Best Cash Back Credit Cards for International Students in the Netherlands

Best Cash Back Credit Cards for International Students in the Netherlands 

Cash back credit cards are popular in countries such as the United States, but they are much less common in the Netherlands. Most Dutch student credit cards focus on worldwide payments, purchase insurance and travel benefits rather than returning a fixed percentage of every purchase.

As of July 2026, there is no widely available Dutch student credit card offering unlimited, permanent cash back on all spending. International students must usually choose between reward points, airline miles, temporary promotional cash back or a low-cost credit card without rewards.

This guide compares the best cash back credit cards for international students in the Netherlands and explains which options provide genuine cash back and which only offer similar rewards.

Best Cash Back and Rewards Cards at a Glance

The most relevant options are:

1. American Express Green Card: Best for rewards that can offset purchases
2. bunq Credit Card promotions: Best for temporary cash back offers
3. Flying Blue American Express Entry Card: Best for earning airline miles
4. ABN AMRO Student Credit Card: Best low-cost student card without ongoing cash back
5. RaboCard: Best for Mastercard promotions and purchase insurance

Students should not apply solely for a welcome offer. The annual fee, income requirement and card acceptance can easily outweigh the value of a small reward.

1. American Express Green Card: Best Cash-Equivalent Rewards Card

The American Express Green Card is one of the closest alternatives to a traditional cash back credit card in the Netherlands.

Cardholders earn:

• One Membership Rewards point for every €1 spent
• Points on most eligible card purchases
• The ability to use points toward purchases through the American Express app
• Transfers to nine participating airline loyalty programmes
• Rewards for gift cards, travel and selected experiences

American Express currently charges €6.50 per month after a free first year. Applicants need a minimum gross annual income of €30,000.

Why it may be useful

Unlike airline miles, Membership Rewards points can be applied to eligible card purchases. This gives the rewards a cash-like function, although it is not the same as receiving automatic cash back into your bank account.

Important disadvantages

• The €30,000 minimum annual income is high for many students.
• American Express is not accepted by every Dutch retailer.
• The card is not specifically designed for international students.
• The value of a point depends on how it is redeemed.
• The monthly fee continues after the introductory year.

Best for: Graduate students, doctoral candidates or working students who meet the income requirement and can use the rewards enough to justify the fee.

2. bunq Credit Card Promotions: Best for Temporary Cash Back

bunq previously offered regular cash back on eligible Credit Card spending. However, the bank ended its general cash back programme on December 7, 2025.

Existing bunq Elite and business customers stopped receiving regular cash back on Credit Card payments from December 8, 2025. Partner-specific promotional offers can still provide cash back when customers register through an eligible campaign and complete the required purchases.

Examples of promotions advertised by bunq have included:

• Cash back for new customers registering through selected retailers
• Fixed refunds on a limited number of qualifying purchases
• Partner offers from supermarkets, transport providers or event platforms
• Campaigns restricted to Dutch residents and new bunq users

These offers change frequently and should not be treated as permanent card benefits.

bunq account prices

Current personal plans include:

• bunq Free: €0 per month
• bunq Core: €3.99 per month
• bunq Pro: €9.99 per month
• bunq Elite: €18.99 per month

The cards and features included depend on the selected plan.

Important limitation

The bunq Credit Card is balance-funded. Payments use money already available in your account rather than a traditional borrowing facility. It may be recognised as a Mastercard Credit Card by merchants, but it does not provide revolving credit.

Best for: New customers who find a worthwhile partner promotion and want to avoid borrowing.

3. Flying Blue American Express Entry Card: Best for Travel Rewards

The Flying Blue American Express Entry Card does not provide cash back. Instead, it earns Flying Blue Miles that can be redeemed for travel-related rewards.

Current benefits include:

• One Flying Blue Mile for every €2 spent
• A welcome bonus of 1,000 Miles
• The first year without a card fee
• A fee of €3 per month after the first year
• Two supplementary cards without an additional card fee
• The ability to pay eligible KLM or Air France tickets in three instalments without interest or extra fees

Miles can be used for reward flights, upgrades, lounge access and products or services from participating partners.

When it makes sense

This card may offer more value than a cash back card when a student:

• Regularly flies with KLM, Air France or Flying Blue partners
• Can use Miles before they expire
• Wants to earn rewards on everyday purchases
• Values travel benefits more than direct cash

Students who rarely fly should not choose this card simply because it offers Miles.

Best for: International students who regularly travel through the Flying Blue airline network.

4. ABN AMRO Student Credit Card: Best Low-Cost Student Option

The ABN AMRO Student Credit Card does not currently advertise permanent cash back on everyday purchases. Its main value comes from its relatively accessible income requirement and included protection.

The card provides:

• Worldwide Mastercard payments
• Purchase protection for up to 180 days
• Flight-delay and baggage-delay protection
• Apple Pay support
• Car-rental excess and legal-expenses cover

Applicants need at least €500 per month in income. The bank also imposes identity and residency requirements that may make the card unavailable to some holders of temporary residence permits.

ABN AMRO occasionally runs introductory promotions, but temporary sign-up cash back should not be confused with a permanent rewards programme.

Best for: Eligible students seeking an affordable traditional credit card rather than ongoing rewards.

5. RaboCard: Best for Discounts and Purchase Protection

The RaboCard does not provide a standard percentage of cash back on all purchases. However, cardholders can access selected Mastercard Priceless promotions, such as ticket presales and preferred concert seating.

With the Rabo Student Package, the first RaboCard costs €1.25 per month. Students generally need at least €500 per month deposited into their account during the previous three months, and Rabobank performs an affordability and BKR check.

Other benefits include:

• Purchase protection for up to 180 days
• Flight-delay and luggage-delay coverage
• A standard €1,000 monthly spending limit
• Apple Pay and contactless payments
• Worldwide Mastercard acceptance

Best for: Students who meet the income requirement and value insurance and occasional Mastercard offers.

Cash Back Versus Reward Points

These terms are not interchangeable:

Cash back

Cash back normally returns money to your card balance or bank account. For example, a 1% cash back rate would return €1 after €100 of eligible spending.

Reward points

Points may be exchanged for:

• Statement credits
• Purchases
• Gift cards
• Airline miles
• Hotel rewards
• Selected products

The value may vary by redemption method.

Airline miles

Miles generally provide the greatest potential value when used for flights or upgrades, but they are less flexible than cash.

How to Decide Whether a Rewards Card Is Worth It

Calculate the annual value before applying:

Expected annual rewards − annual card fees − foreign-currency charges = estimated net value

Also consider:

• Whether your usual shops accept the card
• Minimum-income requirements
• Foreign transaction fees
• Welcome-offer conditions
• Monthly spending limits
• Reward expiration rules
• Whether cash withdrawals earn rewards
• Whether refunds remove previously earned points

Never increase spending simply to earn rewards. A €10 reward is not worthwhile when it causes €100 of unnecessary purchases.

Final Verdict

The Netherlands has very few genuine cash back credit cards for international students.

The American Express Green Card is the strongest ongoing cash-equivalent rewards option because its points can be used toward purchases. However, its €30,000 gross annual income requirement and monthly fee make it unsuitable for many students.

The bunq Credit Card may provide genuine cash back through selected partner promotions, but bunq ended its general cash back programme in December 2025. The Flying Blue Entry Card is a better alternative for frequent travellers, while the ABN AMRO Student Credit Card and RaboCard focus on affordability and insurance rather than rewards.

For most students, choosing a low-fee card and avoiding foreign-currency charges will save more money than chasing a small cash back offer.

Official Sources

• American Express Netherlands — Green Card rewards, fees and income requirement
• American Express Netherlands — Membership Rewards programme
• American Express Netherlands — Flying Blue Entry Card
• bunq — End of the general Cash Back programme
• bunq — Personal account plans
• ABN AMRO — Student Credit Card
• Rabobank — RaboCard features and requirements