible within five working days, and does not come without a cost.
- KPN – http://www.kpn.com 0900-0244
- UPC – http://www.upc.nl 0900-1580
- Tele2 – http://www.tele2.nl 0900-2411602
Vodafone, KPN and UPC also offer mobile broadband options, where you just connect the USB stick on your laptop to access internet everywhere.
Public Internet
You can get wireless internet access all over the city, at a lot of tourist points and cafes. With so many tourists and backpackers in the city centre there is certainly no shortage of internet cafes in Amsterdam. Within the canal ring it is probably difficult to walk for more than ten minutes without passing one. As a general rule, the bigger shops in the city centre will be more expensive. Smaller shops that also sell mobile phone accessories and provide cheap long distance calling are usually less expensive. However, even the cheaper options cost approximately 1 euro for thirty minutes.
