How to Open a Dutch Bank Account as an Expat (2026 Guide)

Direct answer: To open a Dutch bank account you need a passport or ID and, sooner or later, registration at a Dutch address (your gemeente registration, which also gives you a BSN). ING and ABN AMRO both let you open an account in their app before the BSN arrives: ING asks non-EEA passport holders for the BSN and Dutch address within 90 days, ABN AMRO asks for the BSN within 120 days. If you need a euro IBAN before you have a Dutch address, Wise gives verified customers EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address). Wise is not a bank: in the EU it is Wise Europe SA, an authorised payment institution supervised by the National Bank of Belgium. Non-residents and overseas business owners can jump to non-residents or business accounts below.

💡 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.

The Timeline at a Glance

Here is the short version, front-loaded, because that is what you actually need:

The table assumes two accounts: a Wise account for a euro IBAN while your registration is pending, and a Dutch bank account once you are ready to open one. The five-day registration rule and the BSN come from government.nl; the account-opening times are the banks’ own statements.

If you want to know which bank to choose rather than how to open one, see the best bank accounts for expats in the Netherlands — that is a separate question, covered separately.

What You Need: Document Checklist

The document requirements differ significantly depending on which type of account you are opening.

For app-based providers (Wise, Bunq, N26, Revolut)

• Valid passport or identity card
• A photo or selfie for identity verification (Wise may ask for a photo of you holding your ID)
• An address in a country the provider supports, and possibly proof of address
• Your tax identification number, at bunq within 90 days of signup

For traditional Dutch banks (ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank)

• Valid ID: ING accepts a European passport or ID card, a Dutch driving licence or a Dutch residence permit; with a non-European passport, a valid passport and an MVV visa if required (ing.nl, read 1 October 2026)
• Your BSN, now or later: ING wants it within 90 days if you have a non-EEA passport, ABN AMRO within 120 days
• Proof of residence: ABN AMRO’s app asks you to upload it as the last step (abnamro.nl, read 1 October 2026)
• Rabobank asks for your tax number (in the Netherlands the BSN) on its tax-residence form

So the BSN is not the first hurdle it once was: ING and ABN AMRO let you open the account first and hand in the BSN afterwards.

Step 1: Open a Digital Account Before You Arrive

Do this before you get on the plane, or on the day you land. It gives you a euro IBAN for a salary or a deposit while the rest is pending. It does not give you iDEAL: Wise is not on iDEAL’s list of issuers.

Wise

Wise gives verified customers EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address); a Dutch employer or landlord may not refuse a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country (De Nederlandsche Bank). Wise lists a one-time card fee of 7 EUR (wise.com/nl/card, read 1 October 2026).

How to open a Wise account:

1. Go to wise.com and click “Register”
2. Sign up with your email address
3. Complete the identity verification — upload your passport photo and take a selfie
4. Once verified, go to “Account details” and add EUR to see your European IBAN
5. Order a Wise card if you want one (one-time fee of 7 EUR, wise.com, read 1 October 2026)

Wise says document checks usually take 1-2 working days; once you are verified, you can get EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address).

Open a Wise Account →

Your Wise IBAN works for receiving a salary and for direct debits from payers that accept SEPA direct debit. It is not a Dutch bank account: Wise is a payment institution, not a bank, and it is not on iDEAL’s list of issuers. For your first weeks in the country, it covers the euro IBAN.

For more on how Wise compares to other options, see Wise vs Revolut for expats in the Netherlands.

Bunq as an alternative

Bunq is a Dutch bank that works entirely in an app. EEA citizens who live in one of its supported EEA countries can sign up, and if you are still outside the EEA you can start the signup and finish it once you move (help.bunq.com, read 1 October 2026). It has a free plan as well as paid ones: bunq Free €0.00, Core €3.99, Pro €9.99 and Elite €18.99 per month, plus a bunq Pack group plan at €28.99 (checked 1 October 2026, bunq Help: What plans are available). bunq says eligible euro deposits are covered up to €100,000 under the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme. Note that bunq Free comes with a digital card only; a physical card starts at Core. See the Bunq vs N26 comparison if you are weighing up your options.

Step 2: Register at the Gemeente and Get Your BSN

Your BSN is your citizen service number, the personal number used across Dutch government and many other organisations, including banks.

According to government.nl, if you are going to stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months you register with the municipality where you will live, within 5 days of arriving; the municipality then arranges your BSN and your registration in the Personal Records Database (BRP). Everyone registered in the BRP automatically gets a BSN. Most municipalities work with appointments, so book early.

What to bring to the gemeente: the municipality tells you when you book. Expect to show a valid passport or ID card and proof of your address in the Netherlands, such as a rental contract or a statement from the main occupant; non-EU citizens should bring their residence document or visa if they have one.

The full registration process, including how to book an appointment and what to bring, is covered in the BSN registration guide.

Step 3: Open a Traditional Dutch Bank Account

ING, ABN AMRO and Rabobank are the three big Dutch retail banks, and all three present an English-language service: ING says its account opening is “fully available in English”, ABN AMRO publishes its account-opening page in English, and Rabobank says its app is available in English and that it has English-speaking staff (bank websites, read 1 October 2026). ING and ABN AMRO let you open before the BSN arrives.

ING

ING describes itself as “the Netherlands’ largest and most international bank” and says you can start banking “even before you receive your BSN”. Its cheapest plan, ING Go, costs €4.00 a month (ing.nl, read 1 October 2026).

How to open an ING account (according to ING):

1. Download the ING App; you need to be 18 or older
2. With a European passport or ID card, a Dutch driving licence or a Dutch residence permit, you can open the account straight away
3. With a non-European passport, you need a valid passport and an MVV visa if required; an MVV check can take a couple of days
4. If you have not officially lived in the Netherlands yet, give your current address as your home address
5. With a non-EEA passport, provide your BSN (at an ING Service Point) and Dutch address within 90 days

ING says you can use the account directly after opening, and it automatically opens a free Orange savings account for new customers. If you already have a residence permit card, ING advises using that for a smoother experience.

ABN AMRO

ABN AMRO’s basic account is the Basic Payment Package (Basisbetaalpakket), “for just €4.30 per month”, with a current account, a debit card and online banking. ABN AMRO says you can open it “in 10 minutes and without BSN”, that it has served international clients for 25+ years, and that you can start paying the same day without waiting for your physical debit card (abnamro.nl, read 1 October 2026). You do need an official home address in the Netherlands, and you hand in the BSN within 120 days.

How to open an ABN AMRO account (ABN AMRO’s 7 steps):

1. Download the app
2. Choose your email address and password
3. Submit your proof of identity
4. Take a picture
5. Answer some questions
6. Send your application
7. Upload your proof of residence

Step 4: Set Up iDEAL and Direct Debits

Once your traditional bank account is active, spend 30 minutes getting two things right.

iDEAL

iDEAL is the Dutch online payment system used by many webshops, ticket sellers and service providers. It links directly to your bank account and does not use card details.

At a bank that is an iDEAL issuer you do not need a separate iDEAL account: when you click “Pay with iDEAL” on a website, you select your bank, confirm in the bank’s app, and it is done.

iDEAL works through the banks on iDEAL’s list of issuers, such as ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, bunq and Revolut. Wise is not on that list, so a Wise account alone does not give you iDEAL. Many Dutch webshops and services offer iDEAL as their main payment method.

Automatische incasso (direct debit)

Many Dutch subscriptions and utility companies use automatische incasso: automatic direct debit from your account. When you sign a contract, you give permission for the company to collect payments automatically each month.

Once your account is active, set up your direct debits: health insurance, internet, energy and any subscriptions. You give the company a SEPA direct debit mandate, usually online when you sign up, and it collects the payments.

How to Open a Dutch Bank Account Without a BSN

The short answer: ING lets you open an account before you receive your BSN (with a non-EEA passport you provide it within 90 days), and ABN AMRO lets you open a personal account once you have an official Dutch home address and hand in the BSN within 120 days. These are the other routes.

Option 1: Wise (recommended)

Wise does not depend on Dutch registration: Wise asks for a photo of a government-issued ID and sometimes proof of address, and its verification guide does not mention a BSN.

Step-by-step: opening a Wise account

1. Download the Wise app or go to wise.com
2. Register with your email address and choose a password
3. Verify your identity — upload a photo of your ID; Wise may also ask for proof of address or a photo of you holding your ID, and says document checks usually take 1-2 working days
4. Once you are verified, go to “Account details” and open EUR account details: you get a non-Dutch euro IBAN
5. Share that IBAN with your employer and landlord — it works for salary payments and direct debits across the EU

Opening a Wise account is free (wise.com/nl/card). A physical debit card is optional and costs a small one-time fee.

Open a Wise account →

What Wise is not: a bank. In the EU, Wise operates as Wise Europe SA, an authorised payment institution supervised by the National Bank of Belgium, and Wise states that its payment services are not covered by the Belgian deposit guarantee scheme. Your IBAN starts with BE, not NL.

Option 2: Bunq

bunq is a Dutch bank licensed by De Nederlandsche Bank: accounts opened in the Netherlands get an NL IBAN, and you have 90 days after signup to add your tax ID (the BSN for Dutch residents).

1. Download the bunq app
2. Select “Open an account” and choose a plan — bunq Free (€0.00) is enough to start; Core (€3.99) adds a physical card, Pro (€9.99) up to 25 bank accounts
3. Complete the identity verification with your passport
4. If you do not have a BSN yet, add your tax ID later: bunq gives you 90 days after signup
5. You will receive a Dutch IBAN once the account is approved

Check Bunq →

Option 3: Revolut

Revolut Bank UAB (Lithuania) is on iDEAL’s list of issuers, and Revolut says its banking services in the Netherlands are provided by its Dutch branch. According to Revolut Help, customers resident in the Netherlands customers resident in the Netherlands will now have their accounts migrated to this branch and receive a Dutch IBAN. Check the IBAN shown in the app before you rely on it for salary or rent.

Can I Open a Dutch Bank Account from Abroad?

The pre-arrival window is your most stressful financial moment. You have a signed rental contract, a flight booked, and a first payment due on arrival. Having a working European IBAN before you step off the plane takes one item off the list entirely.

What you can open from abroad

Wise sign-up and verification run online, so you can do them before you move. Wise asks for a photo of a government-issued ID, sometimes proof of address, and says document checks usually take 1-2 working days. It may also check that you have the right to live in the country your account is registered in, and can limit features such as ordering a card until that check is done. Once you are verified, you can get EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address).

Open Wise Before You Fly →

Bunq lets you start the signup from outside the EEA and finish it once you move to a supported EEA country, and gives you 90 days after signup to add your tax ID; accounts opened in the Netherlands get an NL IBAN.

ING lets you open with your current (foreign) address if you have not officially lived in the Netherlands yet; with a non-EEA passport you then provide your BSN and Dutch address within 90 days, and you may need an MVV visa. ABN AMRO requires an official home address in the Netherlands, although it lets you hand in the BSN within 120 days, so you open that one after you have registered.

Realistic pre-arrival timeline

Joint Bank Accounts in the Netherlands

If you are moving to the Netherlands as a couple — married, in a registered partnership, or simply sharing finances — you will likely want a joint account at some point.

Which banks offer joint accounts

All three main Dutch retail banks offer joint accounts:

ING: a second account holder costs €1.20 a month on ING Go and is included on the other ING plans (ing.nl, read 1 October 2026).

ABN AMRO: offers a joint account; its account-opening page links to “Open a joint account” (abnamro.nl, read 1 October 2026).

Rabobank: has a dedicated service for international customers, with expat locations in Amsterdam and Eindhoven (rabobank.nl, read 1 October 2026). Ask Rabobank directly about a joint account.

Bunq: offers a Joint Account; each partner gets their own card, which can be linked to the joint account for shared expenses (bunq.com, read 1 October 2026).

Wise: Wise states that personal Wise accounts cannot be opened in joint names (wise.com, read 1 October 2026).

Documents needed for a joint account

• A valid ID document for each account holder
• The BSN of each account holder, now or within the bank’s deadline (ING: 90 days for non-EEA passport holders; ABN AMRO: 120 days)
• Proof of address for each account holder, as the bank asks for it
• Check the joint-account page of your bank for its exact steps

Practical notes for couples

A common situation: one partner arrives first, registers, gets their BSN, and opens an individual account. The second partner arrives later and goes through the same process. The newly arrived partner can also open their own account first, since ING and ABN AMRO let you hand in the BSN after opening.

You do not both need to arrive at the same time to open a joint account eventually; check the bank’s joint-account conditions for when the second holder’s BSN is needed.

If you want a shared account before that, bunq’s Joint Account is one app-based option, subject to bunq’s own eligibility rules.

Dutch Bank Accounts for International Students

If you are coming to the Netherlands as an international student, your banking situation is slightly different from that of a working expat.

The student BSN question

Students who stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months register with the municipality where they will live and receive a BSN, just like working expats. Some universities help with registration appointments; check your university’s international office.

If you stay for 4 months or less, you can register as a non-resident in the Non-residents Records Database (RNI) at an RNI municipality, and you also get a BSN (government.nl, read 1 October 2026).

ING Student Account

ING has a separate section of its site for students. The account-opening rules above apply (ING App, 18 or older, BSN now or within 90 days for non-EEA passport holders). Check ING’s student page for the current student conditions before you choose a plan; ING Go costs €4.00 a month.

Bunq for students

Bunq lets you open an account before your BSN arrives (tax ID within 90 days of signup), and bunq Free costs €0.00 a month.

University partnerships and on-campus banking

Some universities point international students to specific banks or arrangements. Check your university’s international student services page before you choose.

Practical recommendation for students

1. Open Wise before you arrive if you need a euro IBAN straight away, for a stipend or a rent payment; Wise gives you EUR account details once it has verified you
2. Register at the gemeente (or use your university’s group registration if available) and get your BSN
3. Open a Dutch bank account, for example at ING or ABN AMRO (both let you start before the BSN arrives), or bunq
4. Keep Wise open for international transfers, especially if you are receiving money from your home country

For a more detailed comparison of banking options for students and young expats, see the best Dutch bank accounts for students and young expats.

Dutch Bank Accounts for Non-Residents

Short answer: the big Dutch banks tie the account to living here (ABN AMRO requires an official Dutch home address; ING requires the BSN and a Dutch address within 90 days for non-EEA passport holders). What works instead for a non-resident is an account opened online: Wise’s EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address), or an app-based bank that supports your country of residence.

This is one of the harder banking questions for the Netherlands. If you do not live in the Netherlands — either because you have not yet moved, you are a frequent visitor, or you are a foreign business owner with Dutch clients — your options are more limited than for residents.

What “non-resident” means in Dutch banking

If you are not registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP), you have no Dutch home address on record and, unless you registered as a non-resident (RNI), no BSN. That rules out ABN AMRO, which requires an official home address in the Netherlands, and ING’s route only works if you can provide a Dutch address (and, with a non-EEA passport, your BSN) within 90 days.

Wise: the realistic non-resident option

For non-residents, Wise is an option that does not depend on Dutch registration. You can:

• Hold and send EUR with a European IBAN
• Pay Dutch suppliers, landlords, and services
• Receive payments in EUR from Dutch clients

Wise asks for ID and sometimes proof of address; its verification guide does not mention a Dutch address or BSN.

Open a Wise Account as a Non-Resident →

Revolut for non-residents

Revolut assigns your account by country of residence: according to Revolut Help, customers resident in the Netherlands customers resident in the Netherlands will now have their accounts migrated to this branch and receive a Dutch IBAN. If you live elsewhere, check which Revolut entity and IBAN your country gets. Revolut also offers business accounts.

N26 and bunq limitations for non-residents

bunq accepts EEA citizens who live in one of its supported EEA countries, and links your account to the country where you are a tax resident (help.bunq.com, read 1 October 2026). N26 says that for its Netherlands route you need a valid address in the Netherlands and a valid photo ID, and that you get a German IBAN (n26.com, read 1 October 2026). Neither is a route for someone living outside the countries they support.

Non-residents running Dutch businesses

If you are a non-resident operating a registered Dutch business (eenmanszaak, BV, or similar), you will likely need a Dutch business bank account eventually. This is a specialist area — see the non-resident business bank account guide for the Netherlands for the full picture, including which banks accept non-resident business clients.

Opening a Dutch Business Bank Account (Including from Overseas)

Short answer: a Dutch business account (zakelijke rekening) is for a company registered with the KVK, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, and the bank will ask for your KVK extract. If you are living abroad and the company has no Dutch presence yet, expect extra questions; a Wise Business account is an alternative you apply for online.

If you live in the Netherlands (freelancer, eenmanszaak, or BV)

This is the straightforward case. Your nationality is not what the bank looks at; it checks your identity, the KVK registration and the UBOs.

What you need:

• KVK extract (uittreksel Handelsregister), usually no older than a few months
• Valid passport or EU ID card for every director and every ultimate beneficial owner (UBO)
• Your BSN and your Dutch business address
• For a BV: the notarial deed of incorporation and the shareholder structure

Business accounts have their own price lists. bunq, for example, lists its business plans at €0.00 (Free), €7.99 (Core), €13.99 (Pro) and €23.99 (Elite) a month (help.bunq.com, read 1 October 2026). ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank and bunq all offer business accounts; compare the current business tariffs on their own sites.

Our dedicated guide covers the comparison in detail: Dutch business bank account for zzp’ers and freelancers.

If you are opening from overseas as a non-resident

This is genuinely harder, and it is worth knowing why before you start.

Dutch banks apply the Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme (Wwft), the Dutch anti-money-laundering act. Under it, the bank has to identify the directors and the ultimate beneficial owners and understand the purpose of the account. For a company whose directors live outside the Netherlands, the bank has to do that remotely, which means more questions. In practice:

• A KVK registration comes first. You cannot apply for a Dutch business account for a company that does not yet exist in the Handelsregister. Setting up a BV starts with a notarial deed drawn up by a civil-law notary (kvk.nl, read 1 October 2026).
• Expect identification requests. The bank decides how directors and UBOs must identify themselves; ask before you apply.
• Allow time. Business onboarding takes longer than opening a private account; ask the bank for its current timeline.
• Explain the purpose. Dutch customers or suppliers and a clear reason for needing a Dutch account help the bank understand the file.

The practical route most overseas founders take

Wise Business is one route for non-resident founders. The application runs online, and you get EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address) that you can invoice Dutch clients with. Wise lists “All-in voor 60 EUR” (all in for 60 EUR), one set-up fee for its Wise Business features (wise.com/nl/pricing/business, read 1 October 2026). Check Wise’s own eligibility rules for your business type and country before applying.

Open a Wise Business Account Online →

Revolut Business is another app-based alternative.

What Wise cannot do: give you iDEAL (Wise is not on iDEAL’s list of issuers) or lend to your business, since it is a payment institution, not a bank. A Dutch counterparty may not refuse your BE IBAN under the SEPA Regulation, but when you need iDEAL or credit, apply to a Dutch bank with your KVK extract in hand.

For the full picture on which banks accept non-resident business clients, see the non-resident business bank account guide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting until after you have a BSN to open anything. ABN AMRO lets you open an account before the BSN arrives (you must be registered at a Dutch address and provide the BSN within 120 days), and Wise can give you a euro IBAN before you are registered, once it has verified you.

Not having proof of address ready. ABN AMRO asks you to upload proof of residence as the last step of opening, and ING asks non-EEA passport holders for a Dutch address within 90 days. Register at the gemeente early and check which proof your bank accepts.

Applying to several banks at once without a plan. Each bank runs its own identity checks and asks its own follow-up questions. It is simpler to finish one application, see the outcome, then try another if needed.

Assuming your salary needs an NL IBAN. Under the SEPA Regulation a Dutch employer may not refuse a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country; De Nederlandsche Bank calls that IBAN discrimination. An account outside the EU/EEA or in another currency is a different matter, so sort out a euro IBAN before your first pay date.

Underestimating the registration step. You register within 5 days of arrival if you stay more than 4 months (government.nl), and appointments depend on your municipality. Book as early as you can. The BSN planner tool helps you plan the steps.

Which Bank Should You Open First?

This depends on your situation:

Just arrived, no BSN yet: ING lets you open an account before the BSN arrives (non-EEA passport holders provide it within 90 days), and if you already have an official Dutch home address, ABN AMRO lets you open and hand in the BSN within 120 days. Wise gives verified customers EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address) in the meantime.

Want an NL IBAN from day one: Bunq gives accounts opened in the Netherlands an NL IBAN and 90 days after signup to add your tax ID.

Want a standard Dutch bank: ING Go costs €4.00 a month; ING says its account opening is fully available in English.

Want a basic package with the extras you choose: ABN AMRO’s Basic Payment Package costs €4.30 a month and includes one debit card (abnamro.nl, read 1 October 2026).

International student: ING or ABN AMRO once you can open (both allow the BSN later), with Wise covering a euro IBAN in the meantime.

Non-resident or moving from abroad: Wise is the route that does not depend on Dutch registration; ING’s route lets you start with your current address if you will provide a Dutch address in time.

On an expat package: ask your employer or relocation contact whether the package includes help with opening a bank account.

For a full side-by-side comparison of every major option, use the bank account comparison tool — it filters by your situation, fee tolerance, and whether you need a BSN or not.

The longer read, comparing fees, apps and customer support, is the best bank accounts for expats in the Netherlands.

Conclusion

The process of opening a bank account in the Netherlands is not difficult, but it has a specific order that matters.

Open Wise first if you need a euro IBAN before you fly. Register at the gemeente as early as possible for your BSN. Open a Dutch bank account (ING and ABN AMRO let you start before the BSN arrives) and use it for iDEAL.

A practical tip: keep your IBAN at hand when you land. Your letting agent, your employer’s HR department and your health insurer will ask for it early on.

Looking for more on managing money as an expat in the Netherlands? See the complete guide to moving to the Netherlands, the best international money transfer services, our review of the best savings accounts for expats, and the Wise vs Revolut vs Bunq three-way comparison if you are deciding between the digital options.