Opening a Dutch bank account will make your life much easier, from paying rent to using iDEAL for everyday purchases.
From the moment you arrive in the Netherlands, your home country’s bank account may not be enough for every situation. Dutch debit cards are the most common way to pay in shops, supermarkets, cafés, and restaurants. Credit cards and some foreign bank cards may not be accepted everywhere, and many online payments use iDEAL, which is linked to Dutch bank accounts. Opening a Dutch bank account can therefore make everyday payments easier, and in some cases may be necessary.
While you can survive with a foreign account, a Dutch account is highly recommended because:
Tip: Some digital banks let you open an account without a BSN initially, but you’ll need to add it later.
There are two main types of banks available, each suited to different needs and situations.
iDEAL is a secure online payment system widely used for transactions, linked directly to Dutch bank accounts. It a fast, reliable, and accepted by most businesses and e-commerce platforms convenient solution. You scan the QR code, accept the payment, and ready to go!
The Netherlands, once a Maestro-dominated country, now widely accepts both Visa and Mastercard. For convenience, iDEAL remains essential for daily banking, so we recommend setting up an additional bank account for your stay in the Netherlands.
Currently, in bunch of stores you will see PIN ONLY, which means that only cashless payments are accepted. Keep that in mind when withdrawing a big amount of money before your arrival!
