Investing involves risk of loss. Prices can fluctuate and you can lose your invested capital. Product risks vary by instrument and product structure. This is not investment advice. We explain how products and costs work; we do not tell you what to buy. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change. Please consult a tax adviser. Currency fluctuations can impact your returns. Fees and conditions change; the provider's own fee schedule and documents prevail.
In this guide
đź’ˇ For the broader banking landscape see our best bank account for expats pillar. For neobank specifics see N26 vs Bunq vs Revolut, ING vs Rabobank, and the BSN application guide.
Why Student Banking Is Different
You may arrive without a BSN. Some banks let you start without one: ABN AMRO lets you hand it in within 120 days once you are registered at a Dutch address, ING within 90 days with a non-EEA passport, and bunq asks for your tax ID within 90 days. You still need a workable account in the meantime to pay your first rent.
Fees matter on a student budget. A EUR 3.99 monthly fee comes to EUR 191.52 over a four-year degree (48 months), so the free options are worth comparing.
Money may come from abroad. If family or a student loan system sends money from outside the euro area, multi-currency support and the cost of international transfers matter more than for someone on a Dutch salary.
A common setup is a Dutch account for everyday payments and DUO, plus Wise on the side for international transfers. Which accounts you combine is your choice; the options below are listed without a ranking.
The Options
bunq
bunq is a bank with a Dutch IBAN as standard, and you can open it before your BSN arrives: bunq gives you 90 days after signup to add your tax ID. Open bunq here.
- bunq Free is EUR 0.00 per month with up to 3 bank accounts and 1 digital card, and no physical card. A physical card starts at bunq Core, EUR 3.99 per month (bunq Help: What plans are available, checked 6 October 2026).
- The tax ID (the BSN for Dutch residents) is required within 90 days of signup.
- Higher plans are bunq Pro at EUR 9.99 and bunq Elite at EUR 18.99 per month; compare what each plan includes before you pay for it.
ABN AMRO Student Account
ABN AMRO says its Student Account is free of charge and that you can open it in 5 minutes in the ABN AMRO app, with a free bank account and debit card. Opening can be done online with a Dutch ID or an international passport; US students arrange an appointment by phone (ABN AMRO). Check the eligibility conditions and the current promotion terms on its Student Package page before you apply. You still need an official home address in the Netherlands, and if you do not yet have a BSN you hand it in within 120 days.
Revolut
Revolut lists a free Standard plan. Customers who live in the Netherlands are migrated to Revolut’s Dutch branch and receive a Dutch IBAN (Revolut Help); check eligibility in the app. See Revolut’s plans. Fees and limits differ per plan, so read Revolut’s current fee page.
ING
ING offers a Student Account (studentenrekening). Check ING’s own pages for its conditions and costs. ING lets you open an account before you have a BSN and asks for it within 90 days with a non-EEA passport.
N26
N26 lists a free Standard plan with a free virtual debit card, and paid plans add a physical card and more (N26 pricing page). Check which IBAN you receive and whether your employer, landlord and DUO accept it.
Wise
Wise is a payment institution, not a bank. It is useful for sending and receiving money internationally and holding balances in several currencies, and once you are verified it gives you EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address). Open Wise here. Wise gives you EUR 250 of free ATM withdrawals per month; above that it charges 2.69% on the amount over EUR 250 (Wise card fees page).
A Possible Sequence for Your First Months
Week 1: open a bank that lets you start without a BSN, such as bunq, so you can pay rent and receive money.
Week 1-2: open Wise if family abroad will send you money.
Once you are registered at a Dutch address: consider ABN AMRO or ING for your main account, since both ask for an official home address in the Netherlands.
Later, if relevant: compare brokers such as DEGIRO on the fee per trade. Investing involves risk of loss. This is not investment advice.
Cost Over 4 Years
For a 4-year degree (48 months), the plan fees alone come to:
| Setup | Monthly | 4-year total |
|---|---|---|
| ABN AMRO Student Account (free, check eligibility) | EUR 0 | EUR 0 |
| bunq Free | EUR 0.00 | EUR 0 |
| bunq Core (physical card) | EUR 3.99 | EUR 191.52 |
This covers plan fees only. Transfer, ATM and card charges differ per provider.
DUO and Banking
If you think you qualify for DUO student finance, check the conditions and the account details you need in Mijn DUO when you apply. See the tax filing freelance expat guide for related income reporting if you mix DUO with side income.
Practical Tips
Do not wait for your BSN before arranging an account. Several providers above let you start without one.
Have a euro account that your employer and landlord accept. SEPA rules mean a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country may not be refused, but an NL IBAN avoids any discussion.
Use Tikkie. Tikkie is a Dutch payment-request app from ABN AMRO that is open to customers of other banks too (ABN AMRO), which makes splitting costs with housemates easy.
Save bank correspondence as PDFs. Tax filings can ask for end-of-year balances.
Our Recommendation
Pick the setup that matches your situation, and compare the live terms before you sign up: bunq if you want a Dutch IBAN before your BSN arrives, Wise for international transfers, and ABN AMRO or ING once you are registered at a Dutch address.
For broader expat banking context see our bank account pillar, N26 vs Bunq vs Revolut comparison, ING vs Rabobank for expats, and the BSN application guide.
External source: IND: Residence permits for the residence side of studying in the Netherlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students open a Dutch bank account without a BSN?
Yes, at some providers. bunq, a Dutch bank with an NL IBAN, gives you 90 days after signup to add your tax ID (for Dutch residents, the BSN). ABN AMRO lets you open an account without a BSN if you are registered at a Dutch address, as long as you provide it within 120 days. ING lets you open an account before you have a BSN and asks for it within 90 days with a non-EEA passport. Wise gives verified customers a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address).
Do I need a Dutch IBAN as a student?
Not strictly. Under the SEPA Regulation a Dutch employer, landlord or company may not refuse a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country (De Nederlandsche Bank). For DUO, check the account requirements in Mijn DUO when you apply. An NL IBAN, for example from bunq or a traditional Dutch bank, avoids any discussion.
Are student bank accounts free in the Netherlands?
ABN AMRO says its Student Account is free of charge and can be opened in the ABN AMRO app; check its eligibility conditions. ING also offers a Student Account; check ING's own pages for its conditions. bunq has a free plan: bunq Free at EUR 0.00 a month, with up to 3 bank accounts and 1 digital card but no physical card; its cheapest plan with a physical card is bunq Core at EUR 3.99 a month (bunq Help, checked 6 October 2026). Revolut and N26 both list a free Standard plan.
Where can students invest in ETFs?
Brokers such as DEGIRO offer ETFs. At DEGIRO, ETFs in the ETF Core Selection cost a EUR 1 handling fee per trade, and other ETFs worldwide cost a EUR 2 commission plus a EUR 1 handling fee (DEGIRO's Dutch fee schedule at degiro.nl/tarieven; fees can vary depending on the country of your account). ABN AMRO and ING also offer investing, with their own fee structures, so compare the costs for your order size. Investing involves risk of loss. This is not investment advice. See our [Meesman vs DEGIRO comparison](/blog/meesman-vs-degiro-investing/).
How quickly can I get a Dutch bank account after arriving?
It depends on the provider. ABN AMRO says you can open an account in 5 minutes via its app, and it requires an official home address in the Netherlands. bunq lets you start before your BSN arrives and add your tax ID within 90 days. Wise requires identity verification before it opens your account details.
Should international students use Wise instead of a Dutch bank?
Use Wise alongside a Dutch account rather than instead of one. Wise is a payment institution, not a bank, and its EUR account details use a non-Dutch euro IBAN. It is useful for transfers between your home country and the Netherlands.