Find the best credit card in The Netherlands (2024)

FAQs

Find the best credit card in The Netherlands? ›

Major credit cards and debit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express are widely accepted in the Netherlands at restaurants, hotels, and tourist destinations.

Major credit cards and debit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express are widely accepted in the Netherlands at restaurants, hotels, and tourist destinations.

Most retailers in the Netherlands only accept a “chip and pin” card and will not accept a standard U.S. credit card containing only a magnetic strip. ATM and credit card users are advised to keep an eye on their cards at all times. If you feel uncomfortable using your card for any reason, use cash.

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. Cardholders can also earn an initial bonus of $200 cash rewards after spending $500...

Cash is still widely accepted in the Netherlands, but its use is declining. While many retailers and service providers will still accept cash, an increasing number are moving towards cashless payment methods such as debit cards, credit cards, and digital wallets.

Now that you understand a bit more about the Dutch mentality, it makes sense then that the preferred method of payment in the Netherlands is the debit card, a Maestro one to be exact.

Visa and MasterCard (also known as Eurocard in Europe) are the most widely used cards in Holland. American Express is often accepted, mostly in the middle- and upper-bracket category. Diners Club is not as commonly accepted as American Express. Beware of hidden credit card fees while traveling.

Most Widely Used: Visa has the most credit cards in circulation (over 300 million). American Express cardholders spend the most, charging over $15,000 in purchases per year. Best Worldwide Credit Cards: Visa or Mastercard credit cards with no foreign transaction fee.

The Netherlands is a very modern country. You can pay with cash or a debit card, and often with your phone via NFC, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet.

Be sure to carry cash

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

How much cash should I bring to Netherlands? ›

If you are travelling to the Netherlands or returning to the Netherlands after a trip abroad, there is no limit on the amount of money you can take with you. However, you may need to submit a customs declaration.

The Tourist Day Ticket is a tourist transport card Netherlands that solves this problem. For a fixed price of €14,50 you can use all of the participating public transport in South Holland. This enables you to carelessly enjoy your visit to the Netherlands!

Most places still take cash, but prefer cards. Note that in the Netherlands we mostly use the Maestro system debit cards. Some places (like hotels and restaurants, but not normal shops) will accept maestro credit cards (like Mastercard). Visa is uncommon, diner cards and American Express are rare.

OV-chipkaart is a contactless card used to pay the various transport systems in Holland. If you are going to spend several days in the capital city and plan visiting other towns in the country, purchasing an OV-chipkaart is the best idea. You will be charged according to the distance of each journey.