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Using a travel prepaid card
Take a travel money card to Amsterdam and avoid transaction fees completely.
All travel cards will allow you to load and spend euros in the Netherlands. You won’t incur the additional currency conversion fee of between 2.5% and 3% which applies to the majority of personal finance products. If you are considering taking a travel card to access your spending money in the Netherlands, compare the fees for loading, reloading and ATM withdrawals.
Pros
Skip the currency conversion fees. Travel cards will allow to load your own money in euros, so when you make payments in the Netherlands, you will avoid the fees that your bank normally charges to convert your money into a foreign currency.
Some of these travel cards give you rewards or frequent flyer points when you spend.
Know how much you’re spending. Travel cards are not attached to your regular bank account and have to be reloaded for use. It can help keep track of what’s going out, and how fast.
Travel focused. You usually get 2 cards when you apply for one of these accounts. The second card can be used as a backup if the main card is lost.
Cons
ATM fees, reload fees and issue feeshave the potential to eat into your travel budget.
Public holidays and weekends in Britain can extend the time it takes to reload the card.
Can I use my debit card in Amsterdam and the Netherlands?
Card payments are accepted in most places, but it’s a good idea to travel with some cash too. Credit cards and travel cards have travel benefits, but these features come at a cost. If you are going to the Netherlands and want to find a cheap and easy way to access cash, compare the debit cards available for travel. Travel friendly debit cards will allow you to withdraw cash from ATMs in Amsterdam without charging exorbitant fees. Decent choices for fee-free withdrawals abroad include Starling Bank and Monzo’s current accounts and the Virgin Money M Plus account.
Pros
Provided by Visa and Mastercard, you’re protected against fraud under the card scheme’s zero liability guarantees, which give you full reimbursement you fall victim to fraud.
Some debit card accounts waive fees for currency conversion, some have extended ATM networks and other issuers waive international ATM fees.
Cons
You must wait for a replacement card if you lose your debit card or it’s stolen. This can take up to 2 weeks.
Run-of-the-mill transaction accounts are expensive to use outside the UK.
Using credit cards
0% purchase cards can allow you to finance your trip to the Netherlands interest free.
Travel-friendly credit cards come in many shapes and sizes, and offer a range of benefits to suit travellers spending abroad.
Credit cards that waive the international transaction fee are a popular option, but there’s more to consider than just avoiding the extra 3% charge. Extras like insurance represent a saving before you’ve even left the country. And there are interest-free periods to consider as well. If you make the monthly minimum repayment, these cards allow you to make purchases and pay no interest for that time. If you pay back the balance by the time the introductory period ends, you could have given yourself an interest-free holiday.
Pros
Card payments are the norm in the Netherlands.
Credit cards designed for travel often have a number of freebies and add-ons to sweeten the deal. Insurance, free emergency overseas card replacement and airport lounge access are card features which can appeal to travellers.
Apply for a travel credit card and avoid paying extra international transaction charges.
Some credit cards offer extended interest free terms on purchases and nearly all cards off interest free days when you pay the account in full each month.
Cons
If you don’t make your monthly repayment, or the interest free period runs out and you still have money owing, you might be charged more than you planned.
Cash withdrawals from a credit card can incur cash advance fees and high interest charges.
Paying with cash in Netherlands
ATM availability Geldautomaats. “Geldautomaats” literally “money machines” are everywhere in the Netherlands and in Amsterdam; at post offices, supermarkets, train stations, hotels and on the street. They have an option for an English language menu and accept any card with chip and PIN technology. Banks and ATMs are widely available and are compatible with nearly all British cards. If you have a card issued by another Eurozone country, you won’t pay ATM fees at most ATMs in the Netherlands. Make sure you check with your bank about the charges for withdrawing money overseas, or change to a card that allows you withdraw money at a minimal cost.
Where to exchange money in the Netherlands Geldwisselkantoor. Money exchange offices or Geldwisselkantoor in Dutch are plentiful in the centre city of Amsterdam. The business is highly competitive, and most places usually offer quite fair rates for exchange. As always, check the daily exchange rates and ask how much money you will get in return before you hand your money over.
Be travel-savvy in Amsterdam The Netherlands and Amsterdam enjoy a well-deserved reputation for being safe. Exercise basic caution and use your common sense to avoid unpleasant situations.
The Red Light District Amsterdam’s infamous quarter for creatures of the night is not without some inherent danger. Robberies are not unheard of, and the trade of illegal substances attracts some shady characters. Keep your wits about you, and don’t wander off alone.
Split up your travel money Keep your emergency card separate from your everyday day card, and keep your passport separate from everything.
If your card is lost or stolen Call your bank in the UK immediately to have it cancelled and make arrangements for a replacement. If your passport or other identity documents go missing, contact the British Embassy immediately. Theft of identity papers contributes to the global black market of identity theft and human trafficking.
How much spending money to take to Netherlands?
Amsterdam and the Netherlands have a reputation for being expensive. How much spending money you will need for a trip to the Netherlands and Amsterdam will depend on how you travel and what you choose to do.
Amsterdam
Budget
Mid-range
Expensive
Hostels £20–£30 per night
Double room £80–£90 per night
Luxurious hotel double room £150–£300 per night
Lunchtime specials £9 per person
Dinner, casual restaurant £16 per person
Dinner, top restaurant £45 per person
Outdoor exploration Free
Museums and trains £15–£25 per person
First class trains, guided tours £30–£50 per person
*Prices are approximate and are subject to change
What’s the best way to take money to Amsterdam and the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is, overall, a very modern and highly westernised destination. Card payments are the norm and as a major global leader in banking, financial services are widely available. In Amsterdam, expect to find shops, restaurants and cafes that will not accept cash at all. ATMs exist, and most payments can be made with chip and PIN technology or contactless touch-and-go cards. If you are heading off to Amsterdam and the Netherlands, find a card that allows you to shop without paying extra for the international transaction fee (currency conversion fee) and ATM fees.
A quick summary of your travel money options in the Netherlands
Travel money option
Pros
Considerations
Debit cards for travel
Avoid currency conversion fees on foreign transactions
Emergency cash facilities
Ideal for managing your travel budget
Currency conversion and international ATM fees
No emergency cash
No backup cards
Prepaid travel money cards
Protected by PIN & chip
Pre-load and secure your exchange rate in multiple foreign currencies
Accepted worldwide
Emergency card replacement and backup cards
Ideal for managing your travel budget
Local ATM fee
Reloading time
No fee – Assuming cardholder is spending on a currency loaded onto the card
Credit cards for travel
Protected by PIN & chip
Access to funds up to your credit limit
Accepted worldwide
No currency conversion/ transaction fees
Benefits including rewards points on spending, 0% purchases, frequent flyer perks
Emergency card replacement
Can charge high withdrawal and cash advance fees
Higher spending limit (depends on your approved credit limit)
Traveller’s cheques
Secure and can be easily replaced if lost or stolen
Photo I.D. needed to cash cheques
Can be costly with initial purchase charges
Not all merchants accept traveller’s cheques
Cash
Greater payment flexibility
Convenience
More difficult to manage expenses
Higher risk of theft
This table is a general summary of the travel money products in the market. Features and benefits can vary between cards.
Round up to the nearest euro. It’s not really expected to leave a substantial tip in most places. Generally, Dutch people just “round up” to the nearest euro or two.
5 travel tips for saving money in Amsterdam
Rent an apartment. One of the most popular ways to sleep well and affordably nowadays is by renting an apartment short term. Especially in comparatively more expensive cities like Amsterdam, apartment rentals are usually cheaper per person per night than your average hotel or hostel.
Buy an I amsterdam City Card. The card (previously Amsterdam Pass) is a city-issued tourist card that allows free entry into Amsterdam’s major museums, free unlimited use of public transport and discounts to a number of popular attractions. You can buy it online, in news agencies or tourist information offices with usage periods of 24, 48 and 72, 96 and 120 hours.
Forget using a taxi. If you are on a budget, don’t plan on using taxis too often in Amsterdam. They are pricey, and other forms of transport are plentiful. Make like a local and bike it around town (pretty much the whole of the Netherlands is set up for biking) and the public transport network is efficient, well-connected, and affordable.
Pack a picnic. Restaurants and sit-down meals tend to be on the pricey side in Amsterdam. If you want your spending money to last, make a beeline for one of the many high-quality city-markets and take your food to the park or along the canal.
Buy your train ticket in advance. If you are venturing out, and visiting one of the many other charming Dutch cities like Rotterdam or Utrecht, you’ll find the tickets available for a much cheaper price online, or by booking well in advance. The prices rise substantially at the station at the last minute.
Currency in the Netherlands
To avoid overpaying when using cash, familiarise yourself with the euro banknotes. The euro comes in the denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
Exchange rate history (GBP to EUR)
Year
Average annual exchange British pound (GBP) to euro (EUR)
2020
1.1248
2021
1.1632
2022
1.1730
2023
1.1492
2024
1.1679
*2024 rate is the average up to 18 April 2024.
Bottom line
Take a combination of the travel money products to get the most from your travel budget. A credit card is a great way to finance big ticket purchases, while using a travel card or a debit card is better for smaller everyday expenses and cash withdrawals. Give yourself a couple of different ways to access your travel budget in case something happens to one of your cards, as it can take you a couple of days to organise an emergency replacement card from Britain.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Jason is a writer and editor. He worked as a senior subeditor for Finder for 5 years and in that time became familiar with a wide range of financial products and services. Before that, he worked for Australian Associated Press. He has a BA from Macquarie University in Australia. Jason loves to help other people find new ways to save money. See full bio
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