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If you’re looking to expand your business into the Netherlands, it’s crucial to understand and adopt the top payment methods in the country. This can help you make your store more attractive for Dutch customers and reduce cart abandonment.
With the rise of global payment methods, it can be hard to narrow down what is best for a local population. That’s why we’ve worked to take the guesswork out of it for you by compiling the top 6 payment methods in the Netherlands.
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6 Top Payment Methods in the Netherlands
1. iDEAL
iDEAL is a popular online payment method in the Netherlands that allows customers to make secure, real-time bank transfers directly from their bank account to yours. When making a purchase online, a customer is redirected to their own bank's website to complete the payment, and the funds are transferred immediately.
Supported by all Dutch banks, it’s a convenient and widely accepted method of payment for online purchases. In fact, 70% of all ecommerce transactions last year used iDEAL, according to Statista.
iDEAL is great for one-off payments, but because customers must authenticate each purchase, it makes it hard to use for recurring payments, like subscriptions.
2. Debit Cards
Debit cards are the top payment method across the entire retail sector in the Netherlands, despite the high number of iDEAL transactions online. Around 60% of all retail transactions in the country (averaged across online and offline) are paid with debit cards.
The most common cards in the country are Maestro and Vpay. In fact, some merchants will only accept these cards. However, that is changing as Maestro is being phased out across Europe in favor of Mastercard debit cards.
In contrast to many other countries, credit cards are less common in the Netherlands and many merchants do not accept them at all.
3. SEPA Direct Debit
SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) Direct Debit is similar to iDEAL in that it works as a bank-to-bank online payment method. Customers can pay for purchases directly from their account, and the funds are transferred to the merchant’s account. SEPA uses the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) to process the transactions across banks.
SEPA works in all European Union countries and offers you and your customers an easy and secure way to pay. Unlike iDEAL, SEPA can be used for recurring payments very easily, making it an attractive option for subscription-based businesses.
It is slower than iDEAL, as payments often go through multiple banks in multiple countries, meaning you may not get your payment for up to 14 days.
4. Digital Wallets
Digital wallets, also known as mobile payment systems or e-wallets, are becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands. These systems allow customers to make payments using their phones or other mobile devices like smart watches, without the need to carry cash or cards.
In the Netherlands, popular digital wallet options include PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. These systems can be used at retailers that accept mobile payments, as well as online. They are convenient and secure, as they use encrypted technology to protect personal and financial information.
5. Cash
Cash is still widely accepted in the Netherlands, but its use is declining. While many retailers and service providers will still accept cash, an increasing number are moving towards cashless payment methods such as debit cards, credit cards, and digital wallets. Around 11% of all retail transactions are still completed with cash.
Despite the decline of cash, it remains an alternative for many, including those without bank accounts, travelers, and older populations. Because cash is still necessary for these groups, it will continue to be accepted at most retailers for the foreseeable future.
6. Buy Now Pay Later Services
The Netherlands, like most countries, has seen a rise in buy now, pay later (BNPL) services over the last several years. They provide customers the opportunity to split large payments, usually in 4-6 installments.
For business owners, these are easy to integrate into your store using one of the common providers. These services can make purchases more attractive to customers and reduce cart abandonment. In the Netherlands, the most common providers are Klarna, Afterpay, and Billink.
The Best Way to Accept Global Payments
There is no better way to accept global payments than with Pay.com. As a full payment service provider, Pay.com offers a variety of payment methods that are popular throughout the world. You can use the intuitive Pay Dashboard to add or remove payment methods at the click of a button, depending on your needs.
Because operating globally can present security risks, Pay.com ensures that secure transactions are a top priority. This includes support for 3D Secure 2.0 to authenticate card details and reduce the risk of chargebacks for you.
Additionally, Pay.com has the highest level of PCI DSS compliance and offers credit card tokenization so your customers feel confident in making their payments online.
Click here to get started with Pay.com now!
The Bottom Line
Offering your customers convenient ways to make purchases with their preferred methods is a key to increasing satisfaction and retention. If your business wants to accept payments from the Netherlands, it’s important that you tailor your payment solutions to meet the needs of your Dutch customers.
The main online payment method used in iDEAL, which is a Dutch-specific payment method that makes it easy for customers to make bank-to-bank transactions. In person, debit cards are the most popular payment methods.
Pay.com can help you accept payments from the Netherlands, with a wide range of payment methods to choose from. You can easily set up and customize a hosted checkout page, or integrate our Pay Components into your existing system.
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