Can I use a VISA debit card in the Netherlands?
It seems that most debit cards issued in the Netherlands are on the Maestro network. Will places that only accept debit cards take my US-issued VISA debit card? From what I could tell, many places aren't familiar with VISA being a debit card.
Edit: For anyone else wondering, it turned out that I could not use my VISA debit card at establishments where only debit cards were accepted. Only cards with a Maestro or V PAY logo were accepted. VISA debit cards do work at ATMs though, so you are able to withdraw cash and pay with that.
Best Answer
My partner and I own a bank account in both Netherlands and UK. The Dutch one has a Maestro card and the UK one has a Visa debit card.
We've found that the Maestro card is accepted in 99% of shops, even in traveling market stalls. The Visa is accepted in maybe 50% of shops, including most supermarkets (not the Albert Heijn though!), clothing shops and nearly all restaurants.
The following rule of thumb has proven true for us: Visa/MasterCard/AmEx are accepted at places where they regularly deal with bills of €100+.
We've been living in rural Zeeland for about 3 years now and have frequently traveled to bigger cities. The more foreign tourists a shop gets (Amsterdam, The Hague), the more likely it seems to be accepting non-Maestro cards, with it being nearly 100% acceptance in the center of Amsterdam.
The fact that it is a debit card doesn't change a thing in my experience. Get ready for people to assume it's a credit card though.
Keep in mind that to pay in most places in Europe your card should have a chip and a pin code.
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Does Netherlands accept Visa Debit cards?
Customers with cards from Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit must pay in cash. The Netherlands is increasingly becoming an exception in Europe with its limited acceptance of payment cards. Elsewhere in Europe, customers can usually pay with these Visa and Mastercard debit cards.Why are Visa cards not accepted in Netherlands?
Dutch people typically don't like credit cards in general because the Dutch are very debt-adverse people. In fact, in Dutch, the word for debt \u2014 schuld \u2014 also has another meaning: guilt.Can I use my Visa Debit card in Amsterdam?
Yes, you can use your debit card in Amsterdam and everywhere else in the Netherlands. Normally, debit cards have no problem being accepted, however, there are some places were VISA Electron is not accepted. The most commonly accepted cards are Maestro, VISA and MasterCard.Do Visa Debit cards work internationally?
Yes. As long as your ATM or credit card has either a Visa or PLUS logo, you can withdraw cash at ATMs that are part of the Visa or PLUS network. How do I find an ATM in the country that I'm traveling to? Visa is accepted at over 200 countries and territories around the world.The Dutch are Allergic to Credit Cards
More answers regarding can I use a VISA debit card in the Netherlands?
Answer 2
I have a foreign visa debit card. I've used it plenty of times in Amsterdam when I was there back in 2014. I used it to pay for supermarkets, restaurants, parking, museums without ever being refused.
Answer 3
For the merchant, VISA debit cards are no different than normal VISA cards. So if a place accepts VISA, it will accept any type of VISA. If it only accepts debit cards, it won't (since - at least in most places in Europe - "debit card" does not include VISA, even if it is a VISA debit).
Answer 4
I had used Visa Gold debit card July 2017 in Amsterdam, no problem at all. I paid at pharmacy, museums, cafes, super markets, bakeries and so on..
Answer 5
We do use (and know) Maestro debit (or V-Pay debit) at almost any store.
Visa Debit or MasterCard debit is not being used, show us your US VISA or MasterCard and they will think it's a creditcard. Only in big stores or places where many tourists pay you mostly can use a creditcard.
My advice: always have some cash (about 50 euros) and a debit card. I know that there are banks who offer V-Pay combined with a Visa Credit on the same card. That is the best option i think. In term of acceptance, Maestro is still the number 1 in The Netherlands to pay with, V-Pay second.
Answer 6
My current experience on Amsterdam airport is that payment with Visa Electron debit card (pin & chip & paypass) didn't work with terminal, when I payed for train ticket, neither in supermarket. Luckily I had enough cash with me.
Answer 7
I've just been travelling in Holland outside Amsterdam and found that Visa is often not accepted, only Mastercard or Maestro
Answer 8
I am currently staying with friends in The Hague, but have not been able to use my UK Visa debit card. Supermarkets and local ATMs will not accept it. This is contrary to all the opinions on the net!
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