On this page
Banks decide their own onboarding. This guide covers the government’s published rules and does not recommend a bank.
At a glance
- BSN
- Needed if you pay Dutch tax
- ID
- Document showing your BSN, or a municipal extract
- Basic account
- ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, SNS
- Complaints
- Bank, then Kifid
Your checklist
First steps
Your checklist stays on this device.
Why the BSN comes up
Rijksoverheid explains that banks report data such as assets, interest and loans to the Belastingdienst and include the customer’s BSN. That is why a bank wants an identity document showing it.
The page says the BSN is needed if you pay tax in the Netherlands. It does not say what applies if you do not, so ask the bank. For arriving without a lease, see the BSN without a rental contract guide.
When a basic account can be refused
The basic account can be refused if you already have a regular or basic account at a Dutch bank or a pending application, cannot show a genuine interest in a Dutch account, had a basic account closed in the past two years, or were convicted of an offence in the past eight years. A bank must also refuse if it cannot meet the money-laundering rules.
If you do not qualify for a basic account, the page points to the Convenant Basisbankrekening, which a bank may require you to use through a recognised support organisation.
Where this sits in your move
In the Netherlands the sequence is usually registration, then BSN, then bank and DigiD. See the DigiD and BRP guides, and the German bank account guide if you are comparing countries.
Common questions
Do I need a BSN to open a Dutch bank account?
Rijksoverheid says you need one if you pay tax in the Netherlands. Banks also ask for it to report to the tax authority.
What if my ID does not show my BSN?
Ask your municipality for an extract showing your BSN.
Can a bank refuse a regular account?
Only if money-laundering and terrorist-financing risks are too high and cannot be reduced, according to Rijksoverheid.
Which banks offer the basic account?
Rijksoverheid names ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank and SNS.
Who do I complain to?
The bank first, then usually Kifid free of charge, or the courts.
Official sources
Read this first
- Rijksoverheid: do I need a BSN to open a bank account?BSN requirement, bank reporting duty and identity document
- Rijksoverheid: refusal of a consumer payment accountRefusal grounds, basic account banks and complaint route
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.