Opening a Dutch business bank account is one of the first practical steps after registering with the Kamer van Koophandel (KVK).
Most providers will ask for that KVK number before they let a freelancer or small business open an account, so it helps to have registration sorted first -- see the Amsterdam ZZP Setup Guide For Freelancers for that process.
Once the business is registered, the choice is mostly between app-based neobanks built for speed and one of the traditional Dutch banks built for in-person service.
The right one depends on how much a business trades internationally, whether it has staff, and whether English-language support matters.
Finom: fast setup, no BSN needed
Finom stands out for freelancers because it does not require a Dutch BSN to register, and the account itself is free.
It bundles in invoicing tools, cashback of up to 3%, and international payments to more than 150 countries.
bunq: the feature-heavy option
bunq’s AutoVAT tool sets aside VAT automatically as payments come in, and the app supports tap-to-pay on both iPhone and Android.
Most of its invoicing and bookkeeping integrations sit behind a paid plan rather than the free tier.
Revolut: built for foreign clients
Revolut lets a business hold cash in more than 25 currencies and spend in around 150, which suits freelancers billing clients outside the Netherlands.
It also includes budget and expense-tracking tools aimed at small teams watching costs.
Qonto: for businesses with a team
Qonto is built around managing several people’s spending at once, with sub-accounts and custom permissions per team member.
It also lets a business upload its full product or service catalogue so invoices can be generated in a few clicks rather than built from scratch each time.
N26: a free account with deposit protection
N26’s free plan gives monthly breakdowns of all payments and 0.1% cashback on purchases, backed by the EU-wide deposit guarantee of up to €100,000.
The trade-off is that the free tier does not come with a physical card, though its software still helps prepare invoices and tax returns.
ABN Amro: the traditional route
For freelancers who want a physical branch and a human on the phone, ABN Amro offers six months free for ZZP’ers before its standard fees apply.
Customer support runs 24/7, though not all of its materials are available in English, which is worth checking before committing if English-language service matters.
Anyone weighing a neobank against a traditional bank for everyday transfers, not just business banking, can compare the options in the Amsterdam Banking Guide for Expats.
What accounting software needs to connect
A business bank account is only half the administration.
To get accounting software running, a freelancer generally needs the KVK number, a BTW (VAT) number -- which is normally issued automatically once KVK registration goes through -- and a Dutch address, which can be a home address.
With those in place, the software can connect to the bank account and start pulling in live transactions.
What the software actually costs
Prices vary widely by how much bookkeeping the software is expected to do beyond basic invoicing.
- UurKlus -- from €5/month, English and Dutch, built around time tracking and invoicing with voice-message logging
- Moneybird -- from €15/month, available in English and Dutch
- SnelStart -- from €15/month, Dutch-language only, scales from basic invoicing and VAT filing up to fuller bookkeeping
- Exact Online -- from €39/month, English and Dutch, combines bookkeeping, invoicing, bank feeds and reporting with optional payroll and HR modules
- AFAS SB -- from €59/month, Dutch-language only
All of these are cloud-based, so the books stay accessible from anywhere and VAT returns can be prepared straight from the same data before filing with the Belastingdienst.
For a closer look at which of these tools freelancers in Amsterdam actually stick with day to day, see Accounting Software Dutch Freelancers Actually Use.
Getting help with the bookkeeping itself
Software handles the mechanics, but VAT rules and annual tax filings still trip up a lot of freelancers in their first year.
The Amsterdam ZZP Accountants Guide For Freelancers covers when it’s worth paying an accountant instead of filing solo.
