If you’re thinking about how you’ll be paying on your trip to Amsterdam, consider getting a travel card. They’re easily one of the most convenient ways to carry money and spend while outside the UK. Besides being safe and reliable, they can also help you stay on budget during your trip.
In this guide, we’ll help you find the best travel card for Amsterdam by comparing their features, so you can choose the one that best suits your spending habits and needs. We’ll also provide some general travel tips for Amsterdam.
We’ll also show you a cost-effective way to manage your spending in Amsterdam. For international purchases, whether online or in person, you can rely on the Wise international debit card. You can even withdraw euros like a local for low fees* at the mid-market exchange rate.
Learn more about the Wise debit card
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A travel card is a prepaid payment card that lets you load foreign currencies and use them while travelling abroad. They can be used for both purchases and ATM withdrawals.
However, make sure you don’t confuse them with travel credit cards. They typically don’t hold foreign currency, but they offer different rewards in exchange for travel-related purchases.
The biggest advantage of using a travel card is that it keeps your money safe. Since you’ll only add as much money to it as you plan on spending, the rest of your funds will be protected. So, in case your card gets lost or stolen, no one will be able to take more than what's on the card at that moment. This makes it a safer option than carrying cash or using your regular cards abroad.
Let’s compare a few of the best travel cards for Amsterdam (and how these measure up with the Wise debit card) and point out their differences:
| Travel card | No of currencies | Exchange rate | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travelex Travel Money Card² | 22 | Mastercard exchange rate³ | 2% top-up fee for pounds £5 backup card fee |
| Post Office Travel Money Card⁴ | 22 | Mastercard exchange rate | 1.5% top-up fee for pounds (up to £50) 3% cross-border fee for currencies that aren’t supported £1.5 cash withdrawal fee |
| Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Card⁵ | 15 | Mastercard exchange rate | 2% top-up fee for pounds 5.75% foreign exchange fee £6 for cashing out through Card Services |
| FairFX currency card⁶ | 20 | Mastercard exchange rate⁷ | £1 fee for ATM withdrawals £2 flat rate + 3.75% of the transaction amount for over the counter cash withdrawals |
| Wise debit card | 40+ | Mid-market exchange rate | Sign up for a Wise account for free - £0 for the virtual card, one-time fee of £7 for the physical debit card 2 free cash withdrawals up to £200/month (or equivalent), then £0.50 + 1.75% per withdrawal** Fee-free spending if you have the local currency in your Wise account |
The Wise debit card is not a travel money card, but a clever debit card that automatically converts your pounds into local currency whenever you spend – so you won’t need to convert your money before spending. Similarly to travel money cards, the Wise debit card enables you to spend overseas and withdraw cash from foreign ATMs.
Travelex’s contactless travel card can be a great option for your trip to Amsterdam, since it can hold up to 22 major currencies. Top-ups are free, as well as ATM withdrawals and foreign transactions. It’s also convenient since you can use it at millions of stores and businesses around the world, but also in the UK.
When it comes to limits, you’ll be able to withdraw up to £500 a day and spend up to £3,000. In case you run out of money, you can top it up in-store, on Travelex’s website or via the Travelex Money app. The minimum load amount is £50.
There are two ordering options - in-store or home delivery. If you decide to go to Travelex’s store, remember you’ll need proof that you’re at least 18 years old in form of a government-issued photo ID.³
Another good option for spending in Amsterdam is the Post Office Travel Money Card. This is a contactless prepaid Mastercard that can help you have euros on hand throughout your travel.
You can order the card in one of three ways: in-branch, on the official website or via their app. Delivery might be more convenient, but if you apply in person, you’ll receive the card that same day.
Again, top-ups are very easy via the Post Office app or the official Post Office website. You can add up to £5,000 in one go.
You can also add euros to the Sainsbury’s Bank travel card. It allows you to store and use up to 15 currencies at once. If you want to pick it up the same day, you can do so in-store, but there’s also a home delivery option. All you need to do is select 'order for collection' on their website or choose 'order for delivery' and have it sent to your address.
The Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money app will allow you to manage your money while in Amsterdam and handle top-ups on the go. You don’t need to do anything to start using the card, it will automatically select euros for paying once you arrive in Amsterdam.
This travel card uses the Mastercard exchange rate, but you can receive better rates if you’re a Sainsbury’s Nectar member. There are no foreign transaction or ATM fees, except those set by banks separately.
The FairFX currency card lets you hold and spend in 20 supported currencies, including euros. This is a prepaid Mastercard with no monthly fees, card issuance costs or foreign transaction costs.
You can use this card in both physical and digital form, so you can also add it to your mobile wallet for extra safety. It’s also easy to order - simply go to the Cards section of FairFX’s website and click 'Create Card'. You'll need to have at least £50 in your balance.⁷
Since this is a Mastercard, it’s very reliable and convenient. You can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted, which is essentially wherever cards are generally accepted.
Before you head off to Amsterdam, here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind.
Although cash use is declining, you shouldn’t give up on it completely. It’s still used in over 50% of all transactions in the Netherlands, so if you want to blend in with the locals, don’t rely only on your travel card.⁸
When it comes to ATMs, there are more than 6,000 of them in the country. You’ll recognise them from the word ‘geldautomat’ or ‘geldmaat’. The withdrawal limit in the Netherlands is usually 400 EUR per transaction, but you can withdraw as many times as you want.⁹
In order for you to fully enjoy your trip, make sure you focus on some safety precautions. Since Amsterdam is a big city, there are many pickpockets around. Your travel money card will come in handy, in either physical or digital form, since potential thieves won’t have access to your full account balance. And since most travel cards can be topped up via app or website at any time, you don’t need to keep large amounts of money on your card.
That concludes our guide to the best travel card for Amsterdam. Hopefully, this helps you find the one that suits your needs best.
And if you want another option for spending abroad without worrying about exchange rates and hidden fees, the Wise international debit card could be a great solution.
You can use your Wise card for international payments in 150+ countries, including the Netherlands. It automatically converts your pounds to the currency you need in your destination at the mid-market exchange rate with only a small, transparent currency conversion fee. Open a Wise account online, hold and exchange 40+ currencies and order the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7.
You also get two free ATM withdrawals to the value of 200 GBP each month. After that, there is a charge of 0.5 GBP per withdrawal. There’s also a 1.75% fee on any amount you withdraw above 200 GBP.
Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.
**Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.
Sources used:
Sources last checked on date: 11-Dec-2024
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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