Moving to the Netherlands is an exciting adventure, but getting your finances sorted can feel overwhelming. Dutch banking has its own quirks—some wonderful, some frustrating—and navigating it all in a new country (often in a new language) is no small feat.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about banking as an expat, from opening your first account to understanding the Dutch payment landscape.
Step 1: Get Your BSN (Burgerservicenummer)
Before you can do almost anything financial in the Netherlands, you need a BSN—your citizen service number. This is the Dutch equivalent of a social security number, and Dutch banks are required by law to have it.
How to get your BSN:
- If you will stay longer than 4 months, register at your local municipality (gemeente) within 5 days of arrival
- You will need your passport, birth certificate (which may need to be legalised and translated), and proof of address (rental contract)
- The BSN is assigned during or shortly after your registration appointment
- Waiting times for an appointment differ by municipality
Can you open a bank account without a BSN? Some banks, such as bunq, ABN AMRO and ING, let you open an account before you have your BSN and give you 90 days to add it. See our guide to opening a bank account without a BSN.
Step 2: Choose the Right Bank
The Netherlands has a mix of traditional Dutch banks and newer digital-first options. Here is how they compare for expats:
US citizens need one more thing: a US tax number, because Dutch banks report US account holders to the IRS (see bank accounts for US citizens).
Traditional Dutch Banks
ING, ABN AMRO, and Rabobank are the "big three." They offer full-service banking with physical branches, Dutch IBAN numbers, and integration with iDEAL (the dominant Dutch payment system). The downside? Some of their services are mainly in Dutch, and Rabobank needs your BSN before you can open an account. ABN AMRO and ING are exceptions: you can open an account first and add your BSN within 90 days.
Opening one with a partner? See joint bank accounts in the Netherlands.
Digital-First Banks
bunq is a Dutch neobank that is extremely popular with expats. The entire experience is in English, you can open an account from your phone in minutes, and they offer features like automatic savings and sub-accounts. They also provide a Dutch IBAN, which is important for receiving your salary and paying rent.
N26 and Revolut are also popular choices. N26 gives you a German IBAN (which works for most purposes thanks to SEPA), while Revolut has been moving its Dutch customers to Dutch IBANs. Both are app-only and often used for spending in other currencies; see our guide to avoiding foreign transaction fees.
Step 3: Understand iDEAL and Dutch Payments
The Netherlands runs on iDEAL (being renamed iDEAL | Wero during 2026), a payment system that lets you pay directly from your bank account. It is used for online shopping, splitting bills, and even paying government fees. Almost every Dutch online store expects iDEAL as the primary payment method.
To use iDEAL, you need a bank account with a participating bank. All the big Dutch banks support it, and so do bunq, N26 and Revolut. See iDEAL and Tikkie without a Dutch bank account for the full list and what works with Tikkie.
At the till most people pay with a debit card or a phone: see which banks support Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Tikkie is another essential Dutch app. It is like Venmo but connected to your bank account via iDEAL. Dutch people use Tikkie constantly to split restaurant bills, share costs for group gifts, and even for small business payments. Having a Tikkie-compatible bank account will make your social life much smoother.
Step 4: Consider a Credit Card
Credit cards are much less common in the Netherlands than in the US or UK. Most Dutch people use debit cards for everything. However, as an expat, a credit card can be valuable for international travel, car rentals and online purchases from non-Dutch websites.
Which cards shops, supermarkets and public transport actually take, Amex included, is in which cards work in the Netherlands.
Check out our credit card comparison for the best options available to expats.
Step 5: Set Up Your Savings
After years of near-zero rates, savings accounts pay interest again, and rates differ a lot between banks (see today's rates). Some key things to know:
- Deposits up to EUR 100,000 per person, per bank are protected by the deposit guarantee scheme of the bank's home country (brands that share one banking licence share one limit; see how the deposit guarantee works)
- Savings above the box 3 tax-free allowance are taxed on a deemed return, not on the interest you actually earn (see our box 3 guide)
- Both Dutch and EU-based banks are available, often with competitive rates
- Saving for a child? See savings accounts for children and how they are taxed
Compare the latest rates on our savings account comparison page.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting too long to open a bank account: Start the process as soon as you have your BSN (or open one that lets you add it later in the meantime)
- Only using a non-Dutch IBAN: Some landlords and employers may have trouble with foreign IBANs, even though SEPA regulations say they should accept them (see when a foreign IBAN must be accepted)
- Assuming the 30% ruling covers your savings: Since 2025 it no longer exempts savings from box 3, except for rulings already applied at the end of 2023, and only until the end of 2026
- Not setting up a savings account: With current rates, leaving money in a zero-interest current account is leaving money on the table
Getting your banking sorted early makes everything else easier—from receiving your salary to paying rent to splitting dinner with new friends. Take it step by step, and you will be navigating Dutch finances like a local in no time.
Moving on again later? See what to do with your Dutch bank accounts when you leave.