Key Takeaways
A clear and concise guide to Dutch telephone formats—how to dial inside the country, call from abroad, and store numbers safely for global use.
Story & Details
In the Netherlands, both landlines and mobile numbers follow precise rules that help avoid mis-dials and ensure compatibility across networks.
A typical fixed-line number in the Breda area appears domestically as 076 000 0000.
When dialed from abroad, the initial zero disappears and the country code replaces it, resulting in +31 76 000 0000.
For contact lists or messaging apps such as WhatsApp, the correct E.164 format would be +31760000000.
Mobile numbers follow the same structure.
A domestic mobile number such as 06 00 00 00 00 becomes +31 6 00 00 00 00 when called internationally and is stored as +31600000000 in E.164 format.
These examples highlight three essential principles:
- Inside the Netherlands, include the trunk prefix “0” before the area or mobile code.
- From abroad, omit the “0” and use “+31”.
- In E.164 format, write the number as “+” country code national number without the leading zero.
The area code 76 refers to the Breda region, while the mobile prefix 06 identifies national mobile networks. Even for local calls, the area code is always used.
Saving numbers in E.164 format ensures they work seamlessly across devices, carriers, and countries. It’s the standard used by telecom systems and digital platforms worldwide to keep connections clear and consistent.
Definitions & Translations
E.164
An international numbering standard developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T). It defines a universal format for telephone numbers, up to fifteen digits, always preceded by a plus sign.
Country code +31
The code that identifies the Netherlands in the global telephone system.
Trunk prefix “0”
A digit added before area or mobile codes in domestic calls, removed when using the international prefix.
Area code “76”
The regional prefix for Breda and surrounding towns. Written as 076 domestically and 76 in international or E.164 form.
Mobile prefix “06”
The standard prefix for Dutch mobile numbers. In international and E.164 versions, it becomes +31 6.
International notation standard (E.123)
An ITU-T guideline that describes how to present telephone numbers clearly, recommending the “+” sign before country codes for global readability.
Conclusions
Understanding how Dutch numbers work—from local to international dialing—keeps communication smooth. Replacing “0” with “+31” and following E.164 rules turns every contact into a reliable connection. It’s quick. It’s secure. And it works everywhere.
Sources
- What is E.164 Format? — YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnnAqjkShZk
- United World Telecom — “Formatting International Phone Numbers”: https://support.unitedworldtelecom.com/getting-started/formatting-international-phone-numbers/
- Wikipedia — “E.164”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.164
- Wikipedia — “E.123”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.123
Appendix
Examples of correct Dutch formatting (fictitious for demonstration)
- Landline (domestic): 076 000 0000
- Landline (international): +31 76 000 0000
- Landline (E.164): +31760000000
- Mobile (domestic): 06 00 00 00 00
- Mobile (international): +31 6 00 00 00 00
- Mobile (E.164): +31600000000
All examples are illustrative only and fully anonymised. They reflect the structure defined by Dutch numbering plans and ITU-T recommendations.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 