- Netherlands has roughly 17.5 million internet users (17,500,000 people) — about 97.2% of the population and rank #49 globally.
- The apps people open most: WhatsApp, Session, Instagram, Facebook. They cover Messaging, Social, Video, Shopping, Payments, Music, Travel, Tools, Classifieds, Food, Mobility, Cloud storage, Security, AI assistants, Learning, Health, Parcels, Maps, Gaming, Reading, Banking, News, Public services and more.
- The one to know first: WhatsApp — The most widely used messenger on earth.
Netherlands in numbers
2025–2026- Internet users
- 17.5 million17,500,000 · #49
- Penetration
- 97.2%#14
- Population
- 18 million18,000,000 · #72
- GDP
- $1.21T#19
- GDP growth
- +1.1%#176
- GDP per person
- $67,439#19
- Land area
- 41.9k km²#132
- Capital
- Amsterdam
- Region
- Europe
- Official languages
- Dutch
How Netherlands goes online
Dropping a message in the Netherlands means WhatsApp, whether the other person is a neighbour, a plumber or a colleague. Marktplaats absorbs the second-hand trade, bol takes the orders, and DigiD lets one login carry people through tax, permits and the municipal desk. At the checkout, iDEAL sends the money straight from the bank account, so a card feels almost optional, even in the smallest shop.
Around 97.2%. With a population of about 18 million and 17.5 million online, roughly 500 thousand people are still offline — mostly because of rural coverage, device cost and age.
All 147 apps below are grouped by category.
What people actually use
147 Most-used appsWebsites people in Netherlands actually use
22The 22 sites locals open most often — news, shopping, search, banking and government services. Every link goes to the official site.
Nearby and similar markets
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Frequently asked questions
6 Q&AHow many people in Netherlands are online?
About 17.5 million (17,500,000 people). That works out to roughly 97.2% of the population, which puts Netherlands at #49 in the world for total internet users. Figures come from DataReportal’s Digital 2026, which draws on ITU and national statistics.
Which apps do people in Netherlands use most?
Mostly WhatsApp, Session, Instagram, Facebook — they cover Messaging, Social, Video, Shopping, Payments, Music, Travel, Tools, Classifieds, Food, Mobility, Cloud storage, Security, AI assistants, Learning, Health, Parcels, Maps, Gaming, Reading, Banking, News, Public services. The full list, grouped by category, is further down this page.
What is the leading Messaging app in Netherlands?
WhatsApp, Session dominate this space. The best-known is WhatsApp — The most widely used messenger on earth.
How high is internet penetration in Netherlands?
Around 97.2%. With a population of about 18 million and 17.5 million online, roughly 500 thousand people are still offline — mostly because of rural coverage, device cost and age.
Where do these app facts come from?
Usage figures come from DataReportal’s Digital 2026 (Kepios, based on ITU and national statistics); app details come from each product’s official site. Updated 2026-11-12.
Which websites are most popular in Netherlands?
The everyday ones are NU.nl, NOS, Marktplaats, plus the other 22 sites listed above. They cover news, shopping, search, banking and official paperwork, and every link points to the official site.
Sources
Updated 2026-11-12- DataReportal — Digital 2026
- ITU — Statistics
- Official product sites
World Sites & Apps. “Netherlands: internet and everyday apps”. 2026. https://abcvv.com/c/nl-en.html