Can you activate an unlocked iphone 4S abroad?

I live in holland ; but for christmas i'm getting an unlocked iphone 4S, but i'm going to receive it in San Francisco at my grandfathers house. If i buy a micro-SIM here in holland (Vodafone NL) can i use that micro sim to activate my new iphone in the USA? Or will it want a SIM from a local carrier, ie AT&T/Verizon?

Added (1). Ok if i can activate it with a vodafone SIM, great, but can i turn off roaming/ put it in airplane mode to use it as an itouch only until i get back to holland?

Added (2). I think it is an american version my parents will be buying it from apple.com

An American SIM won't work in that device.

You should be able to activate it with the Vodaphone SIM, but you'll likely be roaming, which can get pricey.

There's on other thing you (and the gift givers) need to be aware of. If this iPhone is an American version (locked or not), you will very likely NOT get 3G or higher data service on the device in Holland. The frequencies used on American phones are different than those used in Europe. You might want to tell them to look into this very carefully before spending the money. They may want to retink this. They may be better off giving you the money to buy the European version of the phone when you return home.

You should be fine.

for an iPhone 4/4S
ATT and Verizon are very very different network technologies
ATT are compatible with GSM/UMTS(3G)
Verizon is CDMA and will not work outside the USA (or Verizon)

If they buy directly from an Apple store as an a SIM FREE/ unlocked phone,
you should be fine (it is possible, but they need to be clear to apple that is what they want)

You will use Wi-Fi to activate it
- it will let you set up the Wi-Fi code/Key before you finish activating.
and that would be my recommendation (certainly not roaming - data is too expensive)
(most apple shops will do it in the store)

In fact, as an unlocked phone, it probably does not need activating,
or if it does, it it only needs to be done once, and then you can change SIMs without further hassle.

You certainly can use a local SIM, as it does not care which SIM it has, once you give it your personal Apple ID (so take one out at apple before you collect it).

If you're buying unlocked iPhone, you can just put a US SIM in the phone and activate and when you return Holland, put your Vodafone SIM in and use it. You can also put it in Airplane Mode and use it as iPod.