Getting Euros for Your Trip to the Netherlands

The Netherlands is a dream for travellers who prefer card payments. The Dutch embraced contactless technology early and use it for everything from supermarkets to street food. You can easily spend a week in Amsterdam barely touching cash.

That said, there's a quirk: the Netherlands traditionally used Maestro debit cards (locally called "PIN"), and some smaller establishments still only accept these Dutch cards rather than international Visa or Mastercard. This is becoming increasingly rare, but it's worth carrying some cash as backup.

Key insight for 2026: Card acceptance continues to improve. Even market stalls at Albert Cuyp and floating flower shops often accept contactless. The main exception is some traditional "brown cafés" (bruine kroegen) and very small family shops.

Best Ways to Get Euros for the Netherlands

Here are your options ranked from best to worst value:

1. Multi-currency cards (Wise, Revolut) — Perfect for the Netherlands. Use contactless for most purchases with excellent exchange rates. Withdraw from bank ATMs when you need cash.
2. Order Euros online before travel — Get cash delivered at near-market rates. Useful for market shopping and backup.
3. Dutch bank ATMs — ING (orange), ABN AMRO (green), and Rabobank ATMs don't charge fees. Combined with a fee-free card, very cost-effective.
4. UK specialist bureaux — Good rates for Euros if you want cash before travel.
5. Your UK bank card — Check fees first. Some premium accounts offer fee-free Euro spending.
6. UK high street banks — Convenient but rates typically 3-4% off mid-market.
7. GWK Travelex / Airport exchanges — Avoid. Poor rates and high fees at Schiphol and UK airports.

Using Cards in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is extremely card-friendly. Here's the breakdown:

Where Cards Work Perfectly

• Supermarkets: Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Plus — all accept Visa/MC contactless
• Restaurants: Nearly all accept cards, including most small restaurants
• Cafés: Coffee shops and regular cafés almost universally accept cards
• Public transport: OV-chipkaart or contactless debit/credit works on trams, buses, metros
• Museums: All major museums accept cards
• Shops: Department stores, boutiques, and most retail accept cards
• Hotels: Universal card acceptance

Where You Might Need Cash

• Some market stalls: Most now accept cards, but cash is faster
• Traditional brown cafés: Some old-school pubs prefer cash or only accept PIN
• Street food: Stroopwafel vendors and some street stalls
• "PIN only" signs: Rare but means Dutch debit cards only
• Very small family shops: Occasional cash-only holdouts

Contactless limits: The Netherlands has high contactless limits (€100+), so you rarely need to enter a PIN for typical tourist purchases.

ATMs in the Netherlands

ATMs (called "Geldautomaat" or "Pinautomaat") are common but require some knowledge:

Best ATMs to Use

• ING: Orange ATMs, very common. No fees for foreign cards.
• ABN AMRO: Green ATMs. Fee-free withdrawals.
• Rabobank: Found throughout the country. No fees.
• SNS Bank: Smaller network but fee-free.

ATMs to Avoid

• GWK Travelex: Found at Schiphol and train stations. High fees (€5-7) and poor rates.
• Euronet: Blue ATMs in tourist areas. Charge significant fees.
• Independent ATMs: Any ATM not attached to a bank likely charges fees.

Schiphol Airport ATM Strategy

Schiphol has both GWK Travelex ATMs (avoid) and ING ATMs (use these). The ING ATMs are in Arrivals near the exits. Don't use the first ATM you see — walk past the GWK machines to find the bank ATMs.

How Much Cash to Bring

Thanks to excellent card acceptance, you need less cash than in most countries:

• Weekend in Amsterdam: €50-100 cash is plenty as backup
• Week-long trip: €100-150 cash for markets and small purchases
• King's Day/Festivals: Bring more cash — street sellers are often cash-only

Daily Spending Guide (Per Person)

• Budget: €70-100/day — hostels, self-catering, free activities
• Mid-range: €150-250/day — 3-star hotels, restaurants, museums
• Comfortable: €300-500/day — boutique hotels, fine dining, tours

Note: Amsterdam is expensive. Smaller cities like Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Den Haag offer better value.

Money Safety Tips

The Netherlands is very safe, but tourist areas have pickpockets:

• Watch out on trams: Pickpockets work crowded trams, especially lines to Central Station
• Red Light District: Keep valuables secure and be aware of your surroundings
• Bike theft: Don't leave valuables in bike baskets
• Card safety: Watch for card skimmers at isolated ATMs
• Coffeeshops: Pay attention to your belongings