Setting up home in another country can be a lengthy and a complicated process, but opening a bank account does not have to be. With ABN AMRO, you can start organising your financial affairs before you have even moved.

Registering with the local council is one of the first things you need to do once you arrive in the Netherlands, and you are required to do this within five days of moving, along with your partner and any children.

Once registered, you will receive a BSN (Dutch personal ID number), which is essential for handling various administrative matters—including opening a bank account. However, if you do not yet have a BSN, and there is a wait in some areas, you can still open an account with ABN AMRO. Just remember that you must provide the bank with your BSN within 120 days of opening your account.

Before you arrive

“We’ll gladly assist you with your financial needs, even before you arrive in the Netherlands,” says Diana, one of the bank’s team of expat banking experts. If you need assistance, you can speak to an advisor from anywhere in the world at a time that suits you via the bank’s video banking services.

The bank’s advisers are fluent in English and ready to answer any questions you may have about savings, investments, and pensions in the Netherlands. Appointments are free of charge and come with no obligations.

“To ensure all your banking transactions proceed as smoothly as possible, ABN AMRO offers internet banking and mobile apps,” says Diana. “When you become an ABN AMRO customer, you will receive a complete package to manage your account.”

Earn up to €100

There is no need to visit a branch—all you need is your mobile phone. Simply download the ABN AMRO app and follow the instructions. You will be able to check your account balance within just a few hours.

And if you do open your first current account (Basic Payment Package) in the app and enter the promotion code BEGIN100, the bank will gift you up to €100. Something for nothing in the Netherlands? That’s a bonus everyone here can appreciate. (Read the terms & conditions and apply before 31 March 2025).

It is also a good idea to familiarise yourself with the various payment methods used in the Netherlands. Credit cards, for instance, are primarily used for online purchases. You are also likely to come across Tikkie, a micropayment system developed by ABN AMRO, which has become an essential part of the Dutch banking landscape.

In 2024, the Tikkie payment-sharing system continued to grow in popularity, reaching a record 157 million payments for a total of €7.4 billion. Once you have made your first request for a Tikkie payment, you will truly feel at home.

Open your bank account here