WhatsApp number format for Netherlands
Country code +31. How to turn a Dutch phone number into a working WhatsApp link.
At a glance
A Dutch mobile written locally as 06 12345678 becomes 31612345678 in a WhatsApp link, giving https://wa.me/31612345678. The digit used for dialling inside the country is removed and the country code goes in its place.
The three ways to write the same number
These are the same Dutch mobile in each format. The example is a reserved test number from Google’s libphonenumber metadata, so it is structurally correct without belonging to anyone.
| Inside Netherlands | 06 12345678 |
|---|---|
| International | +31 6 12345678 |
| In a wa.me link | 31612345678 |
The rule for Netherlands
Dutch mobile numbers start 06 domestically. Drop the 0 and prefix 31.
How to build a Dutch WhatsApp link
- Start with the local number. 06 12345678
- Apply the Dutch rule. Remove the domestic dialling prefix shown above.
- Add the country code. Put 31 in front, giving 31612345678.
- Build the link. Append the digits to https://wa.me/ with nothing between them, or use the generator and let it handle the formatting.
Does a valid number mean the person is on WhatsApp?
No. Everything above concerns format, which is a separate question from whether an account exists. A correctly formatted Dutch number can belong to a landline, to a newly issued SIM, or to someone who has deleted their WhatsApp account, and in each case the link will open and report that the number is not on WhatsApp.
To find out, open a chat link for the number and see whether WhatsApp starts a conversation.
Dutch WhatsApp link questions
How do I write a Dutch number for WhatsApp?
Write 31 followed by the subscriber number, digits only, with no plus sign, spaces or dashes. A Dutch mobile written locally as 06 12345678 becomes 31612345678, giving the link https://wa.me/31612345678.
What is the WhatsApp country code for Netherlands?
Netherlands uses country code +31. In a wa.me link the plus sign is dropped, so the link starts https://wa.me/31.
Do I remove the leading zero from a Dutch number?
Yes. The leading digit used for dialling inside Netherlands is not part of the international number and must be removed before the country code is added. 06 12345678 becomes 31612345678, not 310612345678.
Can I message a Dutch number without saving it?
Yes. Open https://wa.me/ followed by the number in international format and WhatsApp starts the conversation without adding a contact. Recent versions of WhatsApp can also do this by typing the number into the new-chat search.
Why does my Dutch WhatsApp link say the number is invalid?
Either the number is formatted wrongly or it has no WhatsApp account, since WhatsApp shows the same message for both. Check the digits against 31612345678 first: the most common cause here is keeping the leading zero.