Opening a Dutch bank account
As an international student at Erasmus University Rotterdam, opening a Dutch bank account might come in handy. Sometimes your own bank account from your home country won't suffice. You need a Dutch bank account for the following situations:
If you want to activate automatic monthly payments of your tuition fee;
(Please note: a different payment procedure applies for NON-EEA students, who have to apply for an entry visa and/or residence permit.)- If you want to get an phone plan where you fulfill the payment per month;
- or if you want your immigration deposit to get reimbursed.
Opening a Dutch bank account can be done at several banks. The three most well-known banks are ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank. Below you can find information about opening a bank account at each bank. For more information about the banks, please click on the links in the left column or visit them at the One Stop Shop during the orientation programmes, if they are present.
(Opening a bank account at the One Stop Shop is not applicable to International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) students. You’ll be informed by ISS staff on this matter.)
Dutch banks
| Bank | Cost | Necessary documents for opening a bank account | Account activation | Bank Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €1.40 per month |
| Immediately | 3-4 working days | |
| Rabobank | €1,40 per month |
| Immediately | 5 working days |
| ING | €4,35 every 3 months |
| Immediately | With BSN: immediately Without BSN: within a week |
| bunq | €7,99/month. Free 1 month trial. No strings attached. |
| Immediately | 3 Cards of choice (Maestro/Mastercard)/ 3-5 working days |
| Triodos |
|
| Immediately | 5 working days |
| Knab* |
|
| Immediately | 3-5 working days |
*BSN-number = citizen number. The BSN-number will be issued by the municipality upon registration.
** The Knab webpage is in Dutch, but feel free to reach out for help through their helpdesk.
Photo: ABN AMRO during the One Stop Shop on campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Overall there are no huge differences between the 5 mentioned banks. Nevertheless, the banks do differ in some ways. Some examples:
- ABN AMRO provides all communication in English, in contrary to the other banks;
- On the other hand, ING Bank is able to provide you with a temporary card way faster;
- Triodos bank is focusing more on sustainability and less on profit;
- With bunq’s Premium membership you get a choice of 3 cards (Maestro and/or Mastercard). The app is available in Dutch, German, Italian, French, Spanish and English. And realtime support is available in English. Since the last update bunq added products especially for internationals: TransferWise in the app: 8 times cheaper international payments. Or ZeroFX: save up to 3% when using your card for other currencies.
As you can see: each bank has its own pros and cons. So what to choose then? Pick a bank either close to your accommodation (so it's easier to visit the bank during office hours) or choose a bank where registration is made quite easy, like registering on campus during the One Stop Shop.