Credit cards are essential if you do a lot of travelling, particularly when booking hotels and hiring rental cars.
In this article we will look at the 7 best credit cards in the Netherlands for travel benefits alone. You will see that the list contains a number of American Express (Amex) cards which are well known for their travel features.
However one drawback to Amex cards is they are not as well accepted as Mastercard and Visa – so savvy travellers will often have a number of cards for different situations.
Our top travel cards are as follows:
- American Express Platinum Metal Card [Apply]
- American Express Flying Blue Platinum Card [Apply]
- Mastercard Black Card [Apply]
- American Express Gold Card [Apply]
- American Express Flying Blue Gold Card [Apply]
- American Express Flying Blue Silver Card [Apply]
- bunq Credit Card [Open bunq account]
1. American Express Platinum Metal Card
The American Express Platinum Metal Card is the card on the Dutch market which has by far the most travel benefits. Apply for the American Express Platinum Card here
This is a high-end card used by many frequent flyers and travel ‘professionals’.
It is certainly not cheap – it costs costs €65 per month which is €780 on an annual basis. However, you can get one additional supplementary card for a partner/family member included.
Is the €780 fee worth it? It really depends whether you can make full use of the benefits. The following is a full listing of the travel features which cardholders get:
– A special Priority Pass membership is included for the cardholder and supplementary card holder.
This allows unlimited free entry into one of 1,300 airport lounges worldwide and 1 free guest is allowed per visit per card – unlike the usual Priority Pass membership in which you have to pay for any guests. So with 2 Platinum cards a group of 4 people could all get free lounge access.
Consider that full ‘Prestige’ Priority Pass memberships normally costs €459 per person per year and any guests are charged at €30 per visit. So 2 members that brought 6 guests per year would cost €459×2=€918 (membership) plus €30×6=€180 (guest fees), total €1,098 – this sum is already significantly higher than the Platinum Card annual fee.
Priority Pass lounges at Amsterdam Schiphol airport are the Aspire Lounge 41 (non-Schengen) and Aspire Lounge 26 (Schengen).
– Exclusive to Dutch-based Platinum cardholders is a complimentary Privium Plus membership. Benefits at Amsterdam Schiphol include fast-track security and border control (by iris scan), business class check-in at selected airlines, use of the 3 Privium lounges at Schiphol and the use of (paid) Privium priority parking spaces.
Privium Plus membership normally costs €285 per year; supplementary cardholders get free Privium Partner membership which would cost €110 per year. So the total Privium benefit is valued at €395.
Note, due to the ongoing situation at Schiphol airport, there may be delays with activating Privium membership.
– The Platinum Card offers direct entry into the high quality American Express Centurion lounges.
In Europe these are located at London Heathrow T3 and Stockholm; there are multiple locations in the US; plus Delhi/Mumbai/Hong Kong/Sydney/Melbourne/Buenos Aires/Sao Paolo.
– Access is granted to any Plaza Premium lounges at 80 airports worldwide with 1 guest included by showing your Platinum card.
European lounges include those at Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Geneva, Helsinki, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Rome, Stockholm. Standard entry for 2 people would cost around €80.
– Access is also available to the following airline lounges: Delta Sky Club lounges (no free guests) when flying on Delta Air Lines; select Lufthansa lounges (no free guests) if flying on LH Group airlines Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian. Economy class flyers get access to Lufthansa Business Lounge; business class flyers can access the Lufthansa Senator Lounge.
– If you travel by Eurostar train in Standard or Standard Premier class you can enter the Eurostar Business Premier lounge at London St Pancras, Paris Nord and Brussels Zuid stations. No free guests are allowed. Unfortunately there are no Business Premier lounges at Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
– At Schiphol Airport Amsterdam, Platinum cardholders get a light freshly-prepared meal (Loungebox on the go) at the GRAB&FLY outlets on presentation of your card and boarding pass.
– The Platinum card offers fully comprehensive travel insurance for the cardholder and family and all supplementary card holders. This includes baggage delay, cancellation, travel accident and full car hire insurance.
– The Platinum Card gives instant status in a number of hotel schemes:
Radisson Rewards Premium status
Hilton Honors Gold status (which includes free continental breakfast at all Hilton hotels)
MeliáRewards Gold status
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
– Platinum cardholders can use the Fine Hotels & Resorts booking scheme via Amex Travel which can offer extra stay privileges such as room upgrades, free breakfasts, 4pm check-out and food/drinks credit.
There are around 2,100 premium hotels worldwide in the FHR scheme with 13 properties in the Netherlands – including Andaz Amsterdam, Conservatorium, De L’Europe, Intercontinental Amstel, Kimpton DeWitt, Pulitzer, Sofitel Legend, The Dylan, W Amsterdam.
– Spending on the Platinum Card earns 1 Membership Rewards point for every €1 spent. There are currently no bonus points on applying.
Membership Rewards is the in-house points program from American Express. Dutch-based members can transfer points to 8 airline partners (Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Executive Club, Asia Miles, Delta SkyMiles, Finnair Plus, Iberia Plus, SAS EuroBonus, Singapore Airlines KrisFLyer) and 3 hotel partners (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Radisson Rewards).
For Membership Rewards transfer rates please see: American Express Cards in the Netherlands (Complete Guide)
– For car rentals you get Avis Preferred and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards status which gives a discount up to 15%.
– You get €300 dining credit each year at a selection of the best restaurants worldwide. This is a €150 credit at around 30 restaurants in the Netherlands and a further €150 credit to use at more than 1,400 restaurants in 20 countries.
– Cardholders can get priority booking to special events and exclusive experiences.
In addition to the supplementary Platinum Card, a companion Business Gold Card (normally €225) can be taken out free of charge.
You now only require a minimum gross income of €30,000 per year. This was reduced from €60,000 per year – which has opened the card to many more people.
American Express charges 2.5% for payments made in other (non-euro) currencies.
Though expensive, if you travel extensively and make good use of the card features you could find excellent value and benefits from the card. You can apply for the American Express Platinum Card here
American Express itself values the average Platinum Card benefits available at €3,175.
2. American Express Flying Blue Platinum Card
American Express Flying Blue cards are aimed at those who fly frequently with Air France-KLM and are members of its Flying Blue scheme.
The top-of-the-range Flying Blue Platinum Card costs €55 per month which is €660 per year. Apply for the American Express Flying Blue Platinum Card here
The Flying Blue Platinum Card benefits are listed as follows:
– Fully comprehensive travel insurance for the cardholder and family if paying for your travel or stay with the card. This includes car hire insurance.
– Spending with the Flying Blue Platinum card earns 1.5 Flying Blue Miles for every €1 spent on the card. You earn 2 Flying Blue miles per €1 spent with KLM, Air France and Hertz.
– There is a 10,000 Miles welcome bonus if you spend €5,000 on the card in the first 3 months. Also, by keeping the card your Flying Blue miles will not expire, even if you are not flying for a period of time.
10,000 miles is the starting rate for a return economy flight from Amsterdam to London.
– You get 60 free ‘XP’ points which go towards attaining elite status in the Flying Blue program. The first elite tier (Flying Blue Silver) requires 100 XP in 12 months, so with the card you would only need 40XP to attain silver status.
– In addition you can take the following complimentary cards: a supplementary Flying Blue Platinum Card, a companion Business Gold Card (normally €225) and up to 4 Flying Blue Gold cards.
American Express charges 2.5% for payments made in other (non-euro) currencies.
You require a gross annual income of €30,000 – like the Amex Platinum card this has been reduced from €60,000. You can apply for the American Express Flying Blue Platinum Card here
3. Mastercard Black Card
ICS (International Card Services) offers generic Mastercard and Visa credit cards on the Dutch market.
Its premium product is the Mastercard Black Card which costs €204 per year. A supplementary card for a partner would cost €124 extra.
The Black card has the following features:
– Prestige Priority Pass membership which offers free airport lounge access at more than 1,300 lounges worldwide. Guests are charged at the standard €30 rate.
– Comprehensive travel insurance which covers travel accidents, medical expenses, legal aid and baggage delay insurance.
The forex fee for non-euro transactions is 2.0%. The card requires a minimum net monthly salary of €1,250 (which is the equivalent of around €15,350 gross annual income). Apply for the Mastercard Black Card here
4. American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card is a mid-range card with some travel benefits.
It costs €20 per month which is €240 annually.
Apply for the American Express Gold Card here
It is an excellent introductory card to American Express.
The American Express Gold Card benefits are listed as follows:
– Cardholders receive 4 free airport lounge passes each membership year via Priority Pass to enter into one of 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. This includes the Aspire lounges at Amsterdam Schiphol and in the UK.
– It offers travel and cancellation insurance for the cardholder and family if paying for your travel or stay with the card.
– At Schiphol Airport Amsterdam, Platinum cardholders get a light freshly-prepared meal (Loungebox on the go) at the GRAB&FLY outlets on presentation of your card and boarding pass.
– Spending on the Gold Card earns 1 Membership Rewards point for every €1 spent. There are currently no bonus points on applying.
– You get €100 dining credit each year at a selection of restaurants in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
– There is also a complimentary Amazon Prime subscription.
In addition, 4 supplementary American Express Green Cards can be taken out free of charge for family or friends.
American Express charges 2.5% for payments made in other (non-euro) currencies.
You do require a minimum gross income of €20,000 per year – this has been recently reduced from €36,000.
Apply for the American Express Gold Card here
5. American Express Flying Blue Gold Card
The Flying Blue Gold Card is a mid-range card in the American Express Flying Blue card series.
It costs €16.50 per month which is €198 on an annual basis.
Apply for the American Express Flying Blue Gold Card here
The Flying Blue Gold Card benefits are listed as follows:
– Comprehensive travel insurance for the cardholder and family if paying for your travel or stay with the card.
– Spending with the Flying Blue Gold card earns 1 Flying Blue Miles for every €1 spent on the card. You earn 1.5 Flying Blue miles per €1 spent with KLM, Air France and Hertz.
– A 5,000 miles welcome bonus if you spend €2,500 on the card in the first 3 months. Also, by keeping the card your Flying Blue miles will not expire, even if you are not flying for a period of time.
– You get 30 free XP points which go towards attaining elite status in the Flying Blue program.
In addition, up to 2 supplementary Flying Blue Gold cards can be taken out free of charge for family or friends.
American Express charges 2.5% for payments made in other (non-euro) currencies.
You also require a gross annual income of €20,000.
American Express Flying Blue Gold Application page
6. American Express Flying Blue Silver Card
The Flying Blue Silver Card is a lower-range card in the American Express Flying Blue card series.
It costs €6.25 per month (€75 per year) – though the first year is free.
Apply for the Flying Blue Silver Card here
The Flying Blue Silver Card benefits are listed as follows:
– It offers some basic travel insurance (accident and missed departures) if paying for your travel or stay with the card.
– Spending with the Flying Blue Silver card earns a slightly lower 0.8 Flying Blue Miles for every €1 spent on the card. You earn 1 Flying Blue miles per €1 spent with KLM, Air France and Hertz.
– There is a 2,500 miles welcome bonus if you spend €1,500 on the card in the first 3 months. Also, by keeping the card your Flying Blue miles will not expire, even if you are not flying for a period of time.
– You get 15 free XP points which go towards attaining elite status in the Flying Blue program.
In addition, up to 2 supplementary Silver cards can be taken out free of charge for family or friends.
American Express charges 2.5% for payments made in other (non-euro) currencies.
You require a gross annual income of €20,000.
7. bunq Credit Card
bunq is an app-based Dutch bank with international portal available in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish – making it a smart choice for expats.
The bunq Mastercard Credit Card and bunq Metal Card are available to bunq clients with a number of different plans available.
The cards are effectively a pre-paid credit card in that any deposits or payments made are immediately taken from your account balance.
bunq plans are as follows: Easy Bank (€2.99 per month), Easy Money (€8.99 per month) and Easy Green (€17.99 per month).
– The card can be used to make car rental and hotel deposits unlike many debit cards.
– The reason we list this card here is that bunq advertises a ‘Zero FX‘ foreign exchange fee on non-euro transactions for Easy Money and Easy Green members. In the small print it says you get the real Mastercard exchange rate plus a 0.5% ‘network fee’ – still significantly less than standard credit cards.
– There is a 2% cashback available on the card for public transport expenses (Easy Green users) and a 1% cashback (Easy Green/Easy Money users) for restaurant/bar expenses.
Opening a bunq account can be done in just 5 minutes – as long as you have your ID at hand and a European address. You can even open an account if you don’t yet have your BSN (Dutch tax) number. Open a bunq account here
Note: Credit card names and images above are registered trademarks. You should pay your credit card balance in full every month. As the Dutch say “Let op! Geld lenen kost geld” which basically means “borrowing money costs money”! Terms, conditions and prices can change – please check the card issuers.
We are not offering any financial advice or discussing borrowing interest rates, we are merely describing the main card benefits and features.
This article was first published on 20 June 2023.
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