Bank Options

ING 

ING is one of the most used bank options in the Netherlands for international students. You can create a student account without any monthly costs.

You can open a student account via your phone by following the instructions on this website if:

  • You have a Dutch passport or ID card (no driver’s license)
  • You have an iPhone 7 or higher (Apple) or a phone with NFC (Android)
  • You live in The Netherlands
  • You are 18 years or older

If you do not apply to the criteria above, you can go to an ING-Service point with an appointment to create your account. Make sure to bring the following documents with you:

  • A valid ID (passport, ID card, official residence document)
  • A copy of your registration at a Dutch educational institution (full-time study), so-called proof of enrollment
  • If you are an international student without Dutch ID: an original extract from the Personal Records Database (BRP), not older than 3 months
  • Your burgerservicenummer (BSN) or, if you don’t have one, your Tax Identification Number (TIN). When you register in the BRP you will receive a BSN.

ABN Amro 

ABN Amro is another bank in the Netherlands that offers a free student account. Creating an account on ABN-Amro is very easy through their app. All you need is a Dutch ID or a valid passport for international students. You can check out their website for more information on how to create an account.

Bunq 

Bunq is another very easy-to-use online banking option in the Netherlands. Additionally, it is a sustainable bank! To open an account, all you need to do is download their app. The only downside of this option is that you need to pay a monthly fee of €2,99. Bunq has different plans that you can check out through their website to choose a plan with benefits that fit you. Please note, they are completely online and have no physical branches.

Some other sustainable options can be, Triodos, SNS, and ASN. However, this may be a bit more costly compared to other banks.

 

Ideal payment system

In the Netherlands, iDeal is a well-known payment system. Through this system it is possible to complete your payments safely and quickly with any Dutch bank.

iDeal is not an app, it’s an online system! You don’t have to download anything to get access. If you apply for a Dutch bank account, there will never be any problems with iDeal payments. When transferring money from your mobile banking app to another bank account, iDeal takes care of the online transfer. You will also immediately get a notification if the transfer successfully is completed. Other advantages are not having to enter account numbers and other data, it’s very easy to transfer money via your smartphone or tablet and last but not least, no extra costs are charged.

Another great app to download is Tikkie. With this app, you can send payment requests to everyone who uses iDeal. So if a friend paid for your dinner and he wants you to pay him back, he will just send you a ‘tikkie’ and within 3 clicks on your phone, the money has been transferred to his bank account through iDeal. Incredibly quick and safe as well.

Last but not least, usually Dutch people give a 10% tip to the waiter in a restaurant. It is possible to pay this in cash or with your bank account.