The Netherlands is not known for generous credit card rewards — Dutch culture favors debit cards and direct bank payments. But for expats who travel frequently, having the right credit card can provide valuable perks like airport lounge access, travel insurance, and favorable foreign exchange rates.
Here are the best travel credit cards available to residents of the Netherlands in 2026.
Important Context: Credit Cards in the Netherlands
Before diving into specific cards, understand that the Dutch credit card market is fundamentally different from the US or UK:
- Credit cards are uncommon domestically — most Dutch payments use debit cards or iDEAL
- Rewards programs are modest — do not expect the generous cashback or points you might get elsewhere
- Annual fees are common — even basic cards often charge annual fees
- Application requirements — you typically need a Dutch bank account, registered address, and clean BKR record
That said, for international travel, a good credit card remains valuable and sometimes essential (car rentals, hotel deposits, countries where cards are preferred over debit).
American Express Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum is the premium travel card available in the Netherlands, aimed at frequent travelers who value lounge access and premium benefits.
Key Features
- Annual fee: approximately €60/month (€720/year)
- Airport lounges: access to Priority Pass lounges (1,300+ worldwide), Amex Centurion Lounges, and various partner lounges
- Travel insurance: comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancellation, medical, and baggage
- Rewards: Membership Rewards points on every purchase, redeemable for travel, gift cards, and more
- Additional cards: supplementary cards for family members at reduced or no extra cost
- Concierge service: 24/7 personal concierge
- FX markup: approximately 2% on foreign currency transactions
Best For
Frequent international travelers who fly 6+ times per year and value lounge access. The high annual fee is only worthwhile if you regularly use the lounge access and travel insurance.
American Express Gold Card
A more accessible entry point to the Amex rewards ecosystem.
Key Features
- Annual fee: approximately €20/month (€240/year) — sometimes lower with promotional offers
- Rewards: Membership Rewards points, though at a lower earning rate than Platinum
- Travel insurance: basic travel insurance included
- Purchase protection: coverage for new purchases against damage or theft
- No lounge access: this is the biggest difference from Platinum
- FX markup: approximately 2% on foreign currency transactions
Best For
Moderate travelers who want rewards points and travel insurance without the premium price tag of the Platinum card. Good for expats who travel 3-5 times per year.
ICS Visa World Card
The ICS Visa World Card is one of the most popular general-purpose credit cards in the Netherlands, offering a good balance of features and cost.
Key Features
- Annual fee: approximately €38/year (Visa World Card Gold is approximately €60/year)
- FX markup: approximately 1.5% — lower than Amex
- Accepted everywhere: Visa has much wider acceptance in the Netherlands and Europe than Amex
- Contactless payments: full NFC support
- Online fraud protection: Visa Secure (3D Secure) built in
- Cash withdrawal: available worldwide at Visa ATMs (with fees)
Gold Card Extras
- Travel insurance (trip cancellation, medical, luggage)
- Higher credit limit
- Purchase protection
- Car rental collision damage waiver
Best For
Expats who want a straightforward, widely accepted credit card with reasonable fees. The Gold version is excellent value if you want travel insurance included. This is our top recommendation for most expats.
Air France/KLM Flying Blue Credit Cards
For expats who fly frequently with KLM or Air France (very common given Schiphol's hub status), the Flying Blue credit cards earn miles on every purchase.
Key Features
- Card types: Flying Blue Visa (standard) and Flying Blue Visa Premium
- Annual fee: approximately €55/year (standard) or €150/year (premium)
- Miles earning: 1 Flying Blue mile per €1 spent (varies by category)
- Welcome bonus: typically a number of bonus miles after reaching a spending threshold
- Lounge access: Premium card includes limited lounge access
- Travel insurance: included on Premium card
- FX markup: approximately 2%
Best For
Frequent KLM/Air France flyers who can accumulate enough miles for meaningful redemptions. Most useful if you consistently fly the SkyTeam alliance.
How to Apply
For all cards, you generally need:
- A Dutch residential address
- A Dutch bank account
- A BSN
- Proof of income (salary slips or tax return)
- A clean BKR record
- Residency in the Netherlands for at least a few months (varies by issuer)
Amex cards can be applied for directly at americanexpress.nl. ICS cards at icscards.nl. Flying Blue cards through the KLM or Flying Blue websites.
Tips for Minimizing Foreign Transaction Costs
- Always pay in local currency — when a terminal abroad asks "pay in EUR or local currency?", always choose the local currency. The "dynamic currency conversion" markup is almost always worse than your card's FX rate
- Use Wise or Revolut for best FX rates — for pure FX savings, the Wise card or Revolut offer better rates than any Dutch credit card. Use credit cards for the insurance and rewards, not the FX rate
- Set up payment alerts — all Dutch credit card issuers offer transaction notifications. Enable them for security while traveling
- Notify your issuer of travel — some issuers still block cards if unexpected foreign transactions appear. Inform them of your travel plans in advance through their app
Our Top Pick
For most expats in the Netherlands, the ICS Visa World Card Gold offers the best value. At approximately €60/year, you get travel insurance, wide acceptance, reasonable FX rates, and a reliable card for international use. Pair it with a Revolut or Wise card for the best exchange rates on daily spending abroad.
If you fly KLM frequently (10+ flights per year), the Flying Blue card becomes worthwhile. And if money is no object and you want the best lounge experience, the Amex Platinum delivers — but make sure you actually use the benefits enough to justify the €720 annual fee.
For more options, see our complete credit card comparison.