A Netherlands virtual number lets you receive a verification SMS on a Dutch +31 number without buying a Dutch SIM card. The format matters more than most people expect: apps reliably accept Dutch mobile numbers, which start with +31 6, while +31 97 numbers and internet-telephony ranges are often rejected. This guide explains the Dutch number formats, why free +31 numbers usually fail, and how to receive a code on a one-time Netherlands number in a few minutes.
What a Netherlands virtual number is (and what it isn't)
A virtual number is a phone number you use without the SIM card sitting in your own phone. For verification, what you need is simple: a number that can receive one SMS with a one-time code, shown to you on a screen. If you are new to the concept, our guide on temporary phone numbers for verification covers when one makes sense.
A Dutch number in this sense is not a Dutch phone plan. You don't get calls, a monthly bill or a number you keep for years. You get a +31 number long enough to receive the code you asked for. That is exactly why it works well for sign-ups and badly for accounts you want to recover later, which we'll come back to.
Dutch phone number format explained
The Netherlands uses the country code +31. Inside the country, numbers are written with a leading 0, which you drop in international format. A Dutch mobile number written as 06 12345678 becomes +31 6 12345678: the 0 disappears and the rest stays the same.
The prefix tells you what kind of line a number is. According to the Dutch numbering plan, mobile telephony uses the 061 to 065 and 068 ranges, and 097 is reserved for machine-to-machine (M2M) connections.
| Prefix (international) | What it is | Accepted for SMS verification? |
|---|---|---|
| +31 6 | Mobile numbers for SIM cards in phones | Usually yes |
| +31 97 | Machine-to-machine and data-only SIMs (IoT devices, tablets, laptops) | Often rejected |
| +31 85 | Location-independent numbers, mostly internet telephony | Often rejected |
| +31 10, +31 20 and other area codes | Landlines tied to a city (Rotterdam, Amsterdam and so on) | No, they can't receive SMS |
If a service asks for "a Dutch mobile number", it almost always means +31 6. Keep that in mind before you pick any number.
Why +31 97 numbers fail verification
Since 2014, Dutch rules require numbers in the 097 range for mobile data used by machines: smart meters, alarm systems, car systems and data-only SIM cards in tablets or laptops. The Dutch regulator, the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), has been firm that 06 mobile numbers are meant for SIM cards in mobile phones, not for devices.
That has a side effect for verification. Many apps check which range a number belongs to before they send a code. A +31 97 number signals "device, not person", so the app either refuses it outright or accepts it and never delivers the SMS. The same filtering hits internet-telephony ranges. We explain the logic behind this filtering in our article on non-VoIP vs VoIP numbers.
This is also why so many "free Dutch numbers" lists online are full of +31 97 numbers: they are cheap to obtain in bulk and they receive SMS from some senders, but they are exactly the numbers that sign-up forms tend to block.
Free Netherlands numbers vs a one-time number
You will find public inbox pages that show Dutch numbers and every SMS they receive, including our own free Netherlands numbers page. These are useful for one thing: testing whether a sender delivers SMS to the Netherlands at all. They are a poor choice for any account you care about, because everyone can read the code at the same moment you do.
| Public free number | One-time private number | Dutch prepaid SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who sees the code | Anyone visiting the page | Only you | Only you |
| Typical prefix | Often +31 97 | Shown before you use it | +31 6 |
| Works with strict apps | Rarely | Usually | Yes |
| Cost | Free | Small, per code | SIM plus credit |
| Long-term use | No | No | Yes |
If you live in the Netherlands or will use the number for years, a prepaid SIM is the right tool. If you only need one code for one sign-up, a one-time number is faster and keeps your personal number private.
How to get a Netherlands number for an SMS code
On smsvar.com the whole process takes a few minutes:
- Create an account with Google one-tap or your email address.
- Top up your balance. Prices are shown in Turkish lira and depend on the app and the country; you can check the current prices per country first.
- Choose the app you are signing up for, then choose Netherlands as the country.
- A number is assigned instantly. Copy it and enter it in the app with the +31 country code.
- Request the code in the app. It appears on the order screen in your panel, usually within a minute or two.
- If no code arrives within 20 minutes, the order is cancelled and the full fee goes back to your balance automatically. You only pay when the code arrives.
If the app says the number is invalid, cancel the order instead of waiting and try again. Some apps simply prefer other countries for their own reasons; our guide to the best virtual number countries lists alternatives by platform, and the German virtual numbers page is a good nearby option.
When a Dutch number is the right choice
A +31 number makes sense when the country actually matters:
- A Dutch or EU service only accepts numbers from the Netherlands or wants a local number to show you local content.
- You are testing your own app or SMS flow and need to see how a Dutch number behaves.
- You are about to travel or move to the Netherlands and want to set up an app before your local SIM arrives.
- You want to keep your personal number off a sign-up form for privacy.
It is the wrong choice for anything tied to your identity long term: banking, government services, or the main account you use to talk to family. Use your own number there. And whatever you sign up for, follow that platform's terms; a virtual number is a privacy tool, not a way around a platform's rules.
Keep the account after you verify
One-time numbers are not yours to keep, and a number can later be reassigned to someone else. So right after the code works, take two minutes to make sure the account no longer depends on that number:
- Add your own email address as the main login and recovery method.
- Turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app, a passkey or a PIN, depending on what the app offers. For example, WhatsApp has its own two-step PIN; our WhatsApp verification page covers that case.
- Write down any backup codes the app shows you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Netherlands phone number for free?
You can find public pages with free Dutch numbers, but every visitor sees the same messages, and many of those numbers are +31 97 machine-to-machine lines that apps reject. They are fine for testing whether SMS arrives at all. For an account you want to keep, use a private one-time number or your own SIM.
Why does an app say my +31 number is invalid?
Most often the number is not a +31 6 mobile number: it is a +31 97 M2M number or an internet-telephony number, and the app filters those ranges. Another common cause is format. Enter the number without the leading 0, for example +31 6 12345678 instead of +31 06 12345678.
How do I write a Dutch number in international format?
Replace the leading 0 with +31. A mobile number written locally as 06 12345678 becomes +31 6 12345678. Many apps show a country picker; choose the Netherlands there and type the rest of the number without the 0.
Can I keep a Netherlands virtual number for later logins?
No. One-time numbers are meant for receiving one verification code. After that, the number may be reassigned. That is why you should add your own email and turn on two-step verification as soon as your account is created, so you never need that number again.
Need a +31 number for a code right now? Start with the app you are signing up for on our virtual number page, choose the Netherlands, and you will see the price before you buy.