Best bank accounts for international students in the Netherlands

But you do not necessarily need a Dutch bank account just because you study in the Netherlands. If you already have an account in another EU country, companies cannot simply refuse your IBAN for SEPA transfers or direct debits because it comes from another EU Member State. That would be IBAN discrimination.

In practice, however, a Dutch account can still be convenient. And if you are coming from outside the euro area, opening one can also save you from relying entirely on your home-country account.

The main question for many international students is therefore not just which bank is cheapest, but:

• can you open the account before you receive your BSN?

• do you need a Dutch address?

• which ID documents are accepted?

• do you get a Dutch IBAN?

• can you receive salary and pay bills?

• does the bank offer English support?

• and what happens if you travel or send money abroad?

We compared the most relevant options for international students in the Netherlands.

Last checked: 6 October 2026.

Quick comparison: Dutch bank accounts for international students

There is no single best bank for every international student. Your best option depends heavily on whether you already have your BSN, your age, your residence documents and whether you mainly need a Dutch everyday account or an international travel account.

Which bank account should you choose?

If you have just arrived and do not have a BSN yet, ABN AMRO and bunq currently have the clearest publicly documented options. Both explicitly say that eligible customers can begin without a BSN and provide it later.

If you already have your BSN and are between 18 and 28, Rabo Free is a strong free option without a student-status requirement.

If international transfers, foreign currencies and travelling are especially important, Revolut can be attractive. Revolut Standard has no monthly subscription fee and Dutch customers can receive a local IBAN, salary payments and use direct debits.

And if you want a traditional student account at a large Dutch bank, both ABN AMRO and ING have free student products, subject to their eligibility rules.

Do international students need a Dutch bank account?

Not always. If you already have a euro account with an IBAN from another EU country, you can legally use it for SEPA transfers and direct debits. A company that accepts Dutch IBANs for these transactions is not allowed to reject yours just because the account is in another EU Member State.

Still, a Dutch account can make life easier when you:

• start a part-time job in the Netherlands;

• pay rent and utilities;

• use recurring direct debits;

• receive payment requests from Dutch friends;

• want a local Dutch IBAN;

• prefer to keep your Dutch spending separate;

• regularly convert money from your home currency.

If your existing European account works perfectly for everything you need, you do not have to open a second account simply because you moved here.

What is a BSN and do you need one for a bank account?

Your BSN — burgerservicenummer or citizen service number — is your personal number for dealing with Dutch government organisations.

If you are going to live in the Netherlands for more than four months, you must register with the municipality where you live. Government.nl says you should do this within five days of arriving. When you register in the Personal Records Database (BRP), you receive your BSN.

Are you staying for four months or less? You can register as a non-resident instead and can also receive a BSN through the Non-residents Records Database.

Banks ultimately need tax-identification information for regulatory purposes. But that does not mean every bank requires your BSN on the first day. That difference is particularly useful for international students.

Can you open a Dutch bank account without a BSN?

Yes, at some banks.

ABN AMRO without a BSN

ABN AMRO currently states explicitly that eligible applicants can open a bank account without a BSN. For its Student Account, the bank says you must provide your BSN within 90 days after opening. You also need an official address in the Netherlands and a valid supported ID.

If you use a non-Dutch passport or ID, ABN AMRO may ask for proof that you live in the Netherlands. Interestingly for international students, a certificate of enrolment from a Dutch university or school is one of the documents ABN AMRO lists as possible proof of residence.

Open your ABN bank account

bunq without a BSN

bunq also explicitly allows customers to start without a BSN and provide it within 90 days. Its current Dutch bunq Free page advertises this as part of the opening process.

You can even begin the bunq sign-up process while you are still abroad. If you currently live outside the EEA, bunq says you can select the supported EEA country you are moving to and continue the onboarding process when you move.

Open your bunq bank account

Rabobank without a BSN

This is different. Rabobank's current public account-opening information says that you cannot open a payment account online without a BSN and tells customers to obtain one through the municipality first.

Revolut and ING without a BSN

Both are relevant options for internationals, but we would be more cautious here.

Revolut offers Dutch accounts through its Netherlands branch, but the current public Dutch information we checked does not provide the same explicit “open now and give us your BSN within X days” promise that ABN AMRO and bunq publish.

ING has dedicated English expat onboarding and a free Student Account, but its current public English onboarding flow is heavily app-based and does not provide a sufficiently clear public no-BSN rule for us to label ING as a confirmed no-BSN option.

If opening an account before you receive your BSN is essential, ABN AMRO and bunq currently provide the clearest published routes.

ABN AMRO Student Account: traditional Dutch bank with a no-BSN route

ABN AMRO is one of the most obvious traditional-bank options for international students.

Its Student Account is free and includes:

• a current account;

• debit card;

• mobile and internet banking;

• Apple Pay and Google Pay;

• a Dutch bank account for everyday payments.

ABN AMRO says its current Student Package is for eligible students aged 18 up to and including 24. Its English product information also states that the account is intended for students receiving a student loan, vocational/work compensation or study allowance into their ABN AMRO Student Account.

That last requirement is worth checking if you are an international student who does not receive Dutch student finance or similar income.

Opening ABN AMRO without a BSN

One major advantage for new arrivals is that ABN AMRO explicitly lets eligible applicants start without a BSN.

You need an official Dutch home address and supported identification. When opening the Student Account through the current online route, you must provide the missing BSN within 90 days.

For customers using a non-Dutch ID, the bank also needs proof of residence before the account can be fully used. Accepted documents include municipal BRP registration, certain IND documents and, for students, a signed and stamped certificate of enrolment from a Dutch educational institution.

ABN AMRO says that after completing an eligible application, you can receive the account number within several hours; the physical debit card follows later.

Are you 25 or older?

Then the free Student Account may no longer be available to you under the current 2026 conditions.

ABN AMRO's regular Basic Payment Package costs €4.30 per month and also has a published route for opening without a BSN. That can make it more relevant for older master's, PhD or other international students.

Good fit for: an international student who wants a major Dutch bank, English service and a documented option to start before receiving a BSN.

Open your ABN bank account

bunq Free: useful when you arrive before your BSN

bunq is a Dutch digital bank and can be especially interesting when you want to arrange your banking quickly through your phone. bunq Free currently costs €0 per month and allows you to begin without a BSN, which you then provide later.

If you sign up as a Netherlands-based customer, bunq provides a Dutch IBAN that can be used for salary, direct debits, bills and everyday payments. bunq holds a Dutch banking licence and eligible deposits are covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee up to €100,000 per depositor.

One important bunq Free limitation

bunq Free currently includes a digital card, but no physical card. You can add that card to Apple Pay or Google Pay and use it online or at contactless terminals.

If you specifically want a physical debit or credit card, you need one of bunq's paid plans. bunq Core currently costs €3.99 per month and includes one physical card.

That matters for an international student who wants a physical backup card rather than relying entirely on mobile payments.

Opening before moving to the Netherlands

bunq lets people who are currently outside the EEA start the sign-up process, indicate the supported EEA country they are moving to, and continue when they move.

So if your main problem is “I am arriving soon and do not have my Dutch BSN yet”, bunq is one of the clearest options to investigate. Good fit for: an app-first student who needs a Dutch account quickly, especially while waiting for municipal registration.

Open your bunq bank account

Revolut Standard: strong for international use

Revolut is another logical option for international students, especially if you travel often or regularly deal with more than one currency.

The Standard plan currently has no monthly subscription fee. For Netherlands-branch customers, Revolut provides a local account that can be used to receive salary and pay recurring bills.

Revolut also lets you hold and exchange many currencies in the app, which can be useful when:

• your family transfers money from abroad;

• you travel around Europe;

• you study abroad during part of your degree;

• you still have financial commitments in your home country.

Dutch IBAN

Revolut operates in the Netherlands through the Dutch branch of Revolut Bank UAB. Dutch customers onboarded to this branch can receive a local account for everyday Dutch banking.

If you already use Revolut in another country before moving, do not simply assume that your existing account immediately becomes identical to a new Dutch-branch account. Check your account entity and local account details in the app.

Deposit protection

Revolut's deposit protection is slightly different from that of ABN AMRO, Rabobank, ING or bunq. Deposits at Revolut Bank UAB's Netherlands branch are covered up to €100,000 per depositor, but the scheme is administered by the Lithuanian Public Institution Deposit and Investment Insurance rather than the Dutch DGS.

The protection level is therefore still €100,000 for eligible deposits, but through a different EU national guarantee scheme. DNB explains that branches of banks from other EU countries participate in their home country's deposit-guarantee system.

Good fit for: an international student who values foreign-currency features, travel and international transfers.

Open your Revolut bank account

Rabo Free: free after you have your BSN

Rabobank is particularly relevant for international students who have completed their initial Dutch registration.

Rabo Free costs €0 per month for everyone aged 18 to 28. You do not have to be a student, so taking a gap year, starting work or finishing your degree does not immediately make you ineligible.

The account includes a debit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay and access to the Rabo App. Rabobank's English expat pages state that the app is available in English and also point internationals towards English-speaking support.

BSN required for online opening

At present, Rabobank's public onboarding page says you cannot open a payment account online without a BSN. Get your BSN through municipal registration first.

There is also an ID distinction for online onboarding. Rabobank says customers from the EU/EEA or Switzerland can identify themselves using an accepted passport or identity card. If you are from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, the current online process requires a Dutch foreign-national identity/residence document.

This makes Rabo Free more logical after you have completed the first part of your Dutch administration than as a pre-arrival account.

Good fit for: students aged 18–28 who already have their BSN and required Dutch residence documents and want a free traditional Dutch account.

Open your Rabobank bank account

ING Student Account: another major Dutch student option

ING also offers a free Student Account and maintains dedicated English pages for both students and expats. That makes ING relevant if you want a large traditional Dutch bank rather than an app-only provider.

For this comparison we are deliberately cautious about one point: ING's current English onboarding pages are largely app-driven, and the publicly searchable information we checked does not give us a sufficiently clear no-BSN rule to make the same promise we can verify for ABN AMRO and bunq.

Therefore:

If you already have your BSN: ING is definitely worth checking alongside ABN AMRO and Rabobank.

If you specifically need to open before receiving a BSN: check the current ING app/onboarding requirements before relying on it.

That is better than recycling older international-student advice that may no longer match ING's live onboarding flow.

Open your ING bank account

What documents should you prepare?

Each bank has its own onboarding rules, but as an international student it is sensible to have the following available:

Do not assume that a university acceptance letter automatically replaces every bank requirement. The accepted documentation differs between banks.

Can you open a bank account before arriving in the Netherlands?

Usually, there is a difference between starting an application and having a fully usable Dutch account. bunq explicitly lets people outside the EEA begin the sign-up process and continue when they move to a supported country.

ABN AMRO's international onboarding is designed for customers who have moved or are moving to the Netherlands, but the application requires a Dutch address and the bank needs proof of residence before an account opened with foreign ID can be fully used. Rabobank's online route currently requires your BSN first.

So for most students, this is a realistic sequence:

• Before arrival: prepare your documents and book your municipality appointment.

• After arrival: register, obtain your BSN or begin with a bank that explicitly allows you to provide it later.

• After account opening: update any missing tax/BSN information and move salary and recurring payments when useful.

Your first-week Netherlands checklist

A bank account is only one part of settling in.

1. Register with the municipality

Staying longer than four months? Register as a resident with your municipality within five days of arrival. You will then receive your BSN.

2. Open or finish opening your bank account

If you do not have a BSN yet, check whether ABN AMRO or bunq fits your situation. If you already have your BSN, you can compare the wider set of banks.

3. Apply for DigiD

Once you have your BSN and municipal registration, apply for DigiD. You use DigiD for many Dutch government, education and healthcare services.

To apply from a Dutch registered address, DigiD requires your BSN, your municipality registration address and a mobile phone. The activation code is then sent to your registered address.

4. Check your health-insurance situation

Do not assume that every international student has exactly the same insurance requirement.

Your position can change, especially if you start working in the Netherlands. Government.nl states that people who come to live or work in the Netherlands can become subject to Dutch health-insurance rules. Check the rules that apply to your specific study, work and residence situation.

5. Give your bank details to your employer when necessary

Starting a part-time job? Once your account is ready you can give your employer your IBAN for salary payments.

If your existing account is in another EU Member State, your employer should not reject a valid SEPA account purely because the IBAN is foreign.

Can international students receive salary in a Dutch bank account?

Yes. A normal Dutch current account can receive salary payments. bunq explicitly promotes its Dutch IBAN for salary and direct debits, and Revolut does the same for its Netherlands-branch account. Rabobank also lists receiving salary and paying bills among the normal uses of a Dutch payment account.

That can become relevant quickly if you start a student job, internship or graduate job.

What about DUO?

Do not choose a bank on the assumption that being an international student automatically means you receive Dutch student finance. Eligibility for DUO depends on factors such as your nationality, residence status and sometimes work situation.

If you are eligible for Dutch student finance, you can then arrange the payment details with DUO separately. Your bank choice and your DUO eligibility are two different questions.

Which bank is best for international transfers?

If you mainly receive and spend euros in the Netherlands, international-transfer features may not matter much. If money regularly moves between the Netherlands and your home country, look more closely at:

• supported currencies;

• currency-conversion limits;

• exchange-rate mark-ups;

• international transfer fees;

• ATM fees abroad.

Revolut is particularly focused on holding and exchanging multiple currencies. Its Standard plan currently allows currency exchange within a monthly fair-use allowance, after which additional fees can apply. bunq also offers international and foreign-currency functionality, with different limits depending on the plan.

Traditional Dutch banks also support international transfers, but costs vary depending on currency and destination.

If international use is one of your main reasons for opening another account, compare the actual transfer or FX route you expect to use rather than only the monthly account fee.

Are Dutch bank accounts safe?

Banks operating in the Netherlands are subject to banking and consumer-protection rules, and eligible bank deposits are protected through deposit-guarantee schemes.

At banks with a Dutch banking licence, eligible deposits are generally protected through the Dutch Deposit Guarantee up to €100,000 per person, per bank. DNB administers this scheme.

That applies to Dutch-licensed banks such as bunq; the traditional Dutch banks in this comparison also operate within the Dutch banking system.

Revolut Bank UAB operates its Netherlands branch under a Lithuanian banking licence. Eligible deposits are also protected up to €100,000, but through Lithuania's Deposit and Investment Insurance scheme. This distinction is worth knowing, but it does not mean Revolut deposits are simply "unprotected".

Which account is best for your situation?

You do not have a BSN yet

Look first at ABN AMRO and bunq because both currently publish a specific route for starting without one.

You want a free traditional Dutch student account

ABN AMRO can be attractive if you meet its current student and age conditions. ING also offers a free Student Account.

You already have a BSN and are 18 to 28

Rabo Free is worth considering because it costs €0 per month and does not require you to remain a student.

You travel a lot or use different currencies

Revolut is particularly relevant because its account is built around international use and multiple currencies.

You want a digital Dutch account with several budgeting possibilities

bunq is worth comparing. bunq Free is free and provides multiple bank-account options, although its free plan currently only has a digital card.

You are 25 or older

Do not automatically assume every Dutch student account is available to you. ABN AMRO's current Student Package is limited to active students under 25. Its regular Basic Payment Package is available more broadly but costs €4.30 per month.

This is especially relevant for international master's and PhD students.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best bank account for international students in the Netherlands?

There is no single best option. ABN AMRO and bunq currently have clear published routes for students/new arrivals without a BSN. Rabobank Rabo Free is a free option for 18–28-year-olds once you meet the onboarding requirements. Revolut can be attractive for international transfers and travel, while ING also offers a free Student Account.

Can I open a Dutch bank account without a BSN?

Yes, with some banks. ABN AMRO currently allows eligible Student Account applicants to provide their BSN later, and bunq says customers can start without a BSN and provide it within 90 days. Rabobank currently requires a BSN for online account opening.

How do I get a BSN as an international student?

If you will live in the Netherlands for more than four months, register with the municipality where you live. You should do this within five days after arrival. You will receive a BSN as part of your BRP registration.

Do I need a Dutch address to open a bank account?

It depends on the bank. ABN AMRO, for example, requires an official Dutch address for its app-based account-opening route. With a non-Dutch ID, it also asks for proof of residence before you can use the account.

Can I open an account before moving to the Netherlands?

You can prepare or start some applications before moving, but a fully active Dutch account may still require Dutch residence information. bunq allows you to begin the sign-up process abroad and continue when you move to a supported EEA country. ABN AMRO requires Dutch residence information, while Rabobank currently requires a BSN for online onboarding.

Do I need a Dutch bank account to receive salary?

Not necessarily if you already have a valid SEPA account elsewhere in the EU. An employer cannot simply refuse an EU IBAN because it comes from another Member State. A Dutch IBAN can nevertheless make local banking easier.

Does Revolut give international students a Dutch IBAN?

Customers of Revolut's Netherlands branch can use a local account for Dutch everyday banking, including salary and recurring payments. If you already had Revolut before moving, check which Revolut entity and account details apply to you.

Is bunq a Dutch bank?

Yes. bunq has a banking licence from De Nederlandsche Bank. Netherlands-based accounts can use a Dutch IBAN, and eligible deposits are protected by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee up to €100,000.

Is Revolut covered by deposit insurance?

Yes, eligible deposits with Revolut Bank UAB's Netherlands branch are protected up to €100,000. The protection comes from the Lithuanian Deposit and Investment Insurance scheme rather than the Dutch Deposit Guarantee.

Opening your first Dutch bank account: the short version

If you are preparing to study in the Netherlands, first work out when you will receive your BSN.

Need a bank account before that happens? Start by comparing the published no-BSN routes at ABN AMRO and bunq.

Already registered with the municipality? Then you have more options, including Rabo Free, ING, ABN AMRO, bunq and Revolut.

And don't select a bank only because the account says student on the label. Compare the conditions that actually matter to you: monthly fee, BSN requirements, accepted documents, Dutch IBAN, physical or digital card, international transfers and what happens when you graduate.

Banking information and eligibility last checked: 6 October 2026.

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