Netherlands Travel Guide - Communications

Country code: 31 (followed by 20 for Amsterdam, 10 for Rotterdam and 70 for The Hague). Telephone information is given in French, English and German. There is a cheaper rate Mon-Fri 2000-0800. Calls can be made from public callboxes or post offices. Most callboxes only accept cards, which can be bought at post offices, VVV offices, and shops displaying the PTT-telephone card poster; a few still accept coins.

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

There are many Internet cafes and some Internet access centres. Business centres also provide public access. Using the Internet is very straightforward in Amsterdam, where computers are available to use free of charge in libraries and public buildings.

Stamps are available from all post offices as well as from tobacconists and kiosks selling postcards and souvenirs. Mail within Europe takes approximately five days.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some post offices in major towns are also open on late shopping nights (Thurs or Fri) and Sat 0900-1200/1230. There are all-night post offices in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The Dutch have a unique approach to public broadcasting. Programmes are made by a variety of groups, some reflecting political or religious currents in society, others representing interest groups. These organisations are allocated airtime on TV and radio, in line with the number of members they have. The TV market is very competitive, with many private stations also currently flourishing. The Dutch also have one of the highest cable take-up rates in Europe. Every province has at least one local public TV channel. Freedom of press and free speech is guaranteed by the constitution. Newspaper ownership, however, is highly concentrated, and most titles are broadsheets.

• The main newspapers are NRC Handelsblad (an evening paper), De Telegraaf, Trouw and De Volkskrant.
• Foreign newspapers are widely available.

• NOS oversees the country's three national public networks.
• RTL operates commercial channels, as does SBS.

• NOS oversees public radio stations, including news and information station Radio 1, music network Radio 2, pop station 3FM and cultural station Radio 4.
• Radio Netherlands is an international broadcaster.