Banking in the Netherlands

Source: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/international-students/prepare-your-stay/banking-in-the-netherlands Parent: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/international-students/studying-at-leiden-university/career/career-service

As an international student, it is useful to have a bank account in the Netherlands or another SEPA country*. International transfers can be expensive, and using credit cards, cash or cheques for everyday payments is not common practice in the Netherlands. On this page you can find out if you need to open a Dutch bank account and what options are available if this is not possible for you.

Already have a bank account in a SEPA country?

*SEPA: Single Euro Payments Area

• If so, you can continue using your SEPA account for day-to-day transactions in the Netherlands.
• Check the settings of your debit card to make sure you can use it in the Netherlands.

No SEPA account? Open a Dutch bank account

*SEPA: Single Euro Payments Area\ \ Note: staying less than 4 months? Opening a Dutch account might not be feasible. In that case, see banking options when staying less than 4 months.

Open an account with a traditional bank

By traditional bank we mean a bank that has physical branch offices that you can visit. There are currently three traditional banks in the Netherlands that offer student bank accounts: Rabobank, ING and ABN Amro.

Make an appointment

The first step is to make an appointment with your preferred bank. Make your appointment just before or immediately after arrival as follows: 

• Rabobank: Make an appointment in person or by telephone at the Leiden branch or The Hague branch.
• ING: Make an appointment online at your preferred branch.
• ABN Amro: First request a student bank account online. You will then receive instructions to make an appointment via an online form.

Aged under 18? Check with your preferred bank if you need to take a parent or guardian to your appointment.

Which documents do I need?

Bring all the following documents to your appointment in hardcopy: 

• Passport/EU ID Card
• Unconditional admission statement, or statement of student registration - see instructions here
• Proof of your Dutch address (e.g. rental contract, statement from your landlord)
• Proof of your town hall registration, mentioning your BSN (citizen service number)
• With ING bank, you can open an account before you have your BSN if you take along an original stamped and signed statement of student registration, which can be obtained via theStudent Affairs Front Office.
• Non-EU/EEA students only: your Dutch residence permit.
• If your permit is not yet available, request a copy of your official IND residence permit approval letter bycontacting the bachelor admissions team or master admissions team. Note that this is not the same as the residence permit approval email you received from the visa team.

Be on time and make sure you have all the required documents, otherwise the bank will not be able to assist you! After your appointment, the bank will create your account then provide you with your account details.

How long does it take?

At busy times of the year, you may have to wait several days for an appointment. After your appointment, you may also have to wait a few days for your account details, depending on bank processing times.

Accessing funds while awaiting your account\ Make sure you can access funds and make payments in other ways during your first few days in the Netherlands. You can find information on other payment options while awaiting your Dutch bank account in the section for students staying less than 4 months.

Open an account with an online bank

By online bank we mean a bank that does not have physical branch offices that you can visit. All business is conducted online. You can open a student bank account with bunq or Revolut.

Request an account

bunq

• Take a look at the bunq membership types and pricing and decide what type of account you would like.
• Sign up for a bunq account.

Revolut

• Go to the Personal Account page and click on ‘Open an account’.
• Enter your telephone number and click on ‘Send’.
• Open an account using the link you receive by text message.

Note: it is currently not possible to check-in with a Revolut debit card when travelling by Dutch railways (NS).

Which documents do I need?

bunq

• ID: check which documents are accepted per nationality.
• Proof of residency: either a Dutch rental contract in your name, an unconditional admission statement, or a statement of enrolment.
• BSN (citizen service number): required within 90 days of opening your bank account. You will be issued with a BSN after registering with a Dutch town hall.

Revolut

• ID card or passport.
• Proof of residency: either a Dutch rental contract in your name, a statement of enrolment, or proof of town hall registration.

How long does it take?

As there is no need to attend an appointment, you can open an account within a few minutes if you have all the correct documentation available. You can even start the process from abroad before arriving in the Netherlands.

Options when staying less than 4 months

Don’t have a bank account in a SEPA country and unable to open one? If you are staying less than 4 months, it is generally not feasible to open a Dutch bank account. See the other options available to you below. These options can also be useful if you are staying longer but are awaiting the opening of your Dutch bank account.

Students from the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, New Zealand or Singapore

Use the Wise payment platform.

• For these nationalities, Wise offers a debit card that works in the Netherlands.
• International bank transfers via Wise are often cheaper and quicker than other international bank transfers.

Other nationalities

Use your own non-SEPA* bank account.\ *SEPA: Single Euro Payments Area

• For day-to-day payments, use your debit card. First check the settings to make sure you can use it in the Netherlands.
• For bank transfers to/from Dutch bank accounts, use the SWIFT transfer system. First contact your bank to make sure they support SWIFT. For information on SWIFT transfers and the banking codes you will need, see the Rabobank website.

I’m unable to use the options listed above

• For day-to-day payments in the Netherlands, we advise you to bring sufficient cash for the duration of your stay. Please be aware that cash payments are not accepted everywhere.
• Will you receive a monthly scholarship allowance from Leiden University? If so, you can request payment in cash from the relevant Leiden University department. When doing so, explain that you do not have a SEPA bank account and cannot use SWIFT or WISE. This special arrangement is only available to students who are unable to access international transactions due to circumstances beyond their control.

Questions

• Do you have questions about a specific account or banking service? Contact the bank or platform in question.
• Questions about payments to or from Leiden University? Contact the Student Affairs Front Office.