OPEN A DUTCH BANK ACCOUNT
You can open a student bank account at several different banks in the Netherlands.
It is very convenient to open a Dutch bank account because international money transfers are usually very expensive and take days to process. Also, credit cards are not widely accepted. With the debit card which you receive when opening a Dutch bank account, it is easy and free of charge to pay at supermarkets, cafes and restaurants.
What if I have to self-quarantine?
You can already start your online application for a bank account. However, you cannot have an appointment in person with a bank office during your quarantine period.
SEPA
Are you a citizen from a EU country with the euro as currency? Since the introduction of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA ), it is possible for Dutch companies to collect money from a foreign bank account. In this case, it might not be necessary to open a Dutch bank account. Contact your own bank for more information.
You need a Dutch bank account for e.g.:
- automatic monthly payments of your tuition fee
- a Dutch phone subscription with automatic payment per month
- reimbursement of your immigration deposit.
Which bank should I choose?
Banks have different terms & conditions. You can open a student bank account with a bank branch of your choice. The biggest banks, with information in English, are:
For opening a bank account with a student package at ABN AMRO there are two necessities:
- you need to have a BSN number
- you need to study longer than 6 months in the Netherlands
When you are under 18 years old:
A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment in one of our branches for opening a bank account.
When older than 18 years:
With a passport (EU or non-EU) you can start your request on the ABN AMRO app . This is faster than starting your request on the website . With a European ID-card you can start your request on abnamro.nl , but applying through the app with a passport is faster.
Find out more about opening a bank account at ABN AMRO (PDF download)- You can make an appointment online at ING
- To complete the opening of your bank account, you will need to visit one of their desks.
- Full online application possible, but for selected nationalities only
- What to bring:
- A valid passport
- Your residence permit ( the IND letter is not sufficient)
- As with the other banks, you will need to provide your BSN, but Bunq allows you up to 3 months to do so
- Find more information on the Bunq website