There is a long, thin, rubber-y line wrapped around/connected to the water line pictured below.
Other angle:
The piece in question is loosely hanging via a zip tie on my main water line about shoulder height and can be moved up/down easily.
Same here, not in NL.
We do had somebody come check when we contacted them because we were paying too much. (After which we received 1300 euro back because we definitely were)
Nowadays most people in my country have the required "smart meter" now though.