Europe
Money, cards and tipping in Netherlands
EUREuro
Money in Netherlands
Practically cashless Paying by debit card ('pinnen') is the norm; many places refuse cash. Most terminals take foreign Visa and Mastercard; a few shops reject credit cards. US$1 ≈ €0.89 (03 Oct 2026).
Key facts
- Tipping: Service is included; rounding up or 5–10% for good service is appreciated, not expected.
- ATMs: Geldmaat machines are the standard bank ATMs; avoid Euronet's fees and always decline currency conversion.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work almost everywhere; Tikkie and iDEAL need a Dutch bank account.
- Price level: about 84% of US prices (World Bank PPP).
Cash or card, by place
| Place | Cards | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Practically cashless | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; some places and ticket machines refuse cash. A debit card is enough, but credit cards are not always taken. |
| Rotterdam | Practically cashless | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; some places and ticket machines refuse cash. A debit card is enough, but credit cards are not always taken. |
| Utrecht | Practically cashless | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; some places and ticket machines refuse cash. A debit card is enough, but credit cards are not always taken. |
| The Hague | Practically cashless | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; some places and ticket machines refuse cash. A debit card is enough, but credit cards are not always taken. |
| Haarlem | Practically cashless | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; some places and ticket machines refuse cash. A debit card is enough, but credit cards are not always taken. |
| Maastricht | Practically cashless | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; some places and ticket machines refuse cash. A debit card is enough, but credit cards are not always taken. |
| Eindhoven | Practically cashless | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; some places and ticket machines refuse cash. A debit card is enough, but credit cards are not always taken. |
| Groningen | Practically cashless | Debit and contactless cards are used almost everywhere; some places refuse cash. Foreign Visa and Mastercard usually work, with a few exceptions. |
Quick answers
Do you tip in Netherlands?
Service is included; rounding up or 5–10% for good service is appreciated, not expected.
Is Netherlands cashless?
Practically cashless. Paying by debit card ('pinnen') is the norm; many places refuse cash. Most terminals take foreign Visa and Mastercard; a few shops reject credit cards.
What currency does Netherlands use?
The Euro (EUR). US$1 ≈ €0.89 (03 Oct 2026).
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- US State Department travel advisory
- IND: residence permit for self-employed person
- Netherlands Worldwide: visas
- NS Dutch Railways
- European Commission: Entry/Exit System
- Speedtest Global Index: Netherlands
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.