Money Management
There are plenty of reasons you might want to open a CAD account while living in the Netherlands, whether for work, travel, study, or ongoing financial ties with Canada. Holding and spending in Canadian dollars can help reduce conversion costs, while also making it easier to pay and get paid in CAD.

Whether you’re a Canadian living in the Netherlands, or a Dutch citizen or resident traveling to Canada frequently, a CAD account can be a handy tool to make cross currency transactions cheap, quick and convenient.
Cross-border banking services in the Netherlands often focus on EUR accounts, but there are also ways to open a CAD account from the Netherlands if you need one. Depending on how you plan to use it, you might choose a flexible multi-currency account that supports both CAD and EUR from a provider like Wise, or a CAD-focused savings account designed for international use. This guide covers all you need to know to help you choose the best CAD currency account for you.
A CAD currency account is an account which lets you hold Canadian dollars.
You might also be able to hold and exchange other currencies in your account if you choose a CAD account with multi-currency features. Other common features include linked debit cards, international transfer services and ways to get paid in CAD from others. Some CAD accounts from banks also offer interest on the balance you hold.
For convenient, cheap cross border transactions, check out Wise. Open a Wise account to hold and exchange CAD and 40+ other currencies, and order your Wise Multi-Currency Card to spend and withdraw in 150+ countries. Accounts offer ways to send money to 140+ countries and receive payments globally in EUR, CAD and more with local or SWIFT account details.
If you’re a Canadian living in the Netherlands for work or study, or a Dutch resident who does business in Canada or owns property there, a CAD account can be a useful tool.
Different CAD accounts have their own features – but these are some of the more common uses for a Canadian dollar account:
There are perhaps not as many options for CAD accounts in the Netherlands as you might expect. Not all banks offer foreign currency account options, and where they do the products can tend to be more for business and commercial customers or high wealth individuals looking to save or invest.
However, there still are some great products to choose from, which can be broadly split into either multi-currency products or single currency options..
Multi currency accounts: Multi currency accounts are commonly available from digital providers, although some banks also offer this account type alongside EUR checking services. You can hold CAD alongside many other currencies in a multi currency account which can be a convenient option for people living international lifestyles.

Foreign currency accounts: In the Netherlands, foreign currency accounts are less accessible to personal customers than in some other markets. Where they are available, they are typically tailored to business, commercial, or high-net-worth clients, and are designed for holding or transferring funds rather than everyday use. However, there are still some options available such as:
There’s not really one best CAD currency account in the Netherlands, as different products have their own features to suit different customer needs.
You might prefer multi-currency account and card services from providers like Wise or Revolut if you want to hold CAD with EUR and other currencies in one account, and spend with your debit card locally and overseas. These services are digital only and do not have a branch network which can be a drawback if you need to deposit cash or checks.
There are also personal CAD accounts from banks like ING or ABN AMRO. These products have different niches, and may be a better fit to customers who want to save or invest in foreign currencies like CAD.
The other key option is for business CAD accounts which can be opened with providers like Wise, Revolut and Airwallex. These accounts offer a broad range of supported currencies, cards, and low fees for common business transaction needs.
Here we’ve selected some different providers and banks offering CAD accounts in the Netherlands for personal and business use, looking at convenience, cost and customer intention.
Read on to learn more about each and how their CAD account in the Netherlands works.
| π‘ At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Wise Account | Hold and exchange CAD and 40+ other currencies, spend with a Wise Multi-Currency Card in 150+ countries, send and receive payments globally in EUR, CAD and more. |
| Revolut Account | Choose from 5 different account plans which all offer a debit card, and support 25+ currencies for holding and withdrawal. Travel perks available on some account tiers. |
| ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Account | Single-currency account available in 27 currencies including AUD, offered alongside a euro current account for β¬5 per month to hold and transfer foreign currency. |
| ING Foreign Currency Account | Single-currency business account available in 24 currencies including AUD, allowing companies to receive and make payments in foreign currency for β¬6 per month. |
| Airwallex Account | Business account supporting CAD, EUR and 20+ other currencies for holding and exchange, with low conversion costs and great exchange rates. |

Open a Wise Account online or in the Wise app, for personal or business use, and hold CAD alongside EUR and 40+ other currencies all in the same account. You can exchange between currencies in the app with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees, order an optional debit card for spending and cash withdrawals, and send and receive payments globally in EUR, CAD and more.
Accounts offer local and SWIFT details to receive payments, with no fee to receive CAD to your Wise account using your local account information.
Account opening fee: No opening fee for personal customers. Business customers pay 60 EUR for full feature access*. No minimum balance
Eligibility criteria: Available to Dutch residents and many other countries and regions globally
Supported currencies: CAD, EUR and 40+ other currencies
Monthly fees: None
Exchange rates: Mid-market exchange rates
*About Wise pricing: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
You can open 5 different types of Revolut Account as a personal customer in the Netherlands, with an additional 4 plan options for business customers. As a personal customer you can choose a Standard plan with no monthly fee, or upgrade to a plan with maintenance fees up to 60 EUR/month.
Higher tier plans offer more no fee transactions, discounts and perks – but all accounts have a linked debit card and ways to convert in the account between 25+ currencies including EUR and CAD. You won’t get local account details to receive CAD payments, but you do get SWIFT account information to receive Canadian dollars that way.
Account opening fee: No opening fee, no minimum balance
Eligibility criteria: Available to residents of the Netherlands and many other countries and regions globally. Not available for Canadian residents
Supported currencies: CAD, EUR and 25+ other currencies
Monthly fees: Personal customers pay 0 EUR – 60 EUR/month, business customers 10 EUR – 90 EUR/month
Exchange rates: Weekday currency exchange uses the Revolut rate to plan limits, then fair usage fees of up to 0.5% apply. Weekend exchange may attract an extra fee up to 1%.
With an ING Foreign Currency Account, you can hold and manage 24 currencies, including CAD. If you are a business owner dealing with frequent cross-border payments, it offers a practical way to limit repeated conversion charges.
The account must be connected to an ING Business Account and does not include a debit card or cash handling services. As a result, it’s better suited to managing international transactions than day-to-day spending.
Account opening fee: None
Eligibility criteria: Available to ING business customers with an eligible Dutch business account
Supported currencies: 24 currencies including CAD
Monthly fees: β¬6 per month (excluding fees for the linked business account)
Exchange rates: ING exchange rates apply when converting currencies and may include a markup
Open an ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Account to hold funds in a single foreign currency alongside a euro current account held in the same name. The account is available to both private and business clients and supports 27 currencies, including CAD.
Transfers are made and received through online banking in the currency of the account. No debit card is provided, and cash deposits are not supported, so the account is primarily intended for managing foreign currency transactions rather than everyday payments.
Account opening fee: β¬0
Eligibility criteria: Must hold an ABN AMRO current account in the same name
Supported currencies: 27 currencies including CAD
Monthly fees: β¬5 per month
Exchange rates: ABN AMRO buy and sell rates apply when converting currencies and may include a margin over the mid-market rate
If you need a CAD account for business purposes, an Airwallex Business CAD Account could help you take customer payments online, with corporate debit and expense cards for business spending online and in person.
Airwallex accounts are designed for internationally operating businesses and ecommerce companies in particular, offering great exchange rates with low fees and a wide network for local and international payments.
Account opening fee: None
Eligibility criteria: Available to eligible EU and Dutch-registered businesses, subject to identity checks and business verification
Supported currencies: 20+ including EUR and CAD
Monthly fees:
Exchange rates: Interbank rates with a fee of 0.5% for major currencies and 1% for less commonly traded currencies
It’s good to know that the fees for CAD accounts in the Netherlands might look a bit different to the charges associated with your EUR checking account. You can often find an account with no ongoing fees to pay, but there may be strings attached – like holding a minimum deposit or leaving your savings for a fixed term. There are also usually some transaction fees to think about. Check your account fee schedule to make sure you understand the costs of your account before you transact.
Here are some fees to look out for:
The application process for a CAD account in the Netherlands will vary depending on whether you apply through a Dutch bank or a digital provider. Before starting your application, review the eligibility requirements carefully and prepare the necessary documents, including proof of identity and proof of address.
Applicants who are not citizens of an EU or EEA country may need to provide a valid Dutch residence permit and a BSN (burgerservicenummer). In some situations, a long-stay visa (MVV) is required before a residence permit is issued. Non-EEA residents are often required to submit their Dutch address and BSN within a specified timeframe after the account has been opened.
If you apply in person at a Dutch bank branch, you will generally be asked to provide:
Digital providers offer a fully online onboarding process. You will complete the application remotely, upload identification documents, and go through an identity verification step as part of the setup.
With banks: Dutch banks may require you to attend an appointment in person, especially for foreign currency accounts such as those from ING or ABN AMRO. During the appointment, a bank representative will guide you through the process and verify your documents. Approval may take a few working days depending on the checks required.
With online providers: Specialist providers like Wise and Revolut don’t have branch locations so you’ll complete your account application, verification and onboarding all digitally. You’re guided through the process by onscreen prompts and you’ll need to take a snap of your ID and address documents with your phone to get verified.
Finally let’s look at how using a CAD account can help you manage your Canadian dollar payments and transactions with lower fees and less time spent navigating administration.
Many people living in the Netherlands have personal or professional reasons to manage money in Canadian dollars, and there are several different ways to open CAD accounts in the Netherlands, depending on how you need to transact.
You could pick a CAD account from a bank, like ING or ABN AMRO if you need to send payments to Canada to cover a mortgage or bills, or if you want to earn interest.
Or for a more flexible multi-currency account option you might prefer Wise which lets you hold CAD along with EUR and 40+ other currencies. Use your account to send, spend, hold and receive CAD for day to day payments, travel and bills, with low costs and great exchange rates.
Secondary schools in the NetherlandsWe explain the complex secondary school system in the Netherlands, including the three public streams and various international options.
Human and civil rights in the NetherlandsFrom the right to protest to protection from discrimination, here's what you need to know about human rights in the Netherlands.
Higher education in the Netherlands: a guide to Dutch universitiesThe Netherlands is home to some of the world's top universities. Learn all about the different subjects available at Dutch institutions.Did you find this guide helpful?