What is an 085 number? Explained for businesses.

Monday morning. Your customer sees a missed call from an 085 number. He hesitates. Is this a business or a salesperson? He does not call back.

It was your office. You wanted to confirm his appointment.

A number he does not recognise, he does not call back.

What is an 085 number?

An 085 number is a Dutch phone number that is not tied to a region. A number starting with 070 belongs to The Hague. A number starting with 020 to Amsterdam. An 085 number belongs nowhere. You use it across the Netherlands.

The number range has existed since 2006. According to the ACM, the Dutch telecom regulator, it is meant for providers who do not want to be tied to an area code, with the same image as a regular landline number.

085 numbers are available to businesses and private individuals. You apply for one through a telephony provider.

What does calling an 085 number cost?

The same as calling a regular landline number. That is an ACM rule. Calling an 085 number may not cost more than calling a landline number with an area code. And it must fall within your call bundle.

So an 085 number is not free, like 0800. And not expensive, like 0900.

The difference with 088, 0800, 0900, 084 and 087

Why do businesses choose an 085 number?

1. National. The number is not tied to a region. Useful if you work across the Netherlands.
2. Moving with the same number. Because the number belongs to no region, it fits anywhere. You can also take it to another provider.
3. Regular rate for your customer. Calling costs the same as calling a landline number.
4. Calling via the internet. 085 numbers are often used for calling via the internet. You can also have the number ring on your mobile.

WhatsApp on an 085 number

WhatsApp only supports landline numbers in WhatsApp Business. Numbers WhatsApp sees as internet telephony are not supported. WhatsApp itself says nothing about 085 numbers.

Telephony providers report that WhatsApp Business does work with an 085 number, if you verify it with a phone call. According to them, it does not work with an 088 number.

That way your customers call and message the same number. Read more in Reachable on your landline number.

Make sure your customer recognises your number

Telemarketers sometimes call from an 085 or 088 number. Such numbers are easy to get. That is why people hesitate with an unknown 085 number.

1. Show your number everywhere. On your website, under your emails and in your WhatsApp profile.
2. Announce your call. “We will call you tomorrow at 10:00 about your appointment.”
3. Use one number. For calls and WhatsApp. Then your customer recognises it.

Using another company’s number to call is called spoofing. That is prohibited.

It can work like this

Sunday 19:00. Your customer gets a message from your office: “We will call you tomorrow at 10:00 about your appointment. From this number.”
Monday 10:00 his phone rings. He sees yesterday’s number.
He picks up before the second ring.

The same number for calls and WhatsApp. Your customer recognises it.

The customer is heard. The employee simply works in their own email. The organisation earns it. So it arrives.

How does your organisation score? Take the free Communication Scan. In one minute you see where you can gain in reachability, appointments and follow-up. Your result arrives straight in WhatsApp.

Prefer to see how it works first? Book a demo.

Further reading

• Reachable on your landline number
• Automatic reply in WhatsApp: how to set it up
• Disadvantages of WhatsApp Business
• WhatsApp for business

Frequently asked questions

What is an 085 number?

A Dutch phone number that is not tied to a region. Businesses and private individuals can apply for one through a telephony provider. Calling it costs the same as calling a regular landline number.

Is calling an 085 number free?

No. It costs the same as calling a landline number with an area code and falls within your call bundle. Free calls are possible to 0800 numbers.

What is the difference between an 085 and an 088 number?

An 085 number is for businesses and private individuals and you apply for it through a telephony provider. An 088 number is for organisations with several locations. They apply for it directly at the ACM, with Chamber of Commerce registration, in blocks of at least 100 numbers.

Can you use WhatsApp on an 085 number?

WhatsApp supports landline numbers in WhatsApp Business. Telephony providers report that this works with an 085 number, if you verify it with a phone call. WhatsApp itself does not mention 085 numbers.

Who is calling me from an 085 number?

It can be any business or private individual with such a number. Telemarketers sometimes call from 085 numbers. If you do not recognise the number, look it up or call the company back on the number on its own website.