Using US credit cards in the Netherlands

I've never had a problem using a US-issued CC in the Netherlands for any amount of purchase including small ones. I was there last April but had not advanced to Apple Pay, lol. I used ApplePay all the time last Fall in Italy and plan to try to use it everywhere on my upcoming trip to Amsterdam. If not I will fall back on my VISA and AMEX cards.

I just went back to look at my VISA statement and used it everywhere including buying Tram tickets and at the grocery stores in Amsterdam for small purchases. I never needed a PIN with the CC purchases I made. I've only ever needed a PIN in Europe for Debit Card withdrawals at an ATM. I've also never rented a car and I think that is where I've seen people needing PINs for gas stations.

I did not once use a chip and pin in the Netherlands. Does your card have tap capability? That is what I used 99% of the time when I was there last year - for restaurants, stores, hotels, etc. The other times were a couple of supermarkets that didn't take credit cards at all, so I just used cash.

We were there in August and didn't have any issued. Didn't have to have a pin.

....lot of conflicting information ..... Curious where you are seeing that? That is not my experience. Have had a couple of times when the credit card would not work in a ticket machine in the train station. Worked at the ticket window. But other than that it work everywhere else.

Our family was in Europe last year for 3 weeks and our daughter for a month—4 countries (Italy, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Spain). We had one credit card account, with four authorized users and tap technology; we had no problems at all. However, at a grocery store in London, one time the clerk had to print the receipt for me to sign—same store later; —just tapped.

I was in the Netherlands for a week last April and never used a pin. Tap and pay was everywhere unless they didn’t take credit cards at all. During my 16 weeks in Europe last year if a place didn’t have tap and pay but took credit cards I never needed a pin.

This is all good to hear! My 2022 Lonely Planet Netherlands guide (and several acquaintances, too) indicated that using non European credit cards was highly problematic. Other friends and guidebooks did not. Glad to have this forum as a resource to sort out the confusion!

Keep in mind that your "2022" Lonely Planet guide was written at the latest in 2021. More likely it was written a decade ago and they only periodically update some details—mostly opening times and prices.

Point taken. I would have hoped that they would have fact checked the info on payment types- kinda important...

Pam,

I tapped my Chase Marriott Bonvoy all over The Hague and Amsterdam. Hotels, bars, breweries, restaurants, museums, groceries, and even the trams and buses when I didn't have a day pass. Absolutely no problems. Enjoy your trip. I want to hear about your experience at Vermeer.

• James
  

I didn't see anyone comment on have a card with NO foreign transaction fees. But the "tap and go" and chipped cards are almost all I used last year when I was there.