What Currency Does Amsterdam Utilize?

The Netherlands is a member of the European Union (EU), and uses the euro as its official currency. There are eight coins in Euro denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 cents, along with bills of 5, 10 and 50 Euro.

You can exchange your home currency for euros at a money exchange store. These are commonly located at major train stations and airports throughout the Netherlands.

Credit or debit cards are the most commonly used payment method in Amsterdam, and almost all restaurants, pubs, and hotels accept them. Before making a purchase, be sure to confirm if your business accepts your card.

Traveller’s cheques used to be a reliable way of transporting cash abroad, but they’re no longer the go-to solution as they can be difficult to convert at post offices or banks and usually carry exorbitant fees when changing money at airport exchanges.

Tip: To save money on currency conversions, swap your US dollars for euros before traveling. This way, you’ll always have a favorable exchange rate when withdrawing cash from an ATM, paying in shops or restaurants, and buying accommodation and flights.

Dutch coinage began with the guilder, which was adopted as the country’s monetary unit in 1816 and replaced the French franc. The obverse featured a profile image of Queen Victoria and an unadorned grid on the reverse.

In 2002, the guilder was discontinued and replaced with a modern coinage design featuring a grid and layered silhouette profile of Queen Beatrix on the obverse.