The Netherlands is one of the most expat-friendly countries in Europe for banking: English is spoken almost everywhere, apps are modern, and the whole system is digital-first. The one uniquely Dutch twist is iDEAL — the country's dominant online payment method, which only works with an account at a Dutch bank (i.e. a Dutch IBAN). Add to that the BSN (citizen service number), which traditional banks usually require, and picking the right first account becomes a matter of timing as much as price.
Below we compare the most popular options among expats — bunq, ING, ABN AMRO and Rabobank — plus how Revolut and Wise fit in. These aren't ranked "#1, #2, #3"; the right choice depends on whether you have a BSN yet, whether you need iDEAL on day one, and whether you want branches. Fees and features change regularly, so always verify on the provider's official site before applying.
Quick comparison: bank accounts for expats in the Netherlands
| Account | Monthly fee | IBAN | BSN needed to open | iDEAL | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bunq (Free plan) | €0 | Dutch (NL) | No — 90-day grace period | Yes | New arrivals, English-first banking |
| ING (entry plan) | A few €/month depending on plan | Dutch (NL) | Usually yes (90-day grace reported for some cases) | Yes | Everyday Dutch banking, full English |
| ABN AMRO | ~€4.30/month | Dutch (NL) | Yes — within 120 days, Dutch address required | Yes | English advice, savings and investments |
| Rabobank (Standaard) | ~€3.60/month | Dutch (NL) | Yes | Yes | Lowest traditional monthly fee |
| Revolut (Standard) | €0 | Lithuanian (LT) | Not required | No (not a Dutch bank) | Multi-currency complement |
1. bunq — the fastest first account for newcomers
bunq Free
bunq is a licensed Dutch bank supervised by De Nederlandsche Bank, and it is the classic "bridge account" for expats: you can open it in about five minutes from your phone with just an ID, without a BSN, and you get a real Dutch (NL) IBAN from day one. That means iDEAL and Tikkie work immediately — which matters, because without iDEAL you can barely pay for anything online in the Netherlands, from train tickets to restaurant orders.
The Free plan genuinely costs €0 per month and still includes the Dutch IBAN, a debit card option and the budgeting features bunq is known for. Paid plans start at €3.99 per month (Core) and add higher interest and more cards. One house rule to know: bunq gives you up to 90 days to add your tax ID/BSN after opening — so treat bunq as the account that buys you time, not the account that lets you skip registration.
The trade-offs are the usual digital-bank ones: no branches, and free-plan ATM and transaction allowances are tighter than on paid plans. SEPA transfers and SWIFT options exist, but for large or frequent currency conversion most expats pair bunq with a specialist like Wise — see our money transfer guide.
2. ING — the default expat bank in the Netherlands
ING current account
ING is the Netherlands' largest and most internationally oriented bank, and its app and website are fully available in English with English-speaking customer support. For expats, that makes ING the natural "main bank" once you're registered: salary in, rent and direct debits out, iDEAL everywhere, and a branch network when you actually need a person.
Entry-level current accounts cost a few euros per month depending on the plan chosen — always check ING's current tariff page, as banks revise these regularly. You'll generally need your BSN; some expats report being able to open with a grace period of around 90 days, but the standard expectation is that you register at the municipality (gemeente) first, get your BSN, and then open the account. Non-EEA passports sometimes need extra documentation, so allow time.
ING's international transfers to non-EU countries carry the usual bank margins — for sending money home, a specialist almost always beats it on price. Think of ING as the solid Dutch anchor and keep a Wise or Revolut account alongside for currency.
3. ABN AMRO — best traditional bank for English advice
ABN AMRO current account
ABN AMRO is one of the Netherlands' big three banks and arguably the most expat-conscious of the traditional options: it offers English-language advice on savings, investments and pensions, not just an English app. The monthly fee sits around €4.30, and you'll need a Dutch address plus your BSN (typically within 120 days of opening).
A fun practical plus: ABN AMRO is the bank behind Tikkie, the payment app nearly every Dutch resident uses to split bills with friends. A Dutch account makes Tikkie (and iDEAL) work natively, which is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade in the Netherlands' cashless daily life.
The fee is higher than bunq's free plan and slightly above Rabobank's, so ABN AMRO makes most sense if you value advisory services and a full product range — savings, investments, mortgages — under one roof, in English.
4. Rabobank — the lowest-fee traditional option
Rabobank Standaard
Rabobank is a cooperative bank with deep roots in Dutch society and — at around €3.60 a month for its Standaard package — the lowest monthly fee among the traditional banks. You get the full Dutch package: NL IBAN, iDEAL, a debit card, and a large branch network.
The caveat for expats is language: the app is available in English, but branch and phone support is primarily Dutch, and account opening can require an appointment with more paperwork than a digital bank. Rabobank suits expats who already have their BSN, speak a little Dutch (or don't mind Google Translate), and want the cheapest traditional account.
Revolut and Wise — the perfect sidekicks, not replacements
Two more names come up in every expat banking conversation in the Netherlands. Revolut (free Standard plan, Lithuanian banking licence) is brilliant for multi-currency life: hold and convert dozens of currencies at the interbank rate, get instant transfers to other Revolut users, and travel with one card. Wise (formerly TransferWise) is an authorised payment institution supervised by the National Bank of Belgium — not a bank — and its superpower is cheap, transparent international transfers at the real mid-market rate.
But neither replaces a Dutch bank account: Revolut issues a Lithuanian (LT) IBAN, and Wise accounts aren't iDEAL issuers. For salary, rent and everyday Dutch payments, you need a Dutch IBAN. The setup most experienced expats end up with is exactly this: a Dutch account (bunq, ING, ABN AMRO or Rabobank) for daily life + Wise or Revolut for currency and transfers home.
How to choose: a 3-question shortcut
- Do you need a Dutch IBAN this week, before you have a BSN? → Open bunq first — 5 minutes, no BSN needed, 90-day grace to add it.
- Do you have your BSN and want a full English main bank? → Open ING (everyday banking) or ABN AMRO (English advice, ~€4.30/month).
- Do you want the cheapest traditional account and don't mind Dutch-language service? → Open Rabobank (~€3.60/month).
And almost everyone benefits from keeping Wise or Revolut alongside for cheap currency conversion — see our money transfer guide for the full picture.
Practical tips for expats opening a Dutch account
- Get your BSN first (when possible): register at your municipality (gemeente) after arrival; the BSN unlocks ING, ABN AMRO and Rabobank. bunq's 90-day grace covers the gap.
- iDEAL is essential: it's how the Netherlands pays online — train tickets, webshops, government fees. Only an account at a Dutch bank (NL IBAN) gives you iDEAL.
- IBAN discrimination is illegal: under EU SEPA rules, no company in the eurozone may refuse a valid IBAN just because it starts with a different country code. In practice, a Dutch IBAN avoids the argument entirely.
- Your money is protected: deposits at Dutch banks are covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to €100,000 per person per bank.
- Basic account right: under the EU Payment Accounts Directive, legal residents generally have the right to a basic payment account — if a bank refuses you, ask why.
- Fees change: monthly fees, card costs and transfer margins are revised regularly. Check each provider's current tariff page before you apply.