Credit card usage in the Netherlands is less common than in countries like the US, UK, or Australia, where most transactions are made using cash, debit cards, or online banking.
The financially cautious Dutch people typically have a lower consumer debt culture compared to those in the US, UK, or Australia, and many stores in the Netherlands still do not accept credit cards.
However, if you live and work in the Netherlands, obtaining a credit card can be beneficial, particularly if you frequently travel. A credit card is often essential for making international hotel and car rental reservations.
Additionally, using a credit card for flight purchases and online shopping provides greater consumer protection compared to other payment methods.
When you apply for a credit card in the Netherlands, the issuer will likely conduct a credit check via the Bureau Kredietregistratie (BKR) credit register.
Let’s explore the best credit cards available in the Netherlands that may be appealing to expats and international residents. We will cover American Express cards, generic Visa and Mastercard options from ICS, credit cards from Dutch banks, and ANWB-branded cards.
[1] American Express Cards in the Netherlands
American Express (AMEX) operates in the Dutch market, though its cards are not as widely accepted in Europe compared to Visa or Mastercard.
American Express offers charge cards that require full payment each month, which means no ongoing balance and no registration with the BKR is necessary.
The foreign exchange fees for non-euro transactions with its Dutch cards are set at 2.5%. Apple Pay can be used with American Express cards.
Processing applications for AMEX cards may take up to 10 business days.
AMEX cards are particularly good for earning miles and points. Please note that the website for personal American Express cards in the Netherlands (excluding the Platinum card) is only available in Dutch.
American Express Membership Rewards Cards in the Netherlands
AMEX provides a variety of card options for Dutch residents that allow them to earn points through the in-house rewards program known as Membership Rewards (MR).
This program is highly flexible and collaborates with many partners, especially in the travel and airline sectors, allowing you to transfer your Membership Reward points to various programs of your choice.
Here’s a summary table of the top 3 classic American Express cards available in the Netherlands that earn Membership Rewards points:
American Express Platinum Metal Card
The American Express Platinum Metal Card is a premium card that provides numerous travel benefits. It costs €65 per month or €780 annually.
Currently, there is no welcome bonus. Benefits include extensive travel insurance, Privium Plus membership (for Schiphol border control), access to airport lounges worldwide, and a €300 dining credit.
1 MR point is earned for every €1 spent. A gross annual income of €30,000 is required.
You can apply for the American Express Platinum Metal card here.
American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card costs €20 per month or €240 annually, with no current welcome bonus.
This card includes 4 lounge access passes usable at over 1,300 airport lounges globally, basic travel insurance, €100 dining credit, and an Amazon Prime subscription.
1 MR point is earned for each €1 spent. A gross annual income of €20,000 is necessary.
You can apply for the American Express Gold card here.
American Express Green Card
The American Express Green Card is priced at €6.50 per month or €78 annually and is free for the first year.
It’s the standard AMEX card – no welcome bonus is currently offered.
1 MR point is earned for every €1 spent. A gross annual income of €20,000 is required.
You can apply for the American Express Green card here.
American Express Blue Card
The American Express Blue Card costs €35 annually (free for the first year) and remains free if you spend over €3,000 annually. It offers 1 MR point per €2 spent.
A gross annual income of €20,000 is required. [If earning points is important to you, the Green card may be a better option than the Blue card, as both are free the first year, but the Green offers a double MR points earning rate over the Blue.]
KLM Flying Blue American Express Cards
These AMEX cards are ideal for individuals who frequently fly with KLM, Air France, or Skyteam and are members of the Flying Blue frequent flyer program.
The cards come with Flying Blue Award Mile welcome bonuses, which vary based on expenditure within the first three months: €5,000 (Platinum), €2,500 (Gold), €1,500 (Silver), and €500 (Entry).
The following table compares the top 3 American Express Flying Blue cards available in the Netherlands that earn Flying Blue miles.
* Bonus miles offer valid until 30 Oct 2024.
American Express Flying Blue Platinum Card
The premium Flying Blue Platinum Card (€660 per year) includes a potential welcome bonus of 10,000 60,000 Miles welcome bonus*, comprehensive travel insurance, and 60 XP points towards elite status.
Cardholders earn 1.5 miles per €1 spent and 2 miles (both award and level) per €1 spent on KLM/Air France.
A gross annual income of €30,000 is necessary.
You can apply for the American Express Flying Blue Platinum card here.
American Express Flying Blue Gold Card
The Flying Blue Gold Card (€198 per year) offers a potential welcome bonus of 5,000 30,000 Flying Blue miles* and 30 XP points for achieving elite status.
The earning rate is 1 mile per €1 spent and 1.5 miles (both award and level) per €1 spent on KLM/Air France.
A gross annual income of €20,000 is required.
You can apply for the American Express Flying Blue Gold card here.
American Express Flying Blue Silver Card
The Flying Blue Silver Card (€75, free for the first year) offers a potential welcome bonus of 2,500 10,000 Flying Blue miles along with 15 XP points for elite status.
Earning rates are 0.8 miles per €1 spent and 1 mile per €1 spent at KLM/Air France.
A minimum gross annual income of €20,000 is required.
You can apply for the Flying Blue Silver card here.
* Bonus miles offer valid until 30 Oct 2024, with specific spend requirements within the first three months: €4,000 (Platinum), €2,500 (Gold), and €1,500 (Silver).
American Express Flying Blue Entry Card
The Flying Blue Entry Card (€36 per year, free for the first year) is the entry-level Flying Blue card. It offers a potential welcome bonus of 1,000 miles and an earning rate of 1 mile per €2 spent (effectively 0.5 miles per €1).
A gross annual income of €20,000 is required.
For a complete overview of all the aforementioned cards, refer to the American Express Cards in the Netherlands – A Complete Guide.
[2] Visa and Mastercard (Generic Cards)
ICS (International Card Services) offers generic Visa and Mastercard options. Generally, you need a minimum net monthly salary of €1,150 for most cards (€1,250 for the Mastercard Black card). Non-euro currency exchange fees are typically 2%. All cards carry a credit limit of up to €5,000.
These cards can be managed through the ICS online portal or app. They are standalone products and are not linked to a specific bank account. Apple Pay is also available with ICS cards.
Visa World Cards
There are three Visa World cards available in the Dutch market, issued by ICS.
The standard Visa World Card costs €39.95 per year (free during the first year) and offers 180 days of purchase protection. Apply for the Visa World Card here.
The Visa World Card Gold costs €57.95 per year and provides 365 days of purchase protection. Apply for the Visa World Card Gold here.
The Visa World Card Platinum costs €164.95 per year and includes 365 days of purchase protection as well as some travel insurance. Apply for the Visa World Card Platinum here.
Mastercards from ICS
ICS also offers three generic Mastercards, which are also standalone products.
The standard Mastercard Classic Card costs €29.95 per year and includes 180 days of purchase protection along with some basic travel insurance.
The Mastercard Gold Card costs €42.95 per year, featuring 365 days of purchase protection, plus basic travel insurance.
The Mastercard Black Card (shown) costs €204 annually and comes with 365 days of purchase protection, extensive travel insurance, and Priority Pass airport lounge access (typically priced at €459 separately). A supplementary card for a partner costs €124 annually. Apply for the Mastercard Black Card here.
[3] Dutch Bank Credit Cards (Only for Account Holders)
It is essential to open a Dutch bank account if you are living in the Netherlands, as it is necessary for managing finances. Most banks allow their clients to apply for a credit card, but generally, you need to be a client to apply for one of the following cards.
ABN Amro Credit Cards
ABN AMRO provides an excellent banking service for expats in the Netherlands, with plenty of information available in English. If you choose to bank with ABN AMRO, their Mastercard credit card offerings (issued by ICS, International Card Services) will likely be a straightforward option.
You can easily open an ABN AMRO bank account online here (in English) in about 10 minutes without needing to visit a branch, by using the ABN AMRO app.
The ABN AMRO Credit Card has a credit limit of up to €5,000, with a monthly fee of €2.05 (€24.60 annually). It offers 180 days of purchase protection.
To qualify for the standard card, a minimum net income of €1,150 is required each month (approximately €15,000 gross annually).
The ABN AMRO Gold Card also has a credit limit of up to €5,000 and costs €4.25 per month (€51 annually). It includes some car rental insurance and offers 365 days of purchase protection. A minimum net income of €1,150 is also required.
The ABN AMRO Student Credit Card costs €1.16 (€13.92 annually) and provides 180 days of purchase protection, requiring a minimum net monthly income of €500.
Forex fees for non-euro transactions on ABN AMRO credit cards are also 2%.
Once you have an ABN AMRO account, you can apply for one of their credit cards by logging into the ABN AMRO online banking portal. The initial application can be completed in English, and it typically takes around 10 business days for ICS to approve your application, which may require income verification documents. More information on ABN AMRO credit cards is available here.
The card can be managed online via the ABN AMRO/ICS portal, and you can also add it to the ABN AMRO app to view transactions.
ING Credit Cards
ING, a prominent retail bank, also offers its own branded Mastercards. They have three card options available with ING banking packages: the Creditcard, PlatinumCard, and Student Creditcard.
The ING Creditcard costs €1.65 per month (€19.80 annually) with a credit limit ranging from €1,000 to €5,000. It has 180 days of purchase protection.
The ING PlatinumCard costs €4.35 per month (€52.20 annually), with a credit limit from €1,000 to €20,000 and 365 days of purchase protection, along with additional car rental and travel delay insurance.
Both cards require a minimum monthly income of €650 to be deposited into your ING account.
The ING Student CreditCard costs €1.20 per month (€14.40 annually) and has a credit limit of €1,000, offering 180 days of purchase protection.
ING charges a 2% forex fee for non-Euro transactions. You can manage these cards through the ‘Mijn ING’ online portal or the mobile banking app, both of which have an English version available.
Knab Credit Cards
Knab, an online bank that is part of Aegon Group, a large financial services company, offers a Knab Credit Card (Mastercard) for holders of the Knab Plus account package.
The Knab Mastercard costs €24 annually, with credit limits between €1,000 and €5,000. It includes 180 days of purchase protection, and the forex fee for non-euro payments is 2%.
A minimum net income of €1,150 is also required.
Rabobank Credit Cards
Rabobank, a significant retail bank in the Netherlands, has its own branded “RaboCard” Mastercards and Visa cards exclusively for customers on various banking packages. Depending on the package, some cards are offered for free, while others may incur a surcharge of up to €2 monthly.
The standard RaboCard has a minimum credit limit of €1,000 and offers 180 days of purchase protection. The Rabo GoldCard has a base credit limit of €2,500, with higher limits available for premium package customers, and it provides 360 days of purchase protection.
Forex fees for non-euro payments on Rabo cards are also set at 2%. Clients need a minimum monthly net income of €1,000 to qualify.
Rabobank does not have an English portal for customers.
Volksbank Credit Cards (ASN Bank and SNS Bank)
ASN Credit Card – The ethical bank ASN (part of de Volksbank) provides a branded Visa credit card issued by ICS for €35 annually. This card offers a credit limit between €1,000 and €5,000. ASN donates a small amount to sustainability projects each time the card is used. Forex fees for foreign transactions stand at 2%, and it includes 180 days of purchase protection. The card is exclusively for ASN account holders and does not have an English portal.
SNS Bank Credit Card – SNS Bank (also part of de Volksbank) offers a branded Visa issued by ICS, costing €35 per year or €25 for student account holders. The credit limit is between €1,000 and €5,000. The card is only available to SNS account holders and doesn’t have an English portal, with forex fees for non-euro transactions also at 2%.
[4] ANWB Credit Cards
ANWB (Royal Dutch Touring Club) is the leading automobile association in the Netherlands, similar to the AA, RAC in the UK or AAA in the US. It provides basic membership and breakdown services for cars and cyclists.
ANWB offers its members the chance to apply for one of three ANWB-branded credit cards, which are also issued by ICS.
The standard ANWB Visa Classic Card costs €24.95 per year and provides 180 days of purchase protection.
The ANWB Visa Silver Card costs €34.95 annually but is free for the first year, offering 270 days of purchase protection.
The ANWB Visa Gold Card costs €46.95 per year, available for half the price during the first year at €23.48, and offers 365 days of purchase protection.
Credit limits for these cards are up to €5,000, and the Silver and Gold cards include additional car rental insurance policies.
A minimum net monthly income of €1,150 is required for the ANWB cards, with forex charges for non-euro transactions set at 2%.
Conclusion – Credit Cards in the Netherlands
This article provides an overview of the primary consumer credit cards available in the Dutch market.
In the Netherlands, credit cards utilize the chip and PIN system for retail payments, requiring you to enter a PIN rather than just signing a sales receipt. Most cards also support contactless payments for transactions under €50 and are compatible with Apple Pay.
Mastercard and Visa are the most commonly accepted credit cards within Dutch retail.
American Express tends to be accepted mainly by larger retailers that cater to an international clientele, although its acceptance is gradually increasing.
You will find fewer rewards-oriented cards in the Dutch credit card landscape, except for the American Express Flying Blue and Membership Rewards options.
Generally, most people opt to pay off their credit card balances in full through direct debit every month. While installment payments are possible, they typically incur interest charges.
Note: The names and images of credit cards mentioned above are protected trademarks. It is advisable to pay your credit card balance in full every month. As the Dutch say, “Let op! Geld lenen kost geld,” which translates to “borrowing money costs money”! Terms, conditions, and prices are subject to change, so please verify with the card issuers.
We do not provide financial advice or discuss borrowing interest rates; our aim is solely to describe the main features and benefits of the cards listed.
This article was initially published in 2011 and last updated on 28 September 2024.
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