The +599 country code covers Curaçao and the BES islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba) in the southern Caribbean. Before October 2010, +599 belonged to the Netherlands Antilles, a single autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. When the Netherlands Antilles dissolved, Curaçao became its own constituent country and kept the +599 code. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba became special municipalities of the Netherlands, also under +599. Sint Maarten split off and joined the North American Numbering Plan as +1-721.
Curaçao is the largest territory under +599 with about 150,000 people. Bonaire has roughly 22,000. Saba and Sint Eustatius are tiny -- about 2,000 and 3,200 people respectively. All four islands sit near the coast of Venezuela, well south of the main Caribbean hurricane belt.
Quick answer: The country code +599 covers Curaçao and the BES islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba). Numbers are 7 digits after +599. Curaçao numbers start with 9:
+599 9XXX XXXX. Bonaire numbers start with 7:+599 7XX XXXX. Saba starts with 416:+599 416 XXXX. Sint Eustatius starts with 318:+599 318 XXXX. There is no trunk prefix.
How to call Caribbean Netherlands: quick reference
The +599 islands do not use a trunk prefix. Dial the country code followed by the 7-digit local number directly. The first digit tells you which island you're calling.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +599 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-599-[local number] |
| UK | 00-599-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-599-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-599-[local number] |
| France | 00-599-[local number] |
Understanding Caribbean Netherlands phone numbers
After the +599 country code, the first digit(s) of the local number identify the island. All local numbers are 7 digits.
Island prefixes
| Island | Prefix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Curaçao | 9 | +599 9XXX XXXX |
| Bonaire | 7 | +599 7XX XXXX |
| Saba | 416 | +599 416 XXXX |
| Sint Eustatius | 318 | +599 318 XXXX |
Mobile vs. landline
On Curaçao, mobile numbers typically use prefixes like 9510-9529, 9560-9569, 9650-9699, while landlines use 9430-9469, 9736-9739, and others. On Bonaire, mobile numbers use 770-777 and 795-796, while landlines use 715-717. The distinction matters less for dialing -- you just need the full 7-digit number -- but it affects call rates.
Curaçao dominates +599 traffic
About 85% of phone numbers under +599 belong to Curaçao. If you're calling a +599 number and don't know which island, it's most likely Curaçao.
Mobile carriers in Caribbean Netherlands
Curaçao
Flow (formerly UTS/Chippie): The historical incumbent, now part of Liberty Latin America. Operates under the Flow brand for mobile and broadband. Has the widest coverage on Curaçao.
Digicel: The second mobile operator. Entered the market in 2007 and competes primarily on price and data packages. Digicel operates across the Caribbean, so roaming between their islands is usually cheaper.
Bonaire
Telbo (Bonaire Telecom): The local telecom provider for Bonaire, covering both fixed-line and mobile services. As a small island of 22,000 people, Bonaire doesn't have the same competitive market as Curaçao.
Digicel Bonaire: Also present on Bonaire with mobile service.
Saba and Sint Eustatius
Satel: The telecom provider for Saba and Sint Eustatius. Given the combined population of about 5,200 people across both islands, the market supports only one carrier.
Don't confuse +599 with nearby codes
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +1-721 | Sint Maarten | Used to share +599 before 2010 dissolution |
| +297 | Aruba | Another former Netherlands Antilles island, same region |
| +58 | Venezuela | Just 60km south of Curaçao, starts with 5 |
The biggest source of confusion is Sint Maarten. Before 2010, Sint Maarten numbers were +599-5XX-XXXX. After the dissolution, Sint Maarten joined the NANP and became +1-721. If you have an old contact with a +599-5 number, it won't work. You need to re-dial as +1-721 followed by the 7-digit number.
Aruba split from the Netherlands Antilles earlier, in 1986, and has had its own +297 code since then. But people still associate all the "ABC islands" (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) with each other.
Time zone considerations
All +599 islands use Atlantic Standard Time (AST), UTC-4, year-round. They do not observe daylight saving time.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9 AM on Curaçao |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | +1 hour | 8:00 AM in New York |
| US East Coast (EDT) | Same | 9:00 AM in New York |
| Netherlands (CET) | -5 hours | 2:00 PM in Amsterdam |
| Netherlands (CEST) | -6 hours | 3:00 PM in Amsterdam |
| Venezuela | +30 minutes | 8:30 AM in Caracas |
The Netherlands is listed because Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are all part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and calls between the islands and Europe are common. Venezuela is included because of geographic proximity -- Curaçao and Bonaire are visible from the Venezuelan coast on clear days.
Communication in Caribbean Netherlands
Business hours and calling windows
Business hours across the +599 islands are typically 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Government offices often close for lunch. Saturday mornings are common for shops but offices are closed. Sunday is quiet.
The best window to call from the Netherlands is late morning to early afternoon CET (which maps to early morning AST). From the US East Coast, the 1-hour offset during winter and zero offset during summer makes calling during business hours easy.
Languages
Curaçao's official languages are Dutch, Papiamentu, and English. Papiamentu -- a Creole language blending Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and African languages -- is the daily language for most people. Dutch is used in government and education. English is widely understood, especially in tourism and business.
On Bonaire, the situation is similar: Papiamentu dominates daily life, with Dutch and English widely spoken. Saba and Sint Eustatius are different -- English is the main language on both islands, tied to their history as part of the English-speaking Caribbean.
Network quality
Curaçao has 4G LTE coverage across most of the island. Bonaire has 4G in populated areas. Saba and Sint Eustatius have more limited mobile infrastructure, though basic service covers the inhabited areas. Internet connectivity on all islands has improved with submarine fiber cables, but speeds and reliability on the smaller islands lag behind Curaçao.
The Curaçaoan and BES diaspora
Where they went
The Netherlands is the primary destination. An estimated 150,000 people of Curaçaoan descent live in the Netherlands -- roughly equal to Curaçao's entire current population. The largest communities are in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. This makes phone traffic between +599 and +31 (Netherlands) among the heaviest routes for this code.
There are smaller communities in the United States (mainly Miami and New York), Colombia, and Venezuela. Before Venezuela's economic crisis, there was regular movement between Curaçao and the Venezuelan coast.
Why they call
Family ties between the islands and the Netherlands are very close. Many young people from Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius move to the Netherlands for university or work, then call home regularly. Dutch citizenship means free movement, so the relationship is more like an internal migration than traditional emigration. Holidays, Carnival celebrations, and family events generate spikes in call traffic.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile in Curaçao from the US
Your friend's Curaçao mobile number is 9510 1234. From a US mobile, dial +599 9510 1234. From a US landline, dial 011-599-9510-1234.
Calling a landline in Bonaire from the Netherlands
A hotel in Bonaire has the number 717 5000. From a Dutch phone, dial +599 717 5000 or 00-599-717-5000.
Calling Saba from the UK
A dive shop on Saba has the number 416 3200. From the UK, dial +599 416 3200 or 00-599-416-3200.
Calling between the islands
Calling from Curaçao to Bonaire or vice versa is an inter-island call. Dial the full number including the island prefix: for example, from Curaçao dial 7XX XXXX for a Bonaire number. These calls may be charged at international rates depending on your carrier plan, despite being under the same country code.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using old Sint Maarten numbers
Before October 2010, Sint Maarten numbers were +599-5XX-XXXX. These no longer work. Sint Maarten is now +1-721. If you have a pre-2010 contact card from Sint Maarten, you need to update it.
Confusing +599 with +31 for Dutch government services
Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are special municipalities of the Netherlands, but they do not use the Netherlands country code +31. They use +599. Some people assume that because these islands are officially part of the Netherlands, they should dial +31 -- that will get you to someone in Europe, not the Caribbean.
Not knowing which island you're calling
All four territories share +599, and rates may vary by island depending on your carrier. If you're not sure which island a number belongs to, check the first digit: 9 = Curaçao, 7 = Bonaire, 416 = Saba, 318 = Sint Eustatius.
Adding a trunk prefix that doesn't exist
There is no trunk prefix (no leading 0). If someone gives you a Curaçao number as 9XXX XXXX, dial it exactly as +599 9XXX XXXX. Don't add a 0 before the 9.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +599 code?
The +599 country code is shared by Curaçao and the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba). All four islands are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Is +599 the same as the Netherlands (+31)?
No. Despite Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius being special municipalities of the Netherlands, they use +599, not +31. The Netherlands country code +31 only works for the European part of the country.
What happened to the Netherlands Antilles phone code?
When the Netherlands Antilles dissolved on October 10, 2010, +599 was kept by Curaçao and the BES islands. Sint Maarten moved to +1-721 under the North American Numbering Plan. Aruba had already had its own code (+297) since 1986.
How do I tell which island a +599 number belongs to?
Check the first digit(s) after +599: numbers starting with 9 are Curaçao, 7 is Bonaire, 416 is Saba, and 318 is Sint Eustatius.
How much does it cost to call +599?
With CallSky, rates start at $0.27/min for landlines and $0.31/min for mobiles on the Economy plan. Premium rates are $0.28/min for mobiles. Rates depend on whether you're calling a mobile or landline number.
Calling other Caribbean islands? Check our guides to Aruba (+297), Sint Maarten (+1-721), and Venezuela (+58).