Expats in Amsterdam usually end up juggling two currencies: a Dutch salary in euros and bills, family or savings back home in something else.
A regular Dutch bank account can send that money, but it is rarely the cheapest route.
Why Traditional Banks Cost More
ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank all offer international transfers, but they typically add a margin to the exchange rate on top of a transfer fee.
Within the euro area this barely matters: EU rules require a euro transfer to another SEPA country to be treated the same as a domestic one, so it is usually free or close to it.
The extra cost shows up once the money changes currency, such as sending euros to a UK, US or Canadian account.
How Wise Works
Wise converts money at the mid-market exchange rate, the same one shown on Google, rather than folding a hidden margin into a worse rate.
The fee is shown as a separate, upfront number before the transfer is confirmed, so there is nothing to discover afterward.
A Wise account also comes with a European IBAN, useful for receiving a salary or setting up direct debits, plus a debit card for spending abroad in the local currency without a conversion markup.
It operates as a regulated payment institution under EU financial supervision, not an unlicensed app.
Anyone still setting up their financial life in the city can check the Amsterdam Banking Guide for Expats for what a standard Dutch bank account requires and how it compares.
Bunq And Other Dutch-Based Options
Bunq is an Amsterdam-headquartered digital bank built around its app rather than branches.
It issues a full Dutch IBAN and lets users hold and switch between several currencies in sub-accounts, which suits anyone paid or spending in more than one currency.
Because it holds a banking license rather than operating purely as a payments company, it can work as a main current account, not just a tool for occasional transfers abroad.
That distinction matters most in the first months in the city, when a landlord, employer or the gemeente may expect a Dutch account number.
The Amsterdam Expat Starter Guide for Your First Months covers what has to be arranged before that happens.
Other Apps Worth Knowing
Revolut and N26 both operate in the Netherlands and offer multi-currency cards aimed at people who travel or spend abroad often.
PayPal can also move money internationally, but its currency conversion typically carries a wider margin than a dedicated transfer service.
None of these fully replace a Dutch bank account for anything tied to a BSN, such as payroll or utility direct debits.
Newcomers Without a Dutch Credit History
Anyone who has not opened a Dutch bank account yet, or is still waiting on a BSN, still needs a way to pay for everyday things.
The guide to prepaid cards in the Netherlands covers options that do not require Dutch credit history while a bank account or Wise account gets set up.
For Freelancers Sending Payments Abroad
Self-employed residents paying overseas suppliers or receiving payments from clients abroad face the same exchange-rate question, just on business income.
The guide to business bank accounts in the Netherlands looks at options built for freelancers and small businesses specifically.
Which One Fits
For occasional transfers between the Netherlands and a home country, Wise’s visible rate and fee make it the easiest to compare against a bank before sending.
For someone who wants one app to act as a full current account across currencies, Bunq’s status as a licensed bank is the practical difference.
A traditional Dutch bank still makes sense as the account tied to payroll, rent and Dutch direct debits, with Wise or Bunq used alongside it for money that crosses borders.
Getting Set Up
Opening any of these accounts happens directly through the provider’s own app or website, using a passport or ID and proof of address.
None of it runs through a Dutch government office, so no municipal appointment is required, only the provider’s own identity check.
