Dutch bank account

If you have a bank account in a country that is not a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)* or if you have a bank account in Bulgaria or Romania (both countries are members of SEPA but do not have Euro accounts), you are strongly advised to open a Dutch bank account. If you have a bank account in a country that is a member of Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)* it can also come in handy to have a Dutch bank account.

* SEPA member countries include all EEA member states plus Monaco and Switzerland.

Where and how to open a bank account?

Many Dutch banks have special offers for international students. There are three main banks in the Netherlands which international students tend to open an account at. They generally have very similar application procedures for foreign students, but it is recommended to check in advance what the required documents are by the specific bank. 

• ABN AMRO 
  Valid passport or ID, Letter of acceptance from the university, Proof of residence
• Rabobank (information is in Dutch) 
  Valid passport or ID, Proof of enrollment at the university, BSN-number (if available)
• ING 
  Valid passport or ID, Proof of enrollment at the university, BSN-number (if available)

You may have to pay a one-time fee for opening the account. Note that banks generally also have a client service fee which will be deducted from the account balance automatically.

Keep in mind that there are many banks which have various offers for international students. Therefore, it is important to carefully research the terms and conditions of a particular bank before making a choice on which bank to open an account with. Please note that only some of the banks offer services in English for international students. It is best to ask when opening your account if English is available for Internet banking and other administration.

Internet banking

Internet banking, which manages many of your transactions online, is generally an option that is offered with a Dutch bank account. You can easily pay for your accommodation, medical insurance, phone, Internet, and other bills using Internet banking. The additional use of the iDeal pay system also makes it very easy to purchase goods online.