ETF Platforms in the Netherlands for Expats (2026): Costs Compared

Short answer: DEGIRO, Interactive Brokers, Trading 212, the bank platforms of ABN AMRO and Rabobank, and fund provider Meesman all accept Dutch residents, but their cost models differ. DEGIRO charges fixed fees per order: an ETF bought through the ETF Kernselectie on Tradegate costs a €1 handling fee per transaction, and currency or external product and spread costs may apply. Trading 212 charges no commission, but a 0.15% FX fee applies to orders in another currency and you pay the spread. ABN AMRO Zelf Beleggen charges no transaction costs on funds and ETFs in its basic range but a quarterly service fee as a percentage of your portfolio, and Meesman charges fund costs plus 0.2% per purchase or sale. DEGIRO and Meesman do not accept US persons; check with Interactive Brokers whether it accepts you. Net assets above €59,357 per person (2026) fall under Dutch Box 3 wealth tax.

💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026 — covers ABN, ING, Bunq, Wise, Revolut & 5 others by expat use case.

Why Expats Look at ETFs in the Netherlands

Before comparing platforms, it helps to know what ETFs (exchange-traded funds) offer.

Cost: ongoing charges differ per fund; check the fund’s KID. Costs are one of the few things an investor controls.

Spread: a single global index ETF holds thousands of companies in dozens of countries. That spreads company-specific risk, but it does not remove market risk.

Box 3 treatment: Box 3 does not tax actual gains but a deemed return, so for Dutch residents the Box 3 bill is in principle the same whether an ETF went up 3% or 15% in a year, unless you show that your actual return was lower than the deemed return (the counter-evidence rule).

Liquidity: unlike Dutch pension products (lijfrente), ETFs in a regular brokerage account can be sold on any trading day. For expats who may leave the Netherlands at short notice, that flexibility matters. Selling at a bad moment can mean selling at a loss.

The Dutch ETF Platform Landscape

European online brokers, Dutch fund providers and the big banks all offer investment accounts to Dutch residents. Which one fits depends on:

• how much you plan to invest and how often;
• how hands-on you want to be;
• whether you want English-language support;
• how the costs work out for your order size;
• whether you are a US person (see the section on US persons below).

Platform-by-Platform Comparison

1. DEGIRO: fixed fees per order, execution-only

Costs (DEGIRO fee schedule for Dutch accounts, rates from 1 January 2026; checked 29 September 2026):

• ETF Kernselectie (ETFs, ETCs and ETNs on Tradegate, more than 1,000 products): €0 commission plus €1 handling fee per transaction. Currency or external product and spread costs may apply.
• ETFs on other exchanges: €2 commission plus €1 handling fee, so €3 per transaction.
• Shares on Euronext Amsterdam: €2 commission plus €1 handling, €3 in total.
• Exchange connectivity fee: €2.50 per exchange per calendar year (maximum 0.25% of your annual maximum account value). It does not apply to Euronext Amsterdam, Euronext Brussels, OTC Tradias or the ETF Kernselectie.
• Currency conversion: 0.25% with AutoFX, included in the buy or sell price.
• No charges for deposits, withdrawals, inactivity or custody. Transaction fees and currency, connectivity or external product and spread costs may apply. Specific custody or external product fees may apply for certain instruments where offered. See DEGIRO’s Fee Schedule.

These amounts come from DEGIRO’s Dutch fee schedule (Tarievenoverzicht, at degiro.nl/tarieven). DEGIRO’s fees can vary depending on the account culture, that is the country your account is held in, so the fee schedule for your own account’s country is the one that applies.

Strengths: DEGIRO describes its pricing as transparent: a fixed amount per order rather than a percentage of your portfolio. Currency, connectivity or external product and spread costs may apply. DEGIRO has a broad range of instruments available, and Dutch accounts can deposit money with iDEAL. According to DEGIRO (September 2026), it has more than 3 million investors.

You open the account in the DEGIRO app and need a bank account in your own name in the SEPA area, plus your tax identification number (in the Netherlands: your BSN).

Limitations: Dividends from distributing ETFs are credited to your account as cash, and DEGIRO does not offer automatic investing. DEGIRO currently pays no interest on uninvested money; it points out that overnight-interest ETFs exist to park uninvested money, which are investments with transaction fees and risk of loss. Portfolio performance graphs are still being tested; DEGIRO says it is working on providing more features. Customer support is available by phone on weekdays from 08:00 to 22:00 and by email 24/7 (DEGIRO website, checked September 2026); DEGIRO says email support can sometimes be slow, although it has improved. There is no in-app chat.

New clients choose between the Basic, Active, Trader and Day Trader profiles. The old Custody account is no longer offered to new clients. Securities lending is always opt-in; if you choose to take part, note that investing involves risk of loss and borrowers may not act in your interest.

DEGIRO is an execution-only broker and does not provide investment advice. Investing involves risk of loss.

flatexDEGIRO Bank Dutch Branch, trading under the name DEGIRO, is the Dutch branch of flatexDEGIRO Bank SE. flatexDEGIRO Bank SE is primarily supervised by the German financial regulator (BaFin). In the Netherlands, flatexDEGIRO Bank Dutch Branch is registered with DNB and supervised by AFM and DNB.

You can check the current fees yourself in DEGIRO’s fee schedule on degiro.nl.

2. Interactive Brokers: multi-currency accounts

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) lets you fund your account in multiple currencies. If you are a US person, ask IBKR whether it accepts you and which products you can hold; US-domiciled funds are not foreign corporations, so the PFIC rules do not apply to them (IRS, Instructions for Form 8621).

Costs: IBKR charges a commission per order, with fixed and tiered pricing plans, and lets you trade assets denominated in multiple currencies (interactivebrokers.ie). The level depends on the exchange, order size and plan. We did not verify IBKR’s current tariffs for this update; check its own pricing page before opening an account.

Strengths: You can fund your account in multiple currencies, which is useful if you have income or savings in several currencies. IBKR offers dividend reinvestment for US- and Canada-listed stocks.

Limitations: We did not verify IBKR’s platform features for this update; check its own site.

Typical use: several currencies and access to many markets.

3. Trading 212: fractional amounts, no commission

Trading 212 charges no commission on ETF orders and offers fractional shares, so you can invest a fixed euro amount in an ETF regardless of its unit price.

Costs: no commission per order; a currency conversion fee applies to securities in other currencies, and you pay the spread: the FX fee is 0.15%. Trading 212 pays interest on uninvested cash in the Invest account. We did not verify its current rates for this update; check its own fee page.

Strengths: Fractional shares and automatic recurring investments (Pies/AutoInvest) make fixed monthly amounts easy to set up; the FX fee also applies to orders within Pies.

Limitations: Dutch residents are onboarded to Trading 212 EU GmbH, which is regulated by the German BaFin, not by the Dutch AFM.

Typical use: smaller monthly amounts with fractional shares and automatic investing.

4. ABN AMRO (Zelf Beleggen): for existing ABN AMRO customers

ABN AMRO’s self-directed investment service, Zelf Beleggen, sits inside the ABN AMRO banking app. If you already bank with ABN AMRO, it lets you start investing without opening an account elsewhere.

Costs: no transaction costs on funds and ETFs in the Zelf Beleggen Basis range (in Zelf Beleggen Plus: in the basic range), plus a quarterly service fee as a percentage of your portfolio value (abnamro.nl, checked 29 September 2026).

Strengths: Banking and investing are in one app.

Limitations: An annual percentage fee grows with your portfolio. Compare it with order-based costs for the portfolio size you expect.

Typical use: banking and investing in one app.

5. Rabobank (Rabo Zelf Beleggen): Dutch bank platform

Rabobank also offers self-directed investing (Rabo Zelf Beleggen). Rabobank says that with Zelf Beleggen you decide yourself what to invest in, can start with any amount and invest independently without advice, choosing from a broad range that includes sustainable products (rabobank.nl/particulieren/beleggen, checked 29 September 2026). This guide lists no Rabobank costs; check its own rate page.

Typical use: existing Rabobank customers who want everything in one place.

6. Meesman: index funds without choosing ETFs yourself

Meesman is a Dutch index fund provider rather than a broker. You invest directly in Meesman’s own index funds, and you can set up a monthly direct debit from €50 a month.

Costs: Meesman charges yearly fund costs of 0.4% on its world equity fund Aandelen Wereldwijd Totaal (0.5% on its other equity and bond fund, 0.35% on the Rentefonds) plus 0.2% transaction costs on each purchase and sale; there are no transaction costs on the Rentefonds or once you invest more than €500,000 with Meesman (source: meesman.nl, checked 25 September 2026). Our Meesman vs DEGIRO comparison works through examples.

Strengths: Very few decisions to make: set a monthly amount and Meesman handles the purchases.

Limitations: You can only buy Meesman’s own funds. Not available to Specified US Persons (FATCA).

Typical use: investing in index funds without placing orders yourself.

Side-by-Side Cost Comparison

Sources: DEGIRO fee schedule (Netherlands, degiro.nl/tarieven), rates from 1 January 2026, checked 29 September 2026; DEGIRO’s fees can vary depending on the country of your account, and the fee schedule for that country applies. Meesman cost page on meesman.nl, checked 25 September 2026. The other platforms are described by cost model only, because we did not verify their current tariffs for this update. Check each provider’s own pricing page before you decide.

Note on DEGIRO: transaction fees and currency, connectivity or external product and spread costs may apply. Specific custody or external product fees may apply for certain instruments where offered. See DEGIRO’s Fee Schedule.

A worked example: one purchase of €500 a month in an ETF through DEGIRO’s ETF Kernselectie costs 12 × €1 = €12 a year in handling fees. Bought on Euronext Amsterdam instead, it is 12 × €3 = €36. Spreads and, for non-euro products, currency costs come on top. Frequent buying and selling adds up: order costs and spreads reduce your return every time you trade.

How to Compare ETFs: What to Look At

Which ETF you hold is a personal decision that depends on your goals, horizon and risk tolerance. We do not recommend specific funds. The points below explain how ETFs differ, so you can read a fund’s factsheet and key information document with the right questions in mind. The fund names are only examples. This is not investment advice.

Ongoing charges (TER)

Every ETF charges an annual ongoing charge, deducted inside the fund. It is listed in the fund’s key information document. Broad index ETFs usually charge a fraction of a percent per year; check the current figure with the provider, because fund costs change.

Accumulating or distributing

A distributing ETF pays dividends out to your account; an accumulating ETF reinvests them inside the fund. The Vanguard FTSE All-World ETF is an example of an index that is available in both forms: VWRL (distributing) and VWCE (accumulating). For Box 3 both versions count at their value on 1 January; with the distributing version, dividends paid out also count if they are still in your account on that date.

What the index covers

Some indices cover developed and emerging markets together; others cover developed markets only. The iShares Core MSCI World ETF (IWDA) is an example of a developed-markets-only fund. Check the index description in the factsheet to see which countries and company sizes a fund includes.

Domicile

Check where an ETF is domiciled in its KID or prospectus: the domicile affects how withholding tax on the fund’s dividends is handled. US persons face separate rules (see below).

Exchange and currency

The same ETF can be listed on several exchanges and in several currencies. That affects your order costs (at DEGIRO: the ETF Kernselectie on Tradegate or the rate for other exchanges), the spread you pay and whether currency conversion is needed. Currency fluctuations can impact your returns.

Box 3: Points Expats Often Miss

1. The 1 January snapshot Box 3 looks at your net wealth on 1 January. What you buy, sell or spend later in the year does not change that year’s calculation.

2. The fiscal partner threshold doubles If you have a fiscal partner (registered partner or spouse), your combined tax-free allowance is €118,714 in 2026. Fiscal partners may divide the box 3 base between them in any proportion, as long as the total is 100% (Belastingdienst).

3. Partial non-resident status with the 30% ruling: abolished Under this status, investments fell outside Box 3 for ruling holders. It was abolished per 1 January 2025 and is only still open to expats who were already using the ruling before 2024, through the 2026 return at the latest. If that is you, speak to a tax adviser while it lasts; if your ruling started in 2024 or later, do not plan around it. Our 30% ruling guide sets out who is still in scope.

4. The year of arrival or departure If you arrive in or leave the Netherlands part-way through a year, check the Belastingdienst’s guidance for the M-form (migration return) on how box 3 applies.

Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change. Please consult a tax adviser.

US Persons: A Separate Conversation

If you hold a US passport or are a US person for tax purposes, the comparison above needs significant changes:

• PFIC rules: most European UCITS ETFs (including any ETF domiciled in Ireland, Luxembourg or the Netherlands) are likely classified as PFICs. Holding PFICs without a QEF election leads to punitive US tax treatment.
• Choice of funds: US persons should ask a US tax adviser which funds avoid the PFIC rules.
• Interactive Brokers: check with IBKR whether it accepts you as a US person and which US tax documentation it provides.
• FATCA reporting: according to the IRS, FATCA generally requires foreign financial institutions to report on the foreign assets held by their US account holders. You may also have to file an FBAR (if your foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any time in the year) and Form 8938 (above higher thresholds, for example $200,000 at year-end for a single filer living abroad).

Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change. Please consult a tax adviser. Our guide for American expats in the Netherlands covers this in detail.

Opening an Account: What You Need

To open a DEGIRO account, according to DEGIRO:

• you are 18 or older;
• you hold a valid ID card or passport;
• you are a tax resident and physical resident of one of the countries DEGIRO accepts (the Netherlands is one);
• you have a bank account in your own name in the SEPA area;
• you give your tax identification number (in the Netherlands: your BSN).

For ABN AMRO, Rabobank, Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers, check their own sign-up requirements.

Opening an account at an online broker is done online or in the app; how long verification takes differs per provider. Bank platforms may take longer if identity verification needs a branch visit. With a Dutch DEGIRO account you can make your first deposit via iDEAL; accounts from other countries may not offer iDEAL.

If you are still setting up your Dutch bank account, our guide to opening a bank account in the Netherlands explains the process, including which banks are most expat-friendly.

Which Platform Fits Which Situation

This table matches platform features to situations; it is not a recommendation of a platform or a product. Costs, product access, investor protection and tax reporting all differ, so check each platform’s current fee schedule and product range before choosing. Investing involves risk of loss.

If your tax situation becomes more complex, for example if you are in the transitional group that can still use the 30% ruling partial non-resident election through the 2026 return, it is worth revisiting your set-up with a tax adviser.

Useful Links and Further Reading

• Dutch Box 3 tax guide for expats
• 30% ruling: is it still worth it in 2026?
• Best bank accounts for expats in the Netherlands
• Best tax advisors for expats in the Netherlands
• Netherlands for American expats
• Investing in the Netherlands: general expat guide
• Dutch pension system explained for expats
• Wise vs Revolut for expats in the Netherlands

Questions to Answer Before You Build a Portfolio

We do not publish model portfolios. What we can do is list the questions that decide which set-up suits you. This is not investment advice.

How much, and how often? A fixed monthly amount works differently at each platform. With fixed order fees (DEGIRO: €1 handling per ETF Kernselectie transaction, currency or external product and spread costs may apply), larger and less frequent orders spread the fixed cost. With no commission but fractional buying (Trading 212), small amounts are easy, but spreads and currency costs still apply.

One fund or several? A single global index fund is simple to hold. Several funds give more control over regions, but mean more orders, more costs and periodic rebalancing.

Do you want to place orders yourself? If not, a fund provider such as Meesman handles the purchases, for yearly fund costs plus 0.2% per purchase or sale. If you do, a broker gives you a wider choice at order-based costs.

How long can you leave the money invested? Only invest money you will not need in the short term. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you put in.

Are you a US person? Then the rules above take priority over everything else.

When to Start Investing in the Netherlands

There is no universal right moment. The practical preconditions are a Dutch address, a BSN, a bank account, an emergency buffer and a clear idea of your monthly spending.

The 30% ruling partial non-resident status is no longer a decision point for most people: it was abolished per 1 January 2025 and only pre-2024 ruling holders can still use it, through the 2026 return. To open an account at DEGIRO you need to meet its conditions: tax and physical residence in a country it accepts (such as the Netherlands), a valid ID, a SEPA bank account in your own name and your tax identification number (in the Netherlands: your BSN).

Box 3 applies above the tax-free allowance of €59,357 per person (2026). If you are starting from scratch, it may take years before you reach it; below the threshold, no Box 3 tax is due on your investments.

Transferring Existing Investments When You Arrive in the Netherlands

If you had investments in your home country before moving, you have a few decisions to make.

Keep your home-country broker: in many cases you can keep a brokerage account open in your home country and continue holding existing positions. You declare these in Box 3 on your Dutch return (or elsewhere if they produce specific income). If you are in the transitional group of 30% ruling holders who elected partial non-resident status (possible up to and including 2026), investments, Dutch or foreign, fall outside Box 3; only Dutch real estate and a few related rights remain. Confirm this with a tax adviser.

Transfer to a Dutch or EU platform: if your broker no longer accepts Dutch-resident clients, you may need to transfer to another platform. Both IBKR and DEGIRO accept incoming portfolio transfers; DEGIRO charges no fee for an incoming portfolio transfer (your current broker may charge, and DEGIRO only accepts positions it offers), while transferring out of DEGIRO costs €20 per position plus external costs (DEGIRO fee schedule, rates from 1 January 2026). Check with your current broker what they charge for an outgoing transfer.

ISA holders (UK expats): check GOV.UK for whether you can still pay into an ISA after you leave the UK, and ask a Dutch tax adviser how to declare its contents in box 3.

Pension pots: private pensions, SIPPs, 401(k)s and similar are a specialist area; a cross-border tax adviser should look at your specific pension structure.

Getting Started: A Sensible Order of Steps

First: sort out your bank account, BSN and DigiD, and get a feel for your actual monthly costs in the Netherlands. Investing while you are unsure about your expenses risks investing money you need soon.

Second: decide what you could set aside each month without touching your emergency buffer.

Third: compare platforms on the points in this article: costs for your order size, product range, currency handling, language, support and tax reporting. Read the key information document of any product before you buy it.

Each January: check what you need to declare in Box 3 based on your 1 January position.

Rebalancing and Box 3

In countries with capital gains tax, selling an overweighted position to rebalance can trigger a tax bill. Under the current Dutch Box 3 system, which taxes a deemed return on your wealth rather than realised gains, selling during the year has no separate capital gains tax consequence. Order costs and spreads do apply to every trade.

If you fund a euro investment account from a foreign-currency salary or savings, the exchange-rate markup on the transfer is a cost of its own. Compare it before you move money.

Convert currency at the real rate with Wise →

External source: Belastingdienst — Box 3 — official information on how savings and investments are taxed.