Expat Money Guide
Banking comparison

Best Expat Bank Accounts in the Netherlands (2026)

Compare the best bank accounts for expats in the Netherlands — no-BSN neobanks, multi-currency accounts and traditional Dutch banks, with an interactive fee estimator for overseas transfers.

Monthly Package & Card Cost Estimator

Configure your card setup to estimate total annual account maintenance fees across Dutch providers.

Include Credit Card?
Joint Account / 2nd Account Holder?

Lowest cost — Wise

€ 0

Highest cost — ABN AMRO

€ 52

Potential savings

+€ 52

Product records last reviewed: September 2026Confirm current terms with the provider

How We Compare

Providers are compared using the same editorial factors. This is not a live feed or a quantitative score, and commercial relationships do not change the terms shown.

Fees & total cost
Headline rate or fee plus account, FX, custody and transaction costs over a realistic year of use.
DGS / investor protection
Whether balances sit under a €100,000 deposit guarantee scheme, or which investor compensation limit applies.
BSN & residency requirements
Whether you can open and keep the account before you have a BSN or a registered Dutch address.
English service & Dutch tax reporting
English app and support, plus an annual statement you can use for a Box 3 declaration.

Compare bank accounts

6 accounts · ranked by Daily Dutch Spending

ING Netherlands

Traditional Dutch Bank with Extensive Branch Network

Recommended
€4.50From €4.50/mo base fee Checked September 2026
Estimated annual cost
€48/yr
BSN requirement
BSN Required Immediately
Deposit protection
Dutch DGS (€100k)
Local NL IBAN iDEAL & Tikkie Ready 100% English App & Support iDEAL Support
  • Full English mobile banking app
  • Dutch IBAN with mortgage & loan integration
  • Extensive branch network across the Netherlands
  • Credit card options paired with current account
Visit Official SiteNot an affiliate link

ABN AMRO

Traditional Dutch Bank with Full English Interface

Recommended
€3.25€3.25/mo base fee Checked September 2026
Estimated annual cost
€52/yr
BSN requirement
BSN Required Immediately
Deposit protection
Dutch DGS (€100k)
Local NL IBAN iDEAL & Tikkie Ready 100% English App & Support iDEAL Support
  • Full English mobile banking app and customer service
  • Dutch IBAN with seamless mortgage & loan integration
  • Physical branches across major Netherlands cities
  • Credit card options paired with current account
Visit Official SiteNot an affiliate link

Wise

Unbeatable Low-Fee International Money Transfers

FreeFree account (transparent per-transfer fee) Checked September 2026
Estimated annual cost
€0/yr
BSN requirement
No BSN required for basic setup
Deposit protection
Belgian DGS (€100k)
100% English App & Support Multi-Currency Free Tier
  • Mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees
  • Multi-currency account holding 40+ currencies
  • Fast transfers to/from non-EUR home bank accounts
  • Debit card usable worldwide with zero foreign transaction markup
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Revolut

Global Money App with Dutch iDEAL Support

FreeFree Standard Tier (Paid plans from €3.99/mo) Checked September 2026
Estimated annual cost
€0/yr
BSN requirement
No BSN required at initial signup
Deposit protection
Lithuanian DGS (€100k)
100% English App & Support iDEAL Support Multi-Currency Free Tier
  • Dutch iDEAL payment integration supported
  • Hold & exchange 30+ currencies at interbank rates
  • Built-in stock, ETF, and crypto trading
  • Virtual disposable cards for safe online shopping
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Rabobank

Cooperative Dutch Bank with Strong Branch Network

€3.50From €3.50/mo base fee Checked September 2026
Estimated annual cost
€42/yr
BSN requirement
BSN Required Immediately
Deposit protection
Dutch DGS (€100k)
100% English App & Support iDEAL Support
  • Full English mobile banking app
  • Dutch IBAN with mortgage & loan integration
  • Extensive branch network across the Netherlands
  • Geldmaat cash deposit and withdrawal support
Visit Official SiteNot an affiliate link

bunq

Bank of the Free — Ideal for Expats in NL

Featured
FreeFree tier available (€3.99/mo Premium) Checked September 2026
Estimated annual cost
€48/yr
BSN requirement
BSN Grace Period (90 Days)
Deposit protection
Dutch DGS (€100k)
100% English App & Support iDEAL Support Free Tier
  • Instant Dutch IBAN (plus DE, ES, FR, IE IBANs)
  • Zero-paperwork signup with foreign passport
  • Auto-budgeting with up to 25 sub-accounts
  • High-yield savings options with weekly interest payouts
Open AccountAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you

What to check before you open an account

How to Open a Dutch Bank Account Without a BSN (The 90-Day Grace Period)

Dutch law requires every resident to register with their municipality (gemeente) and receive a BSN within a few weeks of arriving. But neobanks like bunq let you open a fully functional Dutch IBAN with just a foreign passport, giving you a 90-day window to receive your salary, pay rent and set up utilities before your BSN is issued. Wise and Revolut go further — their multi-currency accounts never require a BSN at all, since they operate under other EU banking licences.

Understanding iDEAL, Maestro, Debit Mastercard, and Visa in the Netherlands

iDEAL is the Netherlands' instant bank-transfer payment system, used by nearly every webshop and government service — only Dutch-licensed banks can initiate iDEAL payments. For cards, Dutch banks historically issued Maestro debit cards, but most have switched to Debit Mastercard or Visa Debit, which work both online and abroad. Neobanks issue Mastercard or Visa debit cards that work everywhere internationally but may not support outgoing iDEAL from the app.

Neobanks vs. Traditional Dutch Banks (ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank)

Neobanks (bunq, Wise, Revolut) offer instant onboarding, English-first apps, low FX fees and no BSN barrier — ideal for your first months. Traditional banks (ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank) require a BSN, charge a monthly fee and apply higher FX markups, but provide physical branches, integrated mortgages, credit cards and native iDEAL. Many expats start with a neobank, then add a traditional account once they need a mortgage or prefer in-person service.

Expat banking FAQs

Can I receive my Dutch salary without a local BSN?
Yes, for a limited time. Neobanks like bunq and Wise let you open a Dutch IBAN with just a foreign passport, giving you a 90-day grace period to receive your salary while you arrange your BSN registration with the gemeente. Once you have your BSN you update the bank, and a traditional bank account becomes available too.
What is iDEAL and why do I need it?
iDEAL is the dominant Dutch online payment method, used for everything from paying taxes to ordering groceries. It redirects you from a webshop to your banking app to approve the transfer instantly. Only banks with a Dutch banking licence (bunq, ABN AMRO, ING) offer native iDEAL; multi-currency apps like Wise and Revolut support iDEAL deposits but may not initiate iDEAL payments from the app itself.
Are funds protected by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme?
Only banks licensed by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) — bunq, ABN AMRO and ING in this comparison — are covered by the Dutch DGS, which protects €100,000 per person per bank. Wise is covered by the Belgian scheme, and Revolut's EU entity falls under the Lithuanian scheme, both also €100,000. The protection is equivalent in amount but claims are handled by the home-country regulator.
Do I need a BSN to open an account with bunq, Wise, or Revolut?
bunq offers a 90-day grace period during which you can open an account with a foreign passport alone. Wise and Revolut do not require a BSN for their basic multi-currency accounts, since they are not Dutch-licensed banks. ABN AMRO and ING both require a BSN at the time of opening.
Can I use a neobank as my main salary account in the Netherlands?
Yes. bunq issues a full Dutch IBAN accepted by every Dutch employer and payroll provider. Wise and Revolut provide IBANs too, but some Dutch employers may prefer a Dutch-licensed IBAN for their payroll system. If your employer is flexible, a neobank can be your sole account; otherwise keep it alongside a traditional account.
How much do traditional Dutch banks charge for international transfers?
Traditional banks like ABN AMRO and ING typically apply a 2–3% exchange-rate markup on overseas transfers, plus a fixed fee per transaction. Multi-currency accounts like Wise use the mid-market rate with a small transparent per-transfer fee, which on regular overseas transfers can save hundreds of euros per year.

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