Banking in the Netherlands
You cannot open a Dutch account, get paid, or pay rent without a BSN — line that up first and the rest is a same-day process.
Opening an account
Every Dutch bank requires your BSN plus a valid passport or EU ID card before opening an account — there is no way around this, so this is genuinely step two after gemeente registration. The "big three" — ING, ABN AMRO, and Rabobank — offer full-service current accounts (betaalrekening) with a Dutch IBAN (format NL## BANK ################), a debit card (usually a Maestro or Mastercard debit), and iDEAL, the payment method almost every Dutch retailer, landlord, and utility company expects. Expect to book an appointment 1–3 weeks out in major cities, and bring your rental contract or address proof — some branches still ask for it despite the BSN already confirming your registered address.
The faster route: digital-first banks
Bunq (a Dutch neobank) and Revolut let you open an account from your phone in under a day if you’re an EU/EEA citizen with a BSN, and both issue a Dutch or European IBAN accepted for salary payments and most direct debits. Many newcomers use Bunq or Revolut for their first few weeks while waiting on a traditional-bank appointment, then keep both — a mainstream Dutch IBAN matters for some Dutch-only institutions (certain pension funds, some mortgage lenders) that don’t yet fully trust fintech IBANs.
| Bank | Monthly fee | Setup |
|---|---|---|
| ING Basic | €1.50–€4.90 | In-branch or online, BSN required |
| ABN AMRO Basic | €2.30–€5.65 | In-branch appointment, BSN required |
| Rabobank Basic | €2.25–€5.50 | In-branch or app, BSN required |
| Bunq Easy Bank | €0 (free tier) – €17.99 (premium) | Fully digital, 10–15 minutes |
| Revolut Standard | €0 | Fully digital, EU IBAN |
Building Dutch credit history
The Netherlands tracks consumer credit through BKR (Bureau Krediet Registratie), the central credit bureau. Every mortgage, personal loan, credit card, and even some "buy now pay later" purchases (like Klarna) get registered. Newcomers start with a blank BKR file — this is not necessarily bad, but it means Dutch mortgage lenders can’t yet assess your track record, so first-time buyers often need a larger down payment or a Dutch employment contract of at least a year to qualify. A missed phone-contract or utility payment can land you in BKR with a negative registration ("BKR-registratie") that follows you for years, so treat every direct debit as if it’s reported — because increasingly, it is.
Dutch landlords, employers running payroll, and even some gyms expect SEPA direct debit (automatische incasso) from a Dutch or SEPA-zone IBAN — a foreign card alone often won’t work for rent or utilities, so get your Dutch IBAN active before your first rent payment is due.
ING, ABN AMRO, and Rabobank are the mainstream choices and all require an in-branch or video appointment plus your BSN; Bunq and Revolut let EU arrivals open an account online in a day, which is why so many newcomers start there before switching to a traditional bank once settled.
Sources & how current this is
Dutch immigration salary thresholds, the 30% ruling percentage, and rent-regulation rules are revised at least once a year (often on 1 January and 1 July) — treat the figures below as a strong 2026 baseline and confirm exact numbers on ind.nl and belastingdienst.nl before you sign anything.