Compare Dutch credit cards (2024)

FAQs

What is the most accepted credit card in the Netherlands? ›

What credit cards are accepted in the Netherlands? Credit cards are not yet widely accepted in the Netherlands. However, you will have better luck with Mastercard and Visa compared to cards like American Express or Diner's Club.

That being said: the Dutch are averse to debt and try their best to avoid it - so much so that the word for "debt" in Dutch is schuld (guilt). Which is why the concept of a credit card would be something that the Dutch try to stay away from.

Debit cards and ATMs in the Netherlands

If you have a foreign debit or credit card, you can usually get by just fine in our country.

Mastercard and Visa are the most widely accepted credit cards in the Dutch retail space. American Express tends to be accepted only by major retailers in the Netherlands who have an international client base – although Amex acceptance is growing.

Be sure to carry cash

In daily life, the Dutch hardly use them. Instead, payments are often made with debit cards.

Because merchants pay commissions to credit-card companies, small European businesses (B&Bs, mom-and-pop cafés, gift shops, and more) often prefer that you pay in cash. Vendors might offer you a discount for paying with cash, or they might not accept credit cards at all.

The drivers accept credit cards, are not allowed to refuse rides and will give you a printed receipt. Attention: please avoid all unsolicited rides from taxi touts.

The most powerful credit card in the world is the Centurion® Card from American Express, which is famously known as the "black card" and seen as a status symbol for rich and influential people.

What is the #1 credit card to have? ›

The best credit card overall is the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card because it gives 2% cash rewards on purchases and has a $0 annual fee. For comparison purposes, the average cash rewards card in 2024 gives about 1% back.

First, make sure any credit card you take to Europe is widely accepted. The Visa and Mastercard networks, for example, offer wider acceptance abroad than Discover and American Express. While you can certainly bring your Amex and Discover cards, it's best to pack a backup.

Debit cards are the top payment method across the entire retail sector in the Netherlands, despite the high number of iDEAL transactions online. Around 60% of all retail transactions in the country (averaged across online and offline) are paid with debit cards. The most common cards in the country are Maestro and Vpay.

Moderate Merchant Acceptance: Brazil, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom. Low Merchant Acceptance: Australia, Egypt, France. No Merchant Acceptance: Bolivia, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, most of Africa and the Middle East.

First, make sure any credit card you take to Europe is widely accepted. The Visa and Mastercard networks, for example, offer wider acceptance abroad than Discover and American Express. While you can certainly bring your Amex and Discover cards, it's best to pack a backup.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards can be used internationally, though Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted abroad. The best type of credit card for international use is a Visa or Mastercard credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

Cards used in the Netherlands are usually Maestro and/or VPay. Let op! MasterCard, AMEX, and Diner's Club cards are rarely accepted, no matter what your overseas bank tells you. Cash payments are also becoming increasingly rare in the Netherlands, so a handy debit card is the way to go for sure.

In the Netherlands, if you have a stable income and pay your debts on time, you will be deemed creditworthy and there is no such thing as a credit score. However, if you fail to make repayments, you will find yourself included on the register run by the Dutch Credit Registration Office, or BKR.