7 Best Travel Money Tips If You're Heading to the Netherlands in 2024

Tip 1: Take a prepaid travel card

Your number one priority should be having convenient and secure ways to pay for things in euros while you’re in the Netherlands. Using your bank debit card could mean paying foreign transaction fees - and relying on your credit cards can add in extra costs like cash advance fees when you get cash. As an alternative, you could choose a prepaid travel card which lets you top up in pounds, to spend and withdraw in euros easily and with low overall costs.

Let’s look at a couple of good prepaid travel card options you might want to consider: Wise and Revolut.

Wise accounts are opened and managed online or through the Wise app, making them easy to use while you’re away. You can top up in pounds and hold, send, spend and exchange 40+ currencies including EUR. There’s a small fee to get your Wise card, but then no ongoing costs, and you can use your card in 150+ countries globally.

There’s no foreign transaction fee to pay, and when you convert currencies in the Wise app, or spend with your Wise card you’ll get the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.43%.

Pros:

• Accounts are free to open, and can be managed with just your phone

• Currency conversion uses the mid-market rate, fees can be as low as 0.43%

• Order your card for home delivery, and start using your virtual card instantly

• Convert in advance or let the card automatically switch to euros when you pay

• Get some fee free ATM withdrawals every month

Cons:

• You’ll need to pay a one time fee to get your card in the first place

• Some transaction fees apply, including ATM fees once you’ve exhausted your fee free allowance

Read Wise review

You can hold and exchange EUR alongside 25+ other currencies, and get both a physical and virtual card for easy spending and withdrawals. The features you get with your Revolut account depend on the account type you pick - but all plans have  some currency conversion which uses the mid-market rate, and some no-fee ATM withdrawals, too.

Pros:

• Varied account plans that suit different customer needs and spending habits

• Hold and exchange 29 currencies including pounds and euros

• All accounts have some currency conversion which uses the mid-market exchange rate with no extra fee

• Physical and virtual card options available

• Higher account tiers have lots of extras and perks including cash back and airport lounge access

Cons:

• Fees apply for some account tiers

• Out of hours and fair usage fees may apply depending on how you use your account

• No branch network for face to face service

  Read Revolut review

Tip 2: Be careful when exchanging money at the airport

Airport currency exchange is convenient, but can also be a very expensive choice regardless if you are in the UK or the Netherlands. Don’t get your holiday off to a bad start by getting caught out by poor rates and high fees - do some research and plan your travel to the Netherlands in advance.

Airport money changing services often have pretty high overall costs as there’s little competition. Some airport money exchange kiosks offer the option to order in advance for airport collection, which may get you a better exchange rate compared to just turning up. However, comparing both the exchange rates and fees available is essential - as you’ll often find extra charges are rolled up in the rates used, in the form of a markup.

Having some euros in your pocket when you arrive in the Netherlands is reassuring - but you may be better off if you hold on, and make an ATM withdrawal when you get to your destination.

Tip 3: Have different payment methods with you

Wherever you’re travelling, having several different methods of payment with you is a smart idea. You’ll then be able to manage even if a card is declined or cash is misplaced.

Depending on your personal preferences you might choose from a combination of:

• A prepaid travel card

• Your bank debit or credit card

• Some cash in pounds you can exchange if you need to

• A small amount of euros

  If you want to take cash, think about how to keep it safe - using a hotel safe or money belt for example. And if you’re using mainly cards, pick one or two on different networks, such as Visa, Mastercard and Amex, for the best available coverage.

Tip 4: Pay in local currency when using your card

If you’re asked at the point of payment if you’d rather pay in pounds instead of euros just say no.

This is a sign of something called dynamic currency conversion (DCC), which allows the merchant or ATM operator to dictate the exchange rate used to switch your pounds to euros. That almost always means a worse rate and higher overall costs than you would have got if you’d paid in euros and let your own card issuer do the conversion.

One easy way to avoid DCC is to get a Wise prepaid travel card. You can add money to your digital Wise account in pounds and either convert to euros at the touch of a button, or just let the card’s autoconvert technology make the conversion for you. That way you’ll always know you’re paying in the local currency, wherever you are.

Tip 5: Beware when making ATM withdrawals

We’ve already touched on the fact that using an ATM to get your euros is a convenient and cost effective option. However, you do still need to look out for a few things.

Double check all the fees which apply to your specific card when you make an international ATM withdrawal. These can include foreign transaction fees and cash advance fees, as well as international ATM charges from your bank or card issuer.

Always pay in the local currency - so euros in this case - so you stay away from DCC.

And finally, remember that too much money in cash is a risk. We’ll elaborate on that, next.

Tip 6: Avoid taking too much cash with you

You’ll definitely want some cash - but making ATM withdrawals is safer than carrying everything you need for your travel right from day 1.

Once you’re at the ATM, getting smaller amounts of euros in cash as and when you need to is safer than a single large withdrawal - just check the costs that apply for each transaction. If they’re high, consider getting a low cost prepaid travel card from a service like Wise or Revolut which offer some no-fee ATM withdrawals every month.

Generally, having a small amount of cash, plus one or more cards, and using the hotel's safe box for all your cash and valuables when you can is the best route.

Tip 7: Book luggage when you buy your flight tickets

Short haul flights often mean using budget airlines - which have great ticket deals but less than great luggage allowances.

Plan your packing carefully for yout trip to the Netherlands, and buy any extra capacity you need in advance - hold luggage prices at the airport are usually much higher than when your luggage is booked in advance online.

Best place to get Dutch currency from?

For most travellers, arranging euros will mean a combination of some or all of the following: buying euros in the UK, taking some pounds to convert on arrival, and carrying one or more credit, debit or prepaid travel cards.

Picking a mix of these solutions is usually a good approach. You won’t need to carry all your budget in cash, and you can use a card for many transactions for more convenient spending.

Getting a travel card from a provider like Wise and Revolut is a good supplement to using your bank card in the Netherlands. Prepaid travel cards are convenient, secure and flexible. They’re not linked to your bank - which is safe - and optimised for travel use, which can mean lower overall costs.

Learn more about buying euros here.

More travel money tips when heading to the Netherlands

Let’s take a look at a few more sensible steps to take to make sure your holiday in the Netherlands goes to plan - and stays below your budget.

Get travel insurance

Get travel insurance which covers you for medical problems and also in case of baggage, documents and valuables being lost while you’re away.

While UK citizens travelling to the Netherlands can get a GHIC - the Global Health Insurance Card which replaced the EHIC post-Brexit, this isn’t designed to cover all eventualities. Look at buying a private travel insurance policy for peace of mind and to extend the medical services you can access, as well as adding in coverage for your belongings.

Many different travel insurance companies exist, with a broad range of packages including single trip cover and annual cover, at different price points and with different features. Compare a few to select the right one for you.

Agree on a price before a service starts

You want to enjoy your break, not get ripped off. Make sure you’re very clear before you hand over any money to a tour operator, taxi or someone providing a service, on the final price and exactly what you’re paying for.

One reported scam in Amsterdam, for example, involves a friendly ‘boat owner’ offering you a free ride on the canals. Once you’re on the water - and unable to get off safely - you’ll be asked for money to go back to dry land. Don’t fall foul of tricks like these - if you’re buying a service, check the details before you start. And if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Do your research online, ask your hotel for help making reservations and booking tickets, and double check the final price of any service you agree to.

Beware of pickpocketing

Distracted tourists can fall victim to opportunistic thieves and pickpockets the world over - and the Netherlands is no exception. Exercise common sense precautions as you would in a large city in the UK, and stay aware of your surroundings to be on the safe side.

One useful thing to note is that Amsterdam has recently seen reports of thieves impersonating police officers, who then either ask to search a tourist’s bag or look at their wallet. If a confused tourist complies, items from the bag may be stolen while they’re distracted - or you may be told the notes in your wallet are fake and must be confiscated. Don’t get caught out.

The Netherland prices

Your trip to the Netherlands could be a budget break or a big splurge. There’s plenty there for everyone - so some planning will help you figure out what to do on your specific budget. Let’s look at some key costs.

How much does a trip to the Netherlands cost from the UK?

Flight prices do vary based on the time of year, the carrier and exactly where you’re heading to. However, flights from London (Southend) to Amsterdam booked at the time of research (September 2023), for departure in October 2023 come in at around 55 GBP. You could get to Eindhoven even cheaper - under 35 GBP per person return.

Carriers to look out for include Ryanair and Easyjet, which both have low cost routes from and to various locations in the Netherlands.

Accommodation

Accommodation costs in the Netherlands are very varied. From a hostel in the big cities, to top tier luxury, and with options for coastal and countryside places too, there’s plenty to pick.

For the trip we mentioned above (flying in October, booking in September 2023), Amsterdam hostels are around 40 GBP upwards per night, and you could get hotel accommodation in Amsterdam from around 100 GBP a night, to well over 400 GBP a night for top end places. Book in advance for the best deals.

Restaurant prices in the Netherlands

Let’s stick with our trip to Amsterdam for this example. In Amsterdam, you’ll find that the average cost of a 3 course meal for 2 in a mid-range restaurant is about 70 GBP. However, bear in mind that Amsterdam is one of the more expensive places you could visit, and prices elsewhere in the Netherlands may be more budget friendly.

Compare the costs with the specific location in the Netherlands you’re planning visiting, with Numbeo.com.

FAQ - travel money tips for the Netherlands

1. What is the safest way to take money to the Netherlands?

There’s no single best or safest way to take money to the Netherlands. However, carrying too much cash is an obvious risk and should be avoided. Using a low cost travel card to make ATM withdrawals as and when you need to is a good way to balance safety and convenience when you travel to the Netherlands.

2. Should I exchange money before I travel to the Netherlands?

   There’s no need to exchange money before you go to the Netherlands if you don’t want to. You can make an ATM withdrawal at the airport on arrival - which can be a good deal if you get a travel card from a provider like Wise or Revolut, which can offer good exchange rates and low overall costs.

3. Is it better to use cash or card in the Netherlands?

You’ll often be able to use your card in the Netherlands, but having some cash on hand is handy for things like shopping in markets and tipping. Generally having one or two cards including a prepaid travel card, and a little cash is a sensible move as you’ll always have a back up if one payment method isn’t possible.