Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in the Netherlands
Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in the Netherlands
A starter credit card can help international students pay for flights, online subscriptions, hotel reservations and purchases that require Mastercard, Visa or American Express.
However, newly arrived students in the Netherlands may not immediately qualify for a traditional credit card. Dutch issuers commonly check income, identity documents, account activity and information held by the Dutch Credit Registration Office, known as BKR.
This guide compares the best starter credit cards for new international students in the Netherlands, including low-income cards and balance-funded alternatives that are easier to manage.
Best Starter Credit Cards at a Glance
The most practical options in 2026 are:
- bunq Credit Card: Best overall for newly arrived students
- RaboCard: Best traditional starter card with part-time income
- ABN AMRO Student Credit Card: Best low-cost student credit card
- Flying Blue American Express Entry Card: Best for working students who travel frequently
Students without qualifying income should generally begin with a balance-funded or debit card instead of repeatedly applying for traditional credit.
1. bunq Credit Card: Best Overall for New International Students
The bunq Credit Card is one of the easiest starter options because it does not operate like a traditional borrowed credit limit.
You add money to the card before spending. Merchants still recognise it as an official Mastercard Credit Card, which can make it useful for:
- Hotel bookings
- Rental-car reservations
- Online purchases
- International subscriptions
- Flight and train tickets
- Security deposits
Because students spend money already deposited into the account, there are no interest charges and no risk of building an unpaid revolving balance.
Free bunq Pro offer for students
Eligible students can receive a 100% discount on the bunq Pro subscription. To qualify, an applicant must generally:
- Be under 26
- Be actively enrolled at a qualifying university
- Live in the Netherlands or another eligible European country
- Provide current proof of enrolment
- Subscribe to bunq Pro
The discount continues while the student meets the eligibility requirements. Standard pricing applies after eligibility ends.
Advantages
- No traditional income requirement for a credit limit
- No interest-bearing debt
- Mastercard credit-card recognition
- Physical and virtual card options depending on the plan
- Online application through the bunq app
- Suitable for students without Dutch borrowing history
Disadvantages
- You cannot spend more than your available funds.
- It does not provide emergency borrowing.
- A hotel or rental company may temporarily block part of your balance.
- The free student offer has age and enrolment conditions.
Best for: Newly arrived students who need credit-card acceptance but do not yet have stable Dutch income.
2. RaboCard: Best Traditional Starter Card With Part-Time Income
The RaboCard is a traditional Mastercard that collects the amount spent toward the end of each month.
Students using the Rabo Student Package can add the first RaboCard for €1.25 per month. The card has a standard monthly limit of €1,000 and provides purchase protection for eligible products for up to 180 days.
Main application requirements
Rabobank currently requires:
- A qualifying Rabobank payment account
- At least €500 in monthly income with the Student Package
- Sufficient income deposits during the previous three months
- Approval following an affordability and BKR check
Rabobank’s Rabo Free account is aimed at customers aged 18 to 28, although students should check which payment package is offered during their application.
Advantages
- Relatively low income requirement
- Traditional monthly credit-card billing
- Worldwide Mastercard acceptance
- €1,000 starting limit
- Purchase, flight-delay and luggage-delay protection
- Apple Pay and contactless payments
Disadvantages
- Requires regular income
- Approval is not automatic
- Foreign-currency payments carry a 2% surcharge.
- Cash withdrawals cost €4.50, with an additional currency surcharge when applicable.
Best for: Students with a stable part-time job and at least three months of income deposits.
3. ABN AMRO Student Credit Card: Best Low-Cost Student Card
The ABN AMRO Student Credit Card costs €14 per year when held with the bank’s free Student Package.
It includes:
- Monthly credit-card billing
- Mastercard acceptance
- Up to 180 days of purchase protection
- Flight-delay insurance
- Luggage-delay insurance
- Delivery protection
- App-based card management
Income and spending limits
The current conditions state:
- Below €500 net income per month: not eligible
- Between €500 and €1,150: €500 spending limit
- Above €1,150: possible limit from €500 to €2,500
The final limit depends on an individual financial assessment, including a BKR check.
Important restriction for international students
Applicants must currently possess:
- An ABN AMRO Student Package
- At least €500 in monthly income
- A Dutch identity document
This identity requirement makes the card unsuitable for many newly arrived international students who only hold a foreign passport or Dutch residence permit.
Best for: Eligible students with a Dutch identity document and regular part-time earnings.
4. Flying Blue American Express Entry Card: Best for Working Students
The Flying Blue American Express Entry Card may suit students who travel frequently with KLM, Air France or their partners.
Its current benefits include:
- First year without a card fee
- €3 monthly fee after the first year
- One Flying Blue Mile for every €2 spent
- 1,000 welcome Miles
- Two supplementary cards
- Purchase and travel-related protection
- Three-instalment payments for eligible KLM and Air France tickets
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must generally:
- Be at least 18
- Have a Dutch residential address
- Have no negative BKR registration
- Earn at least €20,000 gross annually
- Complete identification through a Dutch bank and provide valid identification
The income requirement means this card is more realistic for doctoral candidates, paid interns or students working substantial hours.
American Express is also not accepted as widely as Mastercard at smaller Dutch shops.
Best for: Working students who meet the income requirement and regularly use Flying Blue airlines.
What Makes a Good Starter Credit Card?
A beginner card should have:
- Low annual or monthly fees
- A modest spending limit
- Clear repayment rules
- No complicated rewards structure
- Useful app controls
- Broad merchant acceptance
- Affordable foreign-payment fees
- Eligibility that matches your residence documents
A high credit limit is not necessarily an advantage. A limit of €500 to €1,000 is usually enough for bookings and emergencies while reducing the risk of overspending.
What If You Have No Income?
Most traditional Dutch credit cards require regular income. If you have no part-time job, consider:
- A bunq balance-funded Credit Card
- An N26 Mastercard Debit
- A Revolut Visa or Mastercard Debit
- A debit card from your Dutch student bank account
- A credit card from your home country
N26 Standard includes a virtual Debit Mastercard, while Revolut confirms that its Dutch cards are debit cards rather than credit cards. These options can handle most online and everyday purchases, although some rental companies may insist on a traditional credit card.
Tips for Managing Your First Credit Card
Use these rules from the beginning:
- Choose the lowest practical limit.
- Keep enough money available for the monthly bill.
- Never use the card to finance rent or routine living costs.
- Enable transaction notifications.
- Review every monthly statement.
- Avoid credit-card cash withdrawals.
- Pay in the local currency when travelling.
- Report an unfamiliar transaction immediately.
- Reconsider the card before an introductory free period ends.
Final Verdict
The best starter credit card for new international students in the Netherlands is the bunq Credit Card because students can use Mastercard credit-card acceptance without borrowing money or meeting a traditional income threshold.
The RaboCard is the strongest traditional starter card for students with at least €500 in regular monthly income. The ABN AMRO Student Credit Card is similarly affordable but its Dutch identity-document requirement limits access for many international students.
Students earning at least €20,000 gross annually can also consider the Flying Blue American Express Entry Card, particularly when they frequently travel with KLM or Air France.
Official Sources
- bunq — Credit Card Features and Payment Method
- bunq — Student Discount Conditions
- Rabobank — RaboCard Costs, Income Rules and Benefits and Current Fees
- ABN AMRO — Student Credit Card Requirements and Current Fees
- American Express — Flying Blue Entry Card Fees, Rewards and Eligibility
- N26 — Standard Debit Mastercard
- Revolut — Card Types Available in the Netherlands
