Netherlands

Compare Euro Exchange Rates in Netherlands

Everything you need to know about money in the Netherlands - one of Europe's most card-friendly countries, but with some quirks. Updated for 2026.

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

Best Exchange Options for EUR

Top providers by category:

Best ATM

ING Netherlands

Wide ATM network across Netherlands.

Best Bank

ABN AMRO

Major Dutch bank. ATMs accept all cards.

Convenient

Schiphol Airport

Use the ING ATMs in Arrivals near the exits, not the GWK machines.

Avoid

GWK Travelex

High fees and poor rates at Schiphol and the train stations.

Avoid

Dam Square Booths

Tourist rates in Amsterdam centre. Use a bank ATM.

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Frequently Asked Questions

In the Netherlands, where contactless is used from supermarkets to street food, the guide puts multi-currency cards such as Wise and Revolut first, with ING, ABN AMRO or Rabobank machines for fee-free cash. If you would rather use your own UK bank card, check its fees first: spending in Euros is free on some premium accounts.

Almost. The Dutch adopted contactless early, and supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, museums, shops, hotels and public transport nearly all take cards, with contactless limits high enough (€100 or more) that you rarely enter a PIN. The exception is a shrinking number of places, such as traditional brown cafés and very small family shops, that accept only Dutch debit cards or cash.

PIN is the local name for the Maestro debit cards the Dutch traditionally used, so a shop showing 'PIN only' takes Dutch debit cards rather than international Visa or Mastercard. Such signs are now rare and card acceptance keeps improving, with even Albert Cuyp market stalls and floating flower shops often taking contactless, but a little cash is a sensible backup.

Not at the banks: ING (orange), ABN AMRO (green), Rabobank and SNS Bank machines make no charge for foreign cards, so paired with a fee-free card they are very cheap to use. Avoid GWK Travelex ATMs at Schiphol and train stations, which charge fees of €5-7, Euronet's blue machines in tourist areas, and any machine not attached to a bank, which is likely to charge.

Use the ING machines, not the GWK Travelex ones, which carry fees of €5-7. Schiphol has both, and the ING ATMs stand in Arrivals near the exits, so do not stop at the first machine you see but walk past the GWK ones to find a bank ATM.

Less than in most countries. For a weekend in Amsterdam, €50-100 in cash is plenty as backup, and €100-150 covers markets and small purchases on a week-long trip. Bring more for King's Day or festivals, when street sellers are often cash-only. Note that Amsterdam itself is expensive; smaller cities such as Utrecht, Rotterdam and Den Haag are better value.

Nearby Destinations

Planning to visit multiple countries? Check out exchange guides for nearby destinations:

Germany Belgium France