In this guide
For the broader financial picture, the best finance apps for expats in the Netherlands covers banking and money transfer apps in more depth.
💡 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.
App details on this page (price, languages, features) come from each app’s listing in the Dutch App Store (checked 31 October 2026) and from the provider’s own website.
Government and Identity Apps
DigiD — Your Digital Dutch Identity
What it is: DigiD is the Dutch government’s login for online government services. You can log in with the DigiD app, with SMS verification, with a username and password, or with your identity document for particularly privacy-sensitive data (digid.nl).
Why you need it: Several government apps only work together with the DigiD app, including the Belastingdienst’s income tax return app and the MijnOverheid Berichtenbox app (App Store). MedMij also requires the DigiD app with an ID check before you can fetch your medical data into a health app (medmij.nl).
How to get it: To apply you need a BSN (citizen service number), a registration address with a Dutch municipality and a mobile phone. DigiD sends a letter with an activation code to that address within five working days, and you must activate within 21 days or apply again. To activate the app you log in with your username and password, enter the SMS code you receive and then the code from the letter (digid.nl). See the DigiD guide for expats for the complete step-by-step process.
Free/paid: Free.
Language: The digid.nl website has English pages; the App Store lists the DigiD app in Dutch only.
Priority: Apply as soon as you have your BSN and registered address.
MijnOverheid Berichtenbox — Your Government Inbox
What it is: The Berichtenbox app gives access to the inbox, archive and bin of your Berichtenbox on MijnOverheid (mijn.overheid.nl). You can read messages and save or forward attachments.
Why you need it: Government organisations can send you post digitally through the Berichtenbox. The app shows which new organisations have joined and lets you choose whether they may send you post digitally; for organisations that were already connected, you change your preferences on the MijnOverheid website (App Store).
Requires: The DigiD app on the same device; you open the Berichtenbox app with your DigiD PIN.
Free/paid: Free.
Belastingdienst Apps — Tax and Benefits
What they are: The Belastingdienst (tax authority) has separate apps rather than one general app. The Aangifte Inkomstenbelasting app lets you file a simple income tax return: you fetch your pre-filled data with DigiD, check it and submit. The Toeslagen app shows your benefits (toeslagen) and lets you change details such as your income or rent; you cannot apply for a benefit in it, only through Mijn toeslagen on toeslagen.nl (App Store).
Good to know for expats: According to its App Store listing, you cannot use the tax return app if you lived abroad, had income from abroad, had assets abroad or had a foreign bank account, among other situations. In those cases you file online through the Belastingdienst website. Read the Dutch tax system guide to understand what you are actually filing.
Free/paid: Free. Both apps are listed in Dutch only.
Transport Apps
9292 — Public Transport Journey Planner
What it is: 9292 combines the timetables for train, bus, tram, metro and ferry in the Netherlands in one app, using real-time information from NS and the regional operators. When there are works or cancellations, the app gives an alternative route automatically (App Store).
Key features: You can buy an e-ticket for your whole journey in the app and pay with iDEAL, credit card or Apple Pay; the e-ticket has a QR code to open the gates. The app also shows live vehicle locations, expected crowding and shared bike and scooter locations, and you can rent a Donkey Republic bike directly in the app (App Store).
Free/paid: The app is free; you pay for the tickets you buy.
Language: Dutch and English (App Store).
The OV-chipkaart guide explains how to pay for public transport journeys.
NS — The National Rail App
What it is: The app of NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Dutch Railways).
Why you need it: You plan your whole journey to any address in the Netherlands, get the latest travel information and disruptions, see how busy the train is and keep your tickets at hand. Under “In de buurt” the app shows nearby transport, including OV-fiets bikes and shared cars, and in Mijn NS you check your balance, switch travel class and view or change your subscriptions (App Store).
Free/paid: Free.
Language: Dutch and English (App Store).
OVpay — Checking In With Your Bank Card or OV-pas
What it is: The OV-chipkaart is being phased out. Its successor is OVpay: you check in with the new OV-pas or with your bank card, and with it you can travel by train, bus, tram and metro everywhere in the Netherlands (ovpay.nl).
The app: The OVpay app is only for people who travel with OVpay; it does not work with an OV-chipkaart. In the app you view your journeys and costs, correct a missed check-in or check-out, download a declaration, request age discount and, with an OV-pas, top up or reclaim your balance (App Store).
Free/paid: Free. Language: Dutch and English (App Store).
Google Maps and Komoot
Google Maps gives routes and live navigation for driving, walking, cycling and public transport, and shows where you can rent bikes or scooters (App Store).
For longer recreational rides, Komoot plans routes with information on surface, difficulty, distance and elevation. Your first region is free; offline maps and turn-by-turn voice navigation for more areas are bought as single regions, region bundles or the World Pack (App Store). See the cycling guide for expats for the full picture.
Weather Apps
Buienradar — Rain Radar
What it is: Buienradar opens with a radar showing the expected rain for the next 3 hours, with a rain graph below it that shows when it will rain and how much (in millimetres). You can also switch to 8-, 24- and 48-hour forecasts and see the rain that fell in the past hour (App Store).
Why you need it: You can set a rain alert for your home or a favourite location, so you get a push notification when rain is expected there. The app also has a 14-day forecast and maps for wind, temperature, thunderstorms, pollen and more (App Store).
Free/paid: Free. A Buienradar Premium subscription removes the ads and adds extra features for €6.99 per year (App Store, 31 October 2026).
Language: Dutch, English and French (App Store).
Read more about Dutch weather and what to expect throughout the year.
Shopping and Food Apps
Albert Heijn — Supermarket App
What it is: The app of the Albert Heijn supermarket chain.
What it does: Your Bonuskaart (loyalty card) is in the app, you see the weekly Bonus offers (and on Friday those of the following week), and with Mijn Bonus Box you get 5 extra personal offers each week. You can also make a shopping list, collect savings stamps digitally, use the self-scanner in the shop and order groceries for delivery or collection at an AH Pick Up Point (App Store).
Free/paid: Free; Albert Heijn says there are no subscription costs for the app.
Language: The App Store lists Dutch, English, French, German, Polish and Turkish.
Thuisbezorgd — Food Delivery
What it is: Thuisbezorgd (literally: delivered to your home) is a food ordering app run by Takeaway.com. You order from restaurants and takeaways and choose delivery or collection; Thuisbezorgd says it has more than 14,000 restaurants, and you can follow your order with its Food Tracker (App Store).
Free/paid: The app is free; you pay for your order.
Language: English is among the languages listed in the App Store.
See also the grocery delivery guide for the Netherlands for grocery delivery options specifically.
Marktplaats — Buy and Sell Second-Hand
What it is: Marktplaats is a Dutch marketplace for new and second-hand items, from cars and furniture to children’s things. Marktplaats says it has 8 million visitors and 10 million ads per month (App Store).
Why you need it: When you are furnishing a new home, it is a place to look for second-hand furniture, bicycles and appliances. In the app you search, filter and sort ads, place and manage your own ads, and contact buyers and sellers through its messaging feature (App Store).
Free/paid: Free app.
Language: Dutch and English (App Store).
Housing Apps
Funda — Property Search
What it is: Funda’s app is for searching homes to buy or rent, including new builds (App Store).
Key features: You search in a list or on the map, where tapping a marker shows a quick preview; listings can have photos, 360° photos, videos and floor plans. You save your preferences in a search so you only see homes that match, and the map shows which homes you have already viewed (App Store).
Free/paid: Free app.
Language: Dutch and English (App Store).
For a detailed comparison of Funda and other housing platforms, see the finding housing in the Netherlands guide.
Kamernet — Rooms, Studios and Apartments
What it is: Kamernet is a rental platform for rooms, studios and apartments (kamernet.nl).
Free/paid: Searching with the filters is free. To arrange a viewing you respond to the advertisement, and for that you need a Premium account, which lets you respond to all advertisements without limit (kamernet.nl). Check the current Premium price on Kamernet’s site.
Finance Apps
iDEAL | Wero — Online Payment
What it is: iDEAL is an online payment method for paying through your own bank. It is now shown as iDEAL | Wero: the new logo appears from the first quarter of 2026, and by the end of 2027 every merchant that accepts iDEAL will have switched to Wero (ideal.nl).
How it works: There is no separate “iDEAL app”. You choose iDEAL | Wero at checkout and confirm the payment in your own bank app; a few seconds after you approve, the payment has been processed (ideal.nl).
Why you need it: Besides webshops, other companies offer it too, for example for energy bills (ideal.nl). You need an account at a bank that offers iDEAL. The issuer list includes the Dutch banks such as ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank and bunq, and also N26 and Revolut (ideal.nl). See the Dutch bank account guide for expats.
Tikkie — Splitting Bills
What it is: Tikkie is a payment request app, an initiative of ABN AMRO, that works whichever bank you use. You send a request with a link via WhatsApp, SMS or another channel, and the other person pays through iDEAL | Wero in their own bank app. They do not need the Tikkie app (App Store).
Why you need it: It is a quick way to get money back when you have paid for drinks, a gift or a weekend away, and with a “Groepie” you can keep track of shared group expenses. Everyone in a Groepie needs the Tikkie app (App Store).
Setup requirement: A Dutch current account and a Dutch, Belgian or German phone number (App Store).
Free/paid: Free; Tikkie does not charge transaction costs for payment requests and transfers (App Store).
Security and Privacy Apps
NordVPN — Secure Your App Usage
What it is: NordVPN is a paid VPN (Virtual Private Network) service that encrypts your internet connection and changes your IP address. You need a subscription to use the app (App Store).
Why expats use it: You have just moved countries. You are managing a Dutch bank account, possibly a home-country bank account, financial apps, and government portals — sometimes all from the same phone, sometimes on public Wi-Fi. Here is when a VPN earns its keep:
Banking security on public Wi-Fi — cafés, coworking spaces, and hotel networks are convenient but expose unencrypted traffic. A VPN encrypts everything from your phone to the VPN server.
Privacy from your internet provider — without a VPN, your provider can see which sites you visit through your device’s DNS requests. With a VPN on, it sees only the connection to the VPN server.
Remote work — if you work for an employer and connect to company systems, ask its IT department whether it requires its own VPN.
What a VPN is not for: getting around geo-blocking on streaming services. Services such as BBC iPlayer forbid that in their terms and can suspend or terminate your account.
According to nordvpn.com (checked 31 October 2026), NordVPN protects up to 10 devices with one account, offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on every plan, and has had its no-logs policy assessed by PwC Switzerland (2018 and 2020) and audited by Deloitte. On that date the Basic plan cost €3.49 per month on the 2-year offer (€94.23 for the first 27 months, renewal €139.08 per year). Download via NordVPN and check the current price on NordVPN’s site.
Communications Apps
What it is: WhatsApp is a free chat and calling app that registers you with your phone number. Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, and video and voice calls work with up to 32 people (App Store). Data costs from your mobile provider may apply.
Free/paid: Free.
KPN / Odido / Ziggo — Your Telco App
What it is: Each provider has its own app. In the MijnKPN app you view and pay invoices, see your usage, share MB’s with housemates and change your subscription; the Odido app shows usage, invoices and payments and lets you change subscriptions and top up MB’s; the joint Vodafone & Ziggo app shows invoices and subscriptions and lets mobile customers switch bundles and change their data limit (App Store).
See the best SIM card guide for expats for current phone plans.
A Suggested Setup Order for New Expats
Week 1 (from the day you arrive):
- Buienradar
- 9292 and NS — to get to your accommodation and everywhere else
- WhatsApp — as soon as you have a SIM
Week 2 (after BSN registration): 4. DigiD — apply as soon as you have your BSN and registered address 5. Your Dutch bank’s app — after account opening 6. Tikkie — after your bank account is live 7. Albert Heijn (Bonuskaart)
Week 3-4: 8. MijnOverheid Berichtenbox — once your DigiD app is active 9. Funda / Kamernet — if you are still searching for housing 10. NordVPN — if you regularly use public Wi-Fi for banking or government services
Ongoing:
- Belastingdienst — when it is time to file your tax return (check first whether the app fits your situation)
- Thuisbezorgd / Marktplaats — as needed
- NS subscription — if you commute by train
A Note on Dutch Apps and Dutch Language
The App Store lists English for most of the everyday apps on this page, including 9292, NS, Buienradar, Albert Heijn, Thuisbezorgd, Marktplaats, Funda, Tikkie, bunq, ABN AMRO and ING. The government apps (DigiD, the Belastingdienst apps) and the Amsterdam App are listed in Dutch only.
Where an app or notification is in Dutch, your phone’s built-in translation can help. A few words that come up often: bezorging (delivery), bestelling (order), vertraging (delay).
Additional Apps by Category
Healthcare and Local Apps
ZorgkaartNederland: A website where patients rate healthcare providers. For GPs (huisartsen) it shows an average score and the number of ratings per practice (zorgkaartnederland.nl).
De Amsterdam App: The City of Amsterdam’s app shows the waste collection rules for your address, lets you report something broken in the street or a full litter bin, start a parking session for visitors and use your digital Stadspas. It is listed in Dutch only (App Store).
PGO (personal health environment) apps: In a PGO you can keep a copy of your medical data from healthcare providers such as your GP or hospital. MedMij sets the rules for exchanging that data safely; PGOs and providers that meet them may use the MedMij label. To fetch your data through MedMij you need the DigiD app and an ID check (medmij.nl).
Finance and Banking Apps
Bunq: bunq offers accounts with Dutch IBANs that you manage in its app, and bunq says you can open an account without a BSN (App Store); you must provide your tax ID in the app within 90 days. bunq Free costs €0.00 per month and includes up to 3 bank accounts and 1 digital card (no physical card); paid personal plans are Core €3.99, Pro €9.99 and Elite €18.99 per month (checked 31 October 2026, bunq Help: What plans are available).
Moneybird app: For ZZP’ers and freelancers using Moneybird for accounting, the app lets you create and send invoices and quotes, scan receipts and purchase invoices, track hours and see which invoices are still open. You need a Moneybird account for the app (App Store). See the freelancer accounting guide for full context on Dutch accounting software.
ABN AMRO or ING banking apps: Both apps handle payments, savings and card management, and both are listed in Dutch and English. ABN AMRO says you can often open a current account in its app with an international passport, without visiting a branch, and you can send a Tikkie from the app. ING says you can open an account with its app, and activating the app requires an ING current account, Mijn ING and a valid ID such as a passport, an EU identity card or a Dutch residence permit (App Store).
Cycling Apps
Komoot: Route planning with offline maps and voice navigation; see the Google Maps and Komoot section above.
Strava: Records rides, runs and more than 50 other sport types. Its Routes tool uses anonymised Strava data to suggest popular routes. Strava has a free version and a paid subscription with premium features (App Store).
Swapfiets: A bike subscription. For a fixed monthly price you get a bike, and if it breaks you book a repair in the app; if Swapfiets cannot fix it within 10 minutes, it swaps the bike (swapfiets.nl, App Store). On 31 October 2026 swapfiets.nl listed the Original city bike at €19.90 per month, the Deluxe 7 at €23.90 and e-bikes from €64.90 per month, with a discount shown on some models.
Language Learning Apps
Babbel: Dutch is one of the 14 languages Babbel offers, with courses tailored to your native language (App Store). See the Dutch language learning guide for a fuller comparison.
Anki (flashcard app): Anki is a free, open-source flashcard program for computers; the iPhone app AnkiMobile costs €29.99 as a one-off purchase in the Dutch App Store. It schedules each card just before you are likely to forget it (App Store).
Managing Multiple Accounts Securely
You end up with a lot of accounts at once: a Dutch bank account, possibly a home-country bank account, DigiD, tax and healthcare portals, rental platforms and work apps. Each has its own login.
A few practices that make this manageable:
Use a password manager. Apps such as 1Password and Bitwarden store strong, unique passwords for every account in one place.
Use the strongest login method on offer. DigiD lets you log in with the DigiD app or SMS verification instead of only a username and password (digid.nl). For email, financial apps and housing platforms, turn on two-factor authentication where available.
Be aware of DigiD phishing. Fake emails, text messages and letters try to get hold of your DigiD login details or bank details. DigiD says there is never a link or QR code in an email, text message or letter from DigiD, and DigiD employees will never ask for your login details (digid.nl). When in doubt, go directly to digid.nl in your browser.
Keep your BSN safe. Your BSN (citizen service number) is used across government services. Do not keep a photo of your passport or BSN in an unencrypted notes app; a password manager’s secure notes are a safer place.
More Apps to Know About
Too Good To Go: Shops, cafés, bakeries, supermarkets and restaurants sell unsold food in a surprise bag (verrassingspakket) at a reduced price; you reserve in the app and collect at the set time (App Store).
Nextdoor: A neighbourhood network where you find recommendations for local businesses, buy and sell second-hand items and join groups with neighbours (App Store).
Donkey Republic: Shared bikes and e-bikes, with pay-per-ride, passes and memberships. You pick up a bike at a location near you and return it to a drop-off location; Amsterdam, The Hague and Delft are among the cities listed (App Store). You can also rent a Donkey Republic bike through the 9292 app.
Thuisbezorgd for collection: Besides delivery, you can order ahead in the Thuisbezorgd app and collect the food yourself (App Store).
App Permissions and Privacy: What to Accept
App Store listings and privacy statements say what an app processes. The DigiD app, for example, processes your IP address, your device’s operating system and unique identifier, your mobile number and your 5-digit PIN, and during the ID check your document number, date of birth and expiry date (App Store).
When apps ask for location permissions, microphone access, or contact list access, consider whether the functionality requires it. Buienradar, for example, sends rain alerts for your home or for a favourite location you choose. A shopping app asking for microphone access with no clear reason — decline it.
Arrange your DigiD as soon as you have a BSN, because several of the other apps on this page depend on it: the Berichtenbox app, the tax return app and fetching your medical data through MedMij.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Dutch app should a new expat set up first?
DigiD, because you log in with it to Dutch government services: the Belastingdienst tax return app and the MijnOverheid Berichtenbox app only work together with the DigiD app. To apply you need a BSN, a registration address with a Dutch municipality and a mobile phone; the activation letter arrives at that address within five working days, and you have 21 days to activate (digid.nl). For getting around, 9292 and the NS app plan public transport journeys, and Buienradar shows the rain radar.
Is Tikkie available in English?
The App Store lists Tikkie in Dutch and English. Tikkie is an initiative of ABN AMRO but works whichever bank you use. According to the app listing, everyone involved needs a Dutch current account, and you need a Dutch, Belgian or German phone number. The people you send a payment request to do not need the Tikkie app; they pay through iDEAL | Wero in their own bank app.
Do I need a Dutch phone number to use Dutch apps?
It depends on the app. DigiD asks for a mobile phone when you apply, and activating the DigiD app involves an SMS code (digid.nl). Tikkie needs a Dutch, Belgian or German phone number (App Store). WhatsApp registers you with your phone number. See the best SIM card guide for expats for current options.
Is NordVPN necessary in the Netherlands?
Not necessary, but useful for specific reasons: it encrypts your connection on public Wi-Fi in cafés, coworking spaces, hotels and airports, which matters when you use banking apps or DigiD there, and it keeps your browsing private from your internet provider. A VPN is not a way to watch home-country streaming services: services such as BBC iPlayer forbid that in their terms and can suspend your account.
Can I use iDEAL as a foreigner?
Yes, if your bank offers it. iDEAL (now shown as iDEAL | Wero) is not a separate app: you pick it at checkout and confirm the payment in your own bank app. The banks on the iDEAL issuer list include the Dutch banks and also N26 and Revolut (ideal.nl). The Wero name is being phased in: by the end of 2027 every iDEAL merchant will have switched to Wero.
What apps help with finding housing in the Netherlands?
Funda has an app for homes to buy and rent, including new builds, with list and map search and a saved search with your preferences. Kamernet lists rooms, studios and apartments; searching is free, but you need a Premium account to respond to listings (kamernet.nl). The finding housing guide compares the other platforms.