eSIM for Caribbean Netherlands

Not under the EU roaming rules. Your Dutch plan's EU allowance covers EU countries, and Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius are not EU territory, even though they are part of the Netherlands. So the allowance that works in Paris or Berlin does not work in Kralendijk.

KPN, for one, sells separate Caribbean bundles covering Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten. Our own plans start at $7.22 for 1 GB over 7 days.

The reason is how the EU classes them. The three islands became public bodies of the Netherlands, often called special municipalities, on 10 October 2010. The EU lists them as overseas countries and territories, which it says are not part of EU territory or the single market. Roam like at home is an EU and EEA rule, so it does not reach them.

The islands have used the US dollar since 1 January 2011, and they share the 599 dialling code with Curaçao. If you travel from the Netherlands, check your plan's terms for Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius by name, not just for the Netherlands.

Our plan lists two 4G networks, UTS Wireless Curacao and SETAR. UTS now trades as Flow in the Dutch Caribbean, and Flow and Digicel are the two main mobile providers on Bonaire. The bonaire.com travel guide says coverage is strongest in Kralendijk and reasonably stable along the west coast.

The same guide says signal is weaker on the east coast and in Washington Slagbaai National Park. Most dive sites have reception, the guide adds, though remote spots can be patchy. Download an offline map before you drive through the park.

Much of Bonaire's diving starts from the shore, which shapes how you use your phone. STINAPA, which runs the marine park, marks its 86 public dive sites from the shore with names on yellow stones. Finding the next site, checking conditions and sending the day's photos uses little data.

Boat days are different. Bonaire.com says Klein Bonaire has no mobile coverage, so download what you need before you board. Wifi is common in hotels, restaurants and cafés in Kralendijk, though the same guide notes speeds vary.

A week of shore diving can fit inside the 1 GB for 7 days plan at $7.22, since much of the day is spent underwater. If you share video every evening or work between dives, 3 GB for 15 days at $19.28 or 3 GB for 30 days at $20.48 gives more room. A month with 5 GB costs $32.13.

A local SIM suits longer stays or anyone who needs a local number. Bonaire.com says SIM cards are not sold at the airport; Digicel and Flow both have shops on Kaya Grandi in Kralendijk, and you need your passport to buy one.

Our plans for the islands are data only, with no local number. Calls home to the Netherlands go over WhatsApp, FaceTime or similar apps, and your Dutch SIM can stay switched on for texts such as bank codes, with its data roaming off. There is more on how calls and texts work on a data only eSIM.