Finance apps for expats in the Netherlands vary based on their use case and can range from traditional digital banking to investment, budgeting and payment applications. Moving to a new country requires adapting to a unique system and this article covers the main applications every expat needs in the Netherlands and accommodates regional nuances.
How to select investment apps in the Netherlands
Choosing finance apps for expats in the Netherlands means looking at what’s available in the market, how people in the country use them, and which ones are the most affordable in terms of fees, asset availability and minimum deposits. Users should look for platforms based on their experience.
Beginners benefit from simple interfaces and easy ways to access investing and even robo-investing. Experienced investors can look for apps with more features, tiered fee structures and global access to investment opportunities.
One important consideration is transaction costs, which directly impact long-term returns. This is something most users omit and can influence their returns in the long run. Additionally, accessibility determines how consistently you manage investments. For many, apps such as DEGIRO are some of the more recognizable investment applications in the Netherlands for expats and locals.
The Dutch digital asset landscape
The finance sector is highly digitized in the Netherlands. Access to ETFs, cryptocurrencies and even high-yield products like Yieldfund are all made available through digital platforms. These are easy to use across the Netherlands and even across borders. Dutch financial authorities such as the AFM have strict oversight, ensuring finance applications operating within the country are safe to use.
In the Netherlands, digital payments are strongly preferred. Between 86-87% of all payments are digital, while only 13% of payments are made in cash. Thus, expats in the Netherlands need to get accustomed to not only investing apps but also traditional financial applications to make payments.
In the Netherlands, approximately 70-80% of payments are fully digitized with a growing number of retail entities shifting to card-only payments. Having access to financial applications is then becoming more important than ever.
Understanding iDEAL for transactions
iDEAL is the national standard for online payments in the Netherlands. It functions as a direct bank transfer system that securely connects digital merchants with your personal banking app. You cannot effectively shop online, pay utility bills, or fund local investment accounts without access to this payment gateway.
The system works by redirecting you to your bank’s secure environment during a checkout process. Once you select iDEAL as your payment method, you authenticate the transaction using your bank’s specific login method, such as a PIN or fingerprint. The merchant receives instant confirmation of the payment, allowing for immediate processing of your order or service.
Key app categories for European investors
Digital banking apps
Banking apps are the foundational financial applications for expats in the Netherlands. They provide access to essential services such as rent, accessing local payment networks, salaries, and even taxes.
A bank account is mandatory for expats in the Netherlands and some of the global banking leaders are Dutch-based. Companies such as ING and ABN Amro are some of the traditional banks in the area. Other neo-banks are also available that include Revolut, Bunq, or the German N26.
To access banking services, expats are required to have a Dutch Citizen Service Number (BSN) which helps them issue their first IBAN account.
Digital payment apps
Digital payment applications are the extension of any finance or banking application, allowing expats to turn their phones into a primary wallet. Apple Pay and Google Pay are all integrated with major Dutch banks such as ING, ABN AMRO, or Bunq.
In social situations, payment requests are used similar to payment apps. Tikkie is a mandatory app which has processed over 1 billion requests since launching in 2016. Digital apps can be used in both regular and retail situations with banks providing the necessary infrastructure to process payments.
Investing and crypto apps
Investment applications allow expats to access both the local and global investment market. These platforms connect retail investors to ETFs, bonds, digital currencies, cryptocurrencies, and equities all from within a single platform.
With growing regulation, neo-banks like Bunq and Revolut now make investing social and accessible to a wider audience. However, traditional investing applications for expats in the Netherlands include DEGIRO, which is a regulated investment application with access to global stocks, ETFs, and crypto. Other examples include Trade Republic which is regulated in the Netherlands.
For crypto-only investments, users could opt for Coinbase, OKX, or Kraken. The downside of the crypto-only applications is that users can only access crypto assets on the platform with no cross-investing.
Budgeting apps
Budgeting apps help expats track multiple income streams, cross-border expenses, and specific local tax allowances. Standard international apps often fail to sync with Dutch banks, but Revolut has built-in systems that are slightly limited to help with budgeting.
In our 2026 overview of the top budgeting apps, Dutch expats can use Monarch Money or YNAB to budget effectively and plan around their yearly or monthly spending in the Netherlands. Another alternative is Lunch Money which is designed for the Dutch market.
The Dutch financial stack
As a Dutch expat, it’s important to have all the right information to access finance apps for expats in the Netherlands securely. Whether it’s finance, investing, or budgeting, using applications regulated by the AFM provides a higher level of security.
Digital payment infrastructures are necessary to structure your salary, make sure taxes are accounted for, and you can easily navigate all social situations. If you are new to investing and want to invest without learning how to trade, Yieldfund, a quantitative trading company, provides yearly returns of up to 48% and weekly payments directly to yourUSDC wallet.
