Money in the Netherlands for visitors

The Netherlands uses the euro, and most payments are made by card. You can get through a short visit with a debit card alone, but a little cash helps at markets, small shops and for tips. Here is what works, what it costs, and where to get cash.

Cards

A debit card works in “just about any store”, as the Netherlands Board of Tourism puts it. Credit cards are accepted in many places but are less common than in the UK or US: the Dutch hardly use them in daily life, and not every shop takes them. Amsterdam’s official visitor site advises using a debit card and carrying some cash for markets and smaller shops.

A growing number of shops show a “pin only” sign (alleen pinnen): they take cards but no cash. “Pinnen” is the Dutch word for paying or withdrawing with a card and PIN.

Cash

More than three quarters of shops, pubs, bars and accommodation still accept cash, according to the Board of Tourism. Two things to know:

• Smaller businesses and some supermarkets may not accept €100 and €200 notes. Ask for €50 or smaller notes when you withdraw or exchange.
• Cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 cents, so you will rarely get 1- and 2-cent coins in change.

Shops are not legally required to accept cash. Parliament has approved a proposal for a cash acceptance duty for payments up to €3,000, but it has not taken effect; the government’s stated aim is 2027.

Public transport

You can check in and out on trains, trams, buses and metros with a contactless bank card or phone (OVpay). NS says foreign contactless Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and V PAY cards work, apart from some prepaid and virtual cards, including Vivid, Paysafe and Revolut’s digital card. On NS trains this means second class without discounts. On Amsterdam’s GVB trams, buses and metros, paying by card is capped at €10 per day.

Getting cash from an ATM

Almost all ATMs are run by Geldmaat and stand in outside walls or inside supermarkets and bookshops. With a foreign card you pay a Geldmaat fee per withdrawal: €4 for a card from the EEA, from €4.50 for other cards. Your own bank may add charges. When the machine offers to convert to your currency, choose euros. Details in ATM fees in the Netherlands.

Many machines are switched off at night, and those inside supermarkets close with the shop. Independent machines, such as Euronet’s, charge their own fees and are common in tourist areas: how to recognise them.

Arriving by train? See the nearest machines to Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal, Utrecht Centraal and Den Haag Centraal.

Exchanging money

The Board of Tourism points to GWK Travelex, with exchange offices at major stations and airports; at Schiphol there are branches before and after security. Exchange offices make money on the difference between the rate they buy and sell at, so compare the amount of euros you receive, not only the commission. An ATM withdrawal paid in euros is usually the simpler option.

Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory. Waiting staff do not live off tips; a tip is a “nice extra”. The Board of Tourism calls about 10% “quite acceptable”; Amsterdam’s visitor site says 5 to 10% of the bill is customary for good service. When paying by card, you can ask to add the tip to the amount.