Best Savings Account Netherlands 2026 for Expats

Your salary sits in a Dutch current account earning next to nothing. Here is how to actually grow it. Rates in this guide were rechecked on 8 October 2026 at the providers’ own pages; savings rates are variable, so check them again before you move money.

If you do not yet have a Dutch bank account at all, start with our guide on how to open a bank account in the Netherlands first. And if you are still comparing current accounts, check our best bank account for expats comparison.

💡 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.

Quick Verdict: Best Savings Accounts at a Glance

Sources, checked 8 October 2026: raisin.nl (home, spaarrekening and deposito pages), nibc.nl/particulieren/sparen/spaarrentes, wise.com/nl/interest (Wise states the rate was updated on 23 September 2026), bunq.com/nl-nl savings page, abnamro.nl/nl/prive/rente/actuele-rente (rates valid from 29 September 2026), rabobank.nl Rabo SpaarRekening page. We could not load ING’s rate page for this check, so we do not print ING’s figures rather than repeat old ones.

How Dutch Savings Accounts Work

Before the comparison, two details need clarification.

Spaarrekening vs. Deposito

In the Netherlands, you will encounter two main types of savings products:

Spaarrekening (savings account): A flexible account where you can deposit and withdraw money at any time. Interest rates are variable, meaning the bank can change them. This is what most people need for their emergency fund and general savings.

Deposito (fixed-term deposit): You lock your money away for a set period; at Raisin the terms run from 1 month to 10 years, and the interest rate is fixed for the term. This works for money you are certain you will not need during that period.

If you have savings beyond your emergency fund that you will not touch during the term, a deposito can pay more than a flexible account (on 8 October 2026 Raisin listed 3.35 percent for 1 year against 3.05 percent at most for flexible savings, and that flexible rate is a welcome rate for new customers).

Why Dutch Interest Rates Feel Low

Compare before you choose: on 8 October 2026 the flexible rates we found at ABN AMRO (1.25 percent) and Rabobank (1.50 percent on the first EUR 10,000) and at NIBC (1.55 percent) were below Raisin’s welcome rate of 3.05 percent, while ING’s rate we could not load.

The European Central Bank raised its rates twice in 2026: the deposit facility rate went to 2.25 percent on 17 June and to 2.50 percent on 16 September, with the main refinancing rate now at 2.65 percent (ecb.europa.eu, key ECB interest rates, checked 8 October 2026). How much of that reaches your savings account is up to each bank, which is why the spread between providers matters.

7 Savings Options for Expats in 2026

1. Raisin (WeltSparen in Germany) — Best for Maximum Interest

Flexible rate: Up to 3.05% (RenteBoost account for new customers, guaranteed for 3 months; next-highest flexible offer 2.35%) | Fixed deposits: best offer per term: 1 year 3.35%, 2 years 3.35%, 3 years 3.35%, 5 years 3.67%, 10 years 3.90% | Min. deposit: from EUR 1 (raisin.nl, checked 8 October 2026)

Raisin is a savings platform, not a bank you deposit with directly. You open one Raisin account and then choose savings products from more than 60 European partner banks; the offers we saw came from banks in countries such as Germany, France, Sweden, Italy and the Baltic states. Raisin holds a licence from the Dutch AFM (number 12045380); the central Raisin account runs through Raisin Bank AG, a German credit institution supervised by BaFin (raisin.com/nl-nl/over-raisin, checked 8 October 2026).

Pros:

• The highest rates in this comparison on 8 October 2026, on both flexible savings (welcome rate) and fixed terms
• One account, many banks: easy to spread savings over several partner banks
• Raisin says your savings fall under the statutory deposit guarantee schemes in Europe, up to EUR 100,000 per bank
• Free to use; open from EUR 1
• Fixed terms from 1 month to 10 years

Cons:

• The 3.05% headline is a welcome rate for new customers, guaranteed for 3 months; the next-highest flexible offer on Raisin’s list was 2.35%
• Fixed deposits lock your money for the full term
• The partner banks may be in countries you do not know well
• Raisin marks offers that carry no withholding tax (“geen bronbelasting”); check this per offer
• Raisin’s website is in Dutch, which is a hurdle if you do not read Dutch yet
• You can only withdraw to a registered reference account (a “tegenrekening”, up to five), after first moving money from the partner bank to your Raisin account (Raisin help centre)

Who it is for: Anyone with savings beyond their emergency fund who wants the best return and is comfortable with a platform rather than a traditional bank. Keep your emergency buffer at your own bank for instant access.

Compare Raisin’s current rates →

2. bunq — Savings Inside Your Bank App

Savings rate: bunq advertises up to 3.01% annual interest paid weekly; per bunq this is a gross bonus rate: after your first threshold calculation you earn a base rate of 1.51% up to your threshold and 3.01% above it, and both rates are variable (bunq.com, checked 8 October 2026) | Fixed term: a Termijndeposito with up to 2.11% | Monthly fee: from EUR 0.00 (bunq Free); €3.99 Core, €9.99 Pro, €18.99 Elite (bunq Help: What plans are available)

If you already use bunq as your daily bank, their savings accounts are worth considering for the automation. bunq no longer sells the old Easy Bank / Easy Savings / Easy Money / Easy Green plans, so ignore any guide that still lists an “Easy Savings” subscription.

Pros:

• Automatic rounding up of your spare change to your savings account (bunq)
• A fixed-term option (Termijndeposito) next to the flexible account
• Savings in foreign currencies, with interest paid weekly (rates change; check the app)
• Joint savings accounts
• Deposits protected by the Dutch deposit guarantee (bunq)

Cons:

• The headline rate carries bunq’s own asterisk: it is a bonus rate that applies above your threshold, and it is variable, so do not treat it as a fixed return
• The fixed-term rate advertised is up to 2.11%, lower than the best deposits at Raisin on the same day
• A paid plan has a monthly fee, which eats into returns on smaller balances

Who it is for: Expats who already use bunq and want to keep savings in the same app. If raw interest is your priority, compare with Raisin.

Check Bunq →

3. ING Oranje Spaarrekening

Savings rate: check ing.nl on the day (we could not load ING’s rate page on 8 October 2026) | Deposito: see ing.nl

ING is one of the large Dutch banks and offers the Oranje Spaarrekening. If you already bank with ING, you can ask ING how to add a savings account.

Pros:

• Linked to your ING current account
• Covered by the Dutch deposit guarantee, up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank (DNB)

Cons:

• We could not verify ING’s current rate; compare it with the other providers before you settle
• You need an ING current account first (with a non-EEA passport you hand in your BSN within 90 days)

For a full comparison of daily banking options, see our best bank account guide.

4. ABN AMRO Savings

Savings rate: Direct Sparen 1.25% up to EUR 500,000 and 1.45% from EUR 500,000 to EUR 1,000,000; Kwartaal Sparen 1.30% (0.75% base plus 0.55% bonus); Tijdslot Sparen 1.40%; rates valid from 29 September 2026 (abnamro.nl, checked 8 October 2026)

ABN AMRO offers several savings accounts, among them Direct Sparen, Kwartaal Sparen and Tijdslot Sparen. Each pays a different rate (see above).

Pros:

• Rates published openly on abnamro.nl
• Covered by the Dutch deposit guarantee, up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank (DNB)

Cons:

• Its flexible rate (1.25%) was below the other providers we checked on 8 October 2026
• You open it as an ABN AMRO customer; ABN AMRO asks for your BSN within 120 days of opening an account

5. Rabobank Savings

Savings rate: Rabo SpaarRekening 1.50% on the first EUR 10,000, 1.40% from EUR 10,000 to EUR 20,000, 1.30% from EUR 20,000 to EUR 100,000; from 14 October 2026 these become 1.60%, 1.50% and 1.40% (rabobank.nl, checked 8 October 2026)

Rabobank offers the Rabo SpaarRekening, which Rabobank describes as a free savings account with free savings pots for your goals. The rate steps down as your balance grows, and Rabobank has announced higher rates from 14 October 2026.

Pros:

• Rates by balance band published on rabobank.nl
• The Rabo App is available in English and the bank has English-speaking staff (rabobank.nl/en/personal/expats)
• Covered by the Dutch deposit guarantee, up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank (DNB)

Cons:

• The rate is lower than Raisin’s welcome rate and falls with larger balances
• You open it as a Rabobank customer

6. NIBC — Dutch Bank Without a Current Account

Savings rate: 1.55% (Spaarrekening), 1.60% (Kwartaalspaarrekening: 1.20% base plus 0.40% bonus) | Deposito: 1 year 2.86% (temporary promotion), 2 years 2.61%, 3 to 9 years 2.71%, 10 years 3.11% | Min. deposit: none (nibc.nl/particulieren/sparen/spaarrentes, checked 8 October 2026)

NIBC is a Dutch bank. You save there without a current account, but you need a payment account at a Dutch bank (NIBC does not accept a business account as your reference account).

Pros:

• Covered by the Dutch deposit guarantee, up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank (DNB)
• No minimum deposit and no costs on the savings accounts
• Interest on the Spaarrekening is paid monthly
• Fixed-term deposits up to 10 years

Cons:

• The savings pages are in Dutch
• On 8 October 2026 its flexible rate (1.55 percent) and 1-year deposit (2.86 percent, a temporary promotion) were below what Raisin listed (3.05 and 3.35 percent)

Editorial take: NIBC fits if you want a Dutch bank for your savings. If you are comfortable with EU partner banks, Raisin paid more on the day we checked.

7. Wise Interest — Best for Multi-Currency Balances

Variable rate: 2.25% (EUR, after a 0.26% annual fee), 3.29% (GBP, after 0.55%), 3.61% (USD, after 0.28%); Wise says the rate was last updated on 23 September 2026 (wise.com/nl/interest, checked 8 October 2026)

Wise Interest is not a savings account: you hold your balance in a fund, and Wise itself says growth is not guaranteed and your capital is at risk. For expats holding several currencies it can still be of interest, because GBP or USD you are not converting yet can earn a return without a separate account.

Pros:

• Rates in GBP and USD as well as EUR
• No lock-in term
• Works alongside your Dutch bank account

Cons:

• Wise itself labels the rates as marketing communication with capital at risk: growth is not guaranteed
• Not a bank deposit, so no deposit guarantee applies; Wise is not a bank; in the EU, Wise Europe SA is an authorised payment institution supervised by the National Bank of Belgium
• The quoted rates are net of an annual fee
• Not ideal as your sole savings solution

Open a Wise account →

If you are new to Wise, our best bank account guide covers how it works as a daily banking option alongside a traditional Dutch bank.

Interest Rates Comparison Table (checked 8 October 2026)

Here is the full picture in one place, as published by the providers on 8 October 2026.

What to notice: On EUR 20,000 for one year, the gap between NIBC’s 1-year deposit (2.86 percent, EUR 572) and Raisin’s best 1-year deposit (3.35 percent, EUR 670) is EUR 98 before tax. Whether that is worth a foreign partner bank is your call; the deposit guarantee limit is the same EUR 100,000 per bank.

See Raisin’s deposit rates by term →

Tax on Savings: Box 3 Vermogensbelasting Explained

This is the section every expat needs to read carefully, because Dutch savings taxation works nothing like what you are used to.

How Box 3 Works

The Netherlands does not tax your actual interest income. Instead, under box 3 of the income tax system, the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) calculates a deemed return on your assets (savings, investments, property other than your own home) and taxes that deemed return at 36% in 2026.

Here is how it works in 2026:

Step 1: Determine your assets. Add up what belongs in box 3, such as bank and savings balances (in the Netherlands and abroad), investments and property other than your own home.

Step 2: Subtract the tax-free threshold. In 2026, the first €59,357 per person is exempt (€118,714 for fiscal partners). This means if you and your partner have combined savings under €118,714, you pay zero box 3 tax.

Step 3: Calculate the deemed return. The Belastingdienst uses different percentages for savings, for investments and other assets, and for debts:

• Bank balances: deemed return of 1.28% (2026, provisional)
• Investments and other assets: deemed return of 6.00% (2026)

Step 4: Pay 36% tax on the deemed return. Not on your actual earnings.

A Practical Example

You have EUR 80,000 in savings accounts and no other box 3 assets.

• Threshold: €59,357
• Taxable base: EUR 20,643
• Deemed return on all savings: 1.28% of EUR 80,000 = EUR 1,024
• Taxed part of that return: EUR 20,643 / EUR 80,000 of EUR 1,024 = EUR 264
• Tax at 36%: EUR 95

So the box 3 tax on EUR 80,000 in savings, with no other box 3 assets and no debts, comes to EUR 95 for 2026 on these figures (a simplified calculation; the Belastingdienst’s own calculation applies). For comparison, EUR 80,000 at NIBC’s 1.55 percent flexible rate (8 October 2026) pays EUR 1,240 a year before tax.

For a deeper explanation of the Dutch tax system, read our full expat tax guide.

The Box 3 Legal Saga

Box 3 has been under reform since 2021. The Wet werkelijk rendement box 3 is before the Eerste Kamer; on 30 June 2026 a majority of the Eerste Kamer decided to hold its vote until it deals with a novelle that the cabinet has announced, which aims to tax gains on assets (eerstekamer.nl, checked 8 October 2026). For 2026 the Belastingdienst still calculates box 3 with deemed returns, as described above.

The Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS)

The Dutch deposit guarantee (Nederlandse Depositogarantie) protects your money automatically from one cent up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank, even if your bank goes bankrupt (DNB, checked 8 October 2026).

What the DGS Covers and Does Not Cover

• Covered: your balances on savings accounts and current accounts, up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank
• Not covered: investment products such as shares and bonds, insurance and virtual currencies such as bitcoin (DNB)
• Joint accounts: the limit applies per person, so a couple with an and/or account has up to EUR 200,000 of protection together

Important Detail for Expats

A bank can operate under several brand names. The EUR 100,000 limit applies per person per bank, so your balances at all brands of one bank are added together (DNB). Your bank has an overview of the brand names it uses.

For Raisin users: your savings sit with the partner bank you choose, under the statutory deposit guarantee scheme in Europe up to EUR 100,000 per bank; balances on the central Raisin account at Raisin Bank AG fall under the German scheme up to EUR 100,000 per customer (raisin.com, checked 8 October 2026). The guarantee therefore depends on the partner bank’s country.

Smart Savings Strategies for Expats

1. The Ladder Approach

Instead of putting all your savings in one product, spread them:

• Instant access: a flexible savings account where you can withdraw money any time, for your emergency fund
• Medium-term: a flexible account at Raisin or NIBC, where it does not matter if a transfer takes a little longer
• Long-term: a Raisin or NIBC deposito: lock it up for a fixed rate

This way you earn more on money you do not need immediately while keeping enough accessible for emergencies.

2. Spread Across Multiple Banks

If your savings exceed EUR 100,000, spreading them across several banks keeps all of it within the EUR 100,000 per person per bank guarantee (DNB).

3. Automate Your Savings

Set up an automatic transfer on salary day, so the money moves before you can spend it. Decide the split between emergency fund and longer-term savings yourself.

4. Emergency Fund First

Before chasing the best rate, keep an emergency fund in a flexible account you can reach quickly. How to size it is in our emergency fund guide.

5. Consider Your Currency Mix

If you still receive income in GBP, USD, or another currency, do not automatically convert everything to euros. Wise Interest showed 3.29 percent on GBP and 3.61 percent on USD after fees (variable, capital at risk, wise.com/nl/interest, checked 8 October 2026). If you have GBP or USD you are not converting soon, compare that with what you would earn after converting to euros.

Open a Wise account →

How the 30% Ruling Affects Your Savings

If you have the 30% ruling, the savings-tax advantage it used to bring has largely gone — and that is worth knowing before you plan around it.

Partial Foreign Tax Liability No Longer Available

If you lived in the Netherlands and the 30% ruling applied to your salary, you could choose partial foreign tax liability (partiële buitenlandse belastingplicht) in your tax return. For box 3 you then only had to declare certain Dutch assets, such as Dutch real estate. From 1 January 2025 you can no longer choose this in your tax return (Belastingdienst, checked 8 October 2026).

One transitional group remains:

• You used the 30% ruling before 2024 → under transitional law you can still choose partial foreign tax liability up to and including 2026. You can notify your choice until the assessment is final (Belastingdienst).
• Your ruling started in 2024 or later → this transitional route is not available to you; your savings fall in box 3 like any other resident’s. The Belastingdienst page says the choice ends for everyone else on 1 January 2025.

The tax-free allowance itself stays at a maximum of 30 percent in 2025 and 2026 and drops to a maximum of 27 percent from 2027, with a transitional arrangement for people who started using the ruling in 2023 or before (Rijksoverheid).

The Catch: Check Your Position Before 2027

If you are in the transitional group, the choice ends after 2026. Ask a tax adviser what that means for your savings in box 3 before the 2027 tax year.

For more on the 30% ruling, including the latest 2026 changes, read our detailed guide.

Opening a Dutch Savings Account: Step by Step

If you already have a Dutch current account at one of the banks above, ask the bank how to add a savings account. If you are starting from scratch:

For ING, ABN AMRO, or Rabobank

1. Open a current account first (betaalrekening); see our guide on opening a bank account for the BSN requirements
2. Ask the bank how to add a savings account (spaarrekening)
3. Transfer money from your current account to your new savings account

For NIBC

1. Go to nibc.nl and choose to open a savings account
2. You need: your own email address, a valid ID (passport or identity card), a mobile phone number and a payment account at a Dutch bank (not a business account) (nibc.nl, checked 8 October 2026)
3. Complete the online application
4. Transfer money in: there is no minimum deposit (nibc.nl)

For Raisin

1. Register via Raisin: enter your details and complete the identification
2. Raisin opens your free central Raisin account at Raisin Bank and links it to your existing payment account (your “tegenrekening”)
3. Browse the savings products and choose one
4. Transfer money from your own bank to your Raisin account; Raisin forwards it to the product you chose (raisin.com/nl-nl/zo-werkt-het, checked 8 October 2026)

Open a Raisin account →

For Wise

1. Register at wise.com and verify your identity
2. Add money to your Wise account
3. Opt in to Wise Interest, where available (Wise Interest is not a savings account)

Open a Wise account →

Savings Account vs. Investing

A savings account holds money you may need soon, such as your emergency fund.

Money you will not need for many years is sometimes invested instead of saved. Investing involves risk of loss and returns are not guaranteed; you can get back less than you put in. This is not investment advice.

Our investing guide for expats explains how Box 3 treats investments and how platforms such as DEGIRO charge; the DEGIRO review covers that broker in detail.

A savings account and investments do different jobs: the savings account holds the money you may need soon.

Common Mistakes Expats Make with Dutch Savings

1. Leaving money in the current account. Check what your current account pays. EUR 20,000 at NIBC’s 1.55 percent flexible rate earns EUR 310 a year; at Raisin’s 3.05 percent welcome rate it is EUR 610 on an annual basis (rates on 8 October 2026).

2. Not comparing. Compare the current rate at your bank with Raisin and NIBC. On 8 October 2026 the flexible rates we found at ABN AMRO and Rabobank were 1.25 and 1.50 percent.

3. Ignoring box 3 thresholds. Below the tax-free allowance (€59,357 per person, €118,714 for fiscal partners in 2026) you pay no box 3 tax; above it, the deemed return applies.

4. Assuming the 30% ruling still shelters your savings. Partial foreign tax liability can no longer be chosen from 1 January 2025; only people who used the ruling before 2024 can still use it, up to and including 2026 (Belastingdienst).

5. Keeping more than EUR 100,000 in one bank. The deposit guarantee covers EUR 100,000 per person per bank (DNB).

6. Converting currency unnecessarily. If you have GBP or USD savings, compare the interest rate in that currency (for example Wise Interest, where Wise quoted 3.29 percent on GBP and 3.61 percent on USD after fees, capital at risk) with what you would earn after converting to euros.

7. Before optimising interest rates, make sure you have an emergency fund in a flexible account.

Which Credit Card for Savings?

A common question is whether a credit card with cashback can supplement savings income. Our best credit cards for expats guide covers the options. Focus on your savings account first.

Conclusion

The Dutch savings market is not exciting — but it does not need to be. Your goal is to earn a reasonable return on your cash while keeping it safe, accessible, and tax-efficient. Here is our summary:

• For most expats: Keep your emergency fund in a flexible savings account, then put longer-term savings where the rate is higher: NIBC if you want a Dutch bank, Raisin if you are comfortable with EU partner banks.
• For rate chasers: Raisin listed the highest rates in this comparison on 8 October 2026. Use its deposits for money you can lock away.
• For multi-currency holders: Wise Interest pays a variable return on GBP, USD and EUR balances; it is a fund with capital at risk, not a savings account.
• For bunq customers: bunq offers flexible and fixed-term savings in the same app, with a bonus rate of up to 3.01 percent that depends on your threshold.

Moving EUR 20,000 from a current account that pays nothing to a savings account paying 1.55 to 3.05 percent is worth EUR 310 to EUR 610 a year before tax at the rates of 8 October 2026.

Open a Wise account →

Rates in this article were checked on 8 October 2026 at raisin.nl, nibc.nl, wise.com, bunq.com, abnamro.nl and rabobank.nl. Savings rates are variable; check the provider’s page before you move money.