In this guide
Many expats stay on an internet subscription long after the introductory price has ended. Switching is not complicated, but the end date of your current contract decides whether it pays off. This guide covers the practicalities.
đź’ˇ For the deeper market overview see our best broadband providers for expats. This guide focuses on the switching process.
Quick answer: Check the end date of your current contract first. After the fixed term you can cancel free of charge with a notice period of at most one month (ConsuWijzer). KPN, Ziggo and Odido each offer a free switching service in which the new provider arranges the cancellation.
The Dutch Internet Market in 2026
There are three large national providers and a number of fibre and cable operators. Which one you can use depends on your address, so start with the postcode check on the providers’ own sites.
National Providers
KPN sells internet over fibre and copper. KPN’s internet page (read 6 October 2026) lists plans from 100 Mbit/s up to 4 Gbit/s and advertises a free switching service. Check KPN’s current offers and compare the price after the introductory period, not only the first-year price.
Ziggo (VodafoneZiggo) delivers internet over cable. Its internet page (read 6 October 2026) lists plans from 200 Mbit/s up to 2 Gbit/s, for example 500 Mbit/s with 50 Mbit/s upload and 1 Gbit/s with 100 Mbit/s upload. Ziggo states that the subscription runs for an indefinite period with a minimum term of one or two years you choose yourself, after which you can cancel monthly free of charge. Check Ziggo’s current offers.
See Ziggo’s current offers →
Odido (known as T-Mobile Netherlands until it continued under the name Odido on 5 September 2023) combines fixed internet and mobile. Its internet page (read 6 October 2026) advertises fibre speeds up to 8 Gbit/s and a free switching service.
Other Fibre Providers
Besides the national providers there are other fibre and cable operators and resellers, for example Delta Fiber, Open Dutch Fiber, Glaspoort and Caiway. Where several providers sell over the same fibre, a postcode check at each of them shows what is available at your address. Their coverage, prices and conditions differ, so check each provider’s own site.
Comparison sites show offers from several providers at once. Internetten.nl is one of them and is a partner of this site: it is a comparison site rather than a provider, you sign with the provider you pick, and its interface is in Dutch. Check the offer on the provider’s own site before you sign.
Compare packages at your postcode on Internetten.nl →
What Determines Your Best Switch
1. What Connection Type Is Available
A postcode check on a provider’s website shows what is available at your address. Typical technologies:
- Fibre to the home (FTTH): optical fibre to your home. Odido advertises speeds up to 8 Gbit/s on fibre.
- Cable (Ziggo): coaxial cable. Ziggo lists a much higher download than upload speed on every plan.
- Copper (DSL): internet over the phone line. Odido describes its standard internet as up to 100 Mbit/s and says that the download speed is often somewhat higher than the upload speed.
If fibre is available at your address, compare it with the other options. If only cable is available, look at Ziggo or providers using the same cable network.
2. Your Current Contract Status
Two things to find in your customer portal or contract:
- End date (einddatum): when the fixed term expires.
- Notice period (opzegtermijn): after the fixed term it is at most one month (ConsuWijzer).
A subscription usually runs for one or two years, and a provider may not tie you for more than two years. Switching during the fixed term often costs money, for example the remaining months or the price of a phone that came with the subscription. Your contract states what and how much.
3. Your Real Usage
Choose a speed that fits your household. A faster plan is only worth the price if you use it, so compare the price after the introductory period with what you need for streaming, video calls and the number of people in the house. Upload speed matters if you work from home and make many video calls; Ziggo and KPN list upload speeds per plan.
The Switch Process: Step by Step
Step 1: Check Your Current Contract
Log into your existing provider’s customer portal and note:
- the contract end date;
- the current monthly price and speed;
- any TV or phone components;
- equipment on loan (modem, decoder).
Step 2: Compare Available Options
Read our internet providers guide and run the postcode check at two or three providers. Compare:
- speed (download and upload);
- contract length and the price after the introductory period;
- welcome discount terms;
- TV or phone bundle, if you need one.
Step 3: Order the New Service
Order with the new provider and name your current provider so that they can use their switching service. KPN, Ziggo and Odido each advertise that they arrange the cancellation of your old subscription for free. The data a provider asks for at sign-up differs per provider.
Step 4: Receive and Return Equipment
You receive the new modem or router with instructions. Return old equipment as your old provider instructs and keep proof of the return. The conditions for returning equipment are in your old contract.
Step 5: Check the Final Bill
Your old provider sends a final bill. Check that the last month and any refund of overpaid direct debits are correct.
Switching at the Right Time
Because you can usually cancel free of charge once the fixed term has ended, the cleanest moment to switch is around the end date. Your provider must send you a message at least one month before the term ends, with an offer. You do not have to accept it; you can also choose another provider (ConsuWijzer). Switching in the middle of a fixed term is worth it only if the saving is larger than what you have to pay for ending early.
Bundle vs Internet-Only
Bundles combine internet with TV or a fixed phone line. Ziggo’s pages list internet and TV packages separately from internet-only plans, so compare the total price of both. A bundle can be worth it if you watch live Dutch TV or sport channels. If you mainly use streaming services, an internet-only plan may be enough. For streaming context see our best streaming services for expats.
Internet Plus Mobile Bundle
Some providers combine internet and mobile. On the Ziggo side the mobile half is Vodafone: “One van Vodafone & Ziggo” gives up to EUR 10 a month off Vodafone mobile and up to EUR 10 off Ziggo Internet (vodafone.nl, read 6 October 2026). Odido also sells internet and mobile. A combined offer can lock both subscriptions to the same provider, so check the end dates of both contracts. If you want SIM-only flexibility, see our best SIM-only plans.
Common Switching Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not Checking That the Old Contract Is Cancelled
Confirm in writing that your new provider has started the cancellation of the old contract, and check your bank statements in the following months to see that only one provider still debits you.
Mistake 2: Switching Mid-Contract Without Checking the Cost
The cost of ending a fixed term early is in your contract. Compare it with the saving before you order.
Mistake 3: Signing a Longer Contract for a Marginal Discount
Providers may not tie you for more than two years and need a good reason for a two-year term; a discount can be one (ConsuWijzer). Compare the price after the introductory period and the flexibility you give up.
Mistake 4: Ignoring the Price After the Introductory Period
Offers often show a lower price for the first months. Odido, for example, advertises EUR 25 per month for the first 12 months and EUR 36.50 per month afterwards for 100 Mbit/s (odido.nl, read 6 October 2026), and KPN shows its 12-month price next to the price without discount.
Mistake 5: Sticking With ISP Email
If you use an address from your internet provider as your main email address, a switch means changing it. Move to an address that does not depend on your provider before switching.
Mistake 6: Not Testing the Speed
Run a speed test (for example speedtest.net or fast.com) on your current connection and again after the switch. Keep screenshots in case you need to file a complaint.
What to Do If the Switch Goes Wrong
- Contact the new provider’s technical support.
- Document the issue: time, error messages and speed test results.
- Ask for escalation, for example a technician visit.
- File a formal complaint with the provider.
- If you cannot agree, ConsuWijzer (ACM) explains how to file a complaint about a telecom subscription and where to go if you do not get a solution.
What If I Move Address?
Tell your provider before you move and ask whether and how the contract continues at the new address. If the provider does not offer service at your new address, ask in writing about ending the contract and check ConsuWijzer’s page on the moving arrangement (verhuisregeling) for telecom subscriptions. If you move abroad, ask your provider what proof it needs; see our leaving the Netherlands checklist.
Banking and Payment
If your provider bills by direct debit (automatische incasso), a Dutch account is not strictly required: a company may not refuse a direct debit on a euro IBAN from another EU or EEA country (De Nederlandsche Bank). The how to open a bank account guide covers the options. If your salary or main account is outside the eurozone, Wise is one way to move money in; see best banking for expats.
Special Situations
Short-Term Renters
If you rent for a short period, a long contract may not fit. Odido advertises a 5G Internet Only offer that can be cancelled monthly (activation fee EUR 20, modem on loan; odido.nl, read 6 October 2026), and KPN’s page mentions subscriptions that can be cancelled every month. Check the current conditions with the provider. For short-stay context see short-stay furnished housing in NL.
Shared Houses
Many shared houses include internet in the rent. If yours is poor, ask your landlord whether it can be upgraded.
Home Office Heavy Users
If you work from home with many video calls, look at upload speed as well as download speed. Providers list both per plan. See remote work in NL for the broader setup.
Final Thought
Internet is one of the Dutch contracts that is worth reviewing when the term ends. Note the end date, compare the price after the introductory period, and use the free switching service of the new provider where it is offered.
For complete utility coverage see our Dutch utilities explained guide and the related energy switching guide.
External source: ConsuWijzer: cancelling a telecom subscription
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to cancel my old internet contract myself?
Not necessarily. KPN, Ziggo and Odido each advertise a free switching service (overstapservice) in which the new provider arranges the cancellation of your old subscription (kpn.com, ziggo.nl and odido.nl, read 6 October 2026). Check the end date of your current contract first, because cancelling during the fixed term can cost money.
Can I cancel my Dutch internet contract at any time?
After the fixed term has ended, yes: you can cancel free of charge at any time with a notice period of at most one month. Providers may not tie you to a subscription for more than two years. If you switch during the fixed term you often have to pay, for example for the remaining months; your contract states what and how much (ConsuWijzer, read 6 October 2026).
What happens to my contract if I do not cancel?
After the fixed term the subscription continues and you can then cancel at any time with a notice period of one month. Your provider must send you a message at least one month before the term ends, together with an offer at the best rates that currently apply (ConsuWijzer, read 6 October 2026).
How fast is fibre compared with cable in the Netherlands?
It depends on the provider and your address. Odido advertises fibre speeds up to 8 Gbit/s, KPN lists plans from 100 Mbit/s up to 4 Gbit/s on its internet page, and Ziggo lists plans from 200 Mbit/s to 2 Gbit/s with a download speed far higher than the upload speed (for example 1,000 down and 100 up on the 1 Gbit/s plan). Which speeds you can order depends on the postcode check (provider sites, read 6 October 2026).
Can I take out an internet contract without a Dutch bank account?
A company in the Netherlands may not refuse a direct debit just because the IBAN is from another EU or EEA country (De Nederlandsche Bank, SEPA and IBAN discrimination). Whether a provider accepts other payment methods is up to the provider, so check at sign-up.
What if I move house during my contract?
Tell your provider before you move and ask what happens to your contract at the new address. ConsuWijzer has a moving arrangement (verhuisregeling) for telecom subscriptions; check the conditions on consuwijzer.nl and in your contract.