Our top choice for expats on a budget, the ABN Amro Credit Card offers excellent value for money and all the reliability you can expect from a traditional Dutch bank.

With worldwide acceptance and 180-day purchase insurance against damage or loss, it’s your best friend for making international payments.

And, speaking of going international, the card also carries a great set of features for globetrotters: you’ve got access to both luggage delay and flight delay insurance, ensuring that you (and your bags!) are exactly where you need to be within four hours.

Even better? Although this credit card is offered by a traditional bank, it comes with several modern bells and whistles, like contactless payments via your smartwatch and seamless app access.

Plus, you can forget about filling in endless forms at a brick-and-mortar bank — applying for the ABN Amro Credit Card can be done entirely online. In general, you’ll need to be over 18 and live in the Netherlands to apply.

In addition to the card being priced at a super-affordable € 2.05 per month, you’ll need to have a very reasonable net monthly income of at least €1,150 to be eligible. (Or freely-taxable capital of €20,000 at minimum.)

The most exclusive Mastercard, Mastercard Black, is a great option for those who like to travel in style.

With access to more than 1500 VIP lounges in large airports across 90 different countries, you’ll be sure to enjoy some extra pampering before you fly back home to visit your family or to a well-deserved vacation.

Naturally, a continuous travel insurance is part of the package. Just like with any good credit card, every purchase you make with Mastercard Black is protected against theft, loss or damage for up to one year.

To top it all off, you get your personal assistant who is available to you six days a week. Need to quickly book a hotel or flight tickets? Looking for tickets for a specific event? Need to book a place in a restaurant abroad? They’re just one call away to help with all that.

Of course, these perks come at a price — and for this card, that’s €204 per year. However, we think it’s a good middle ground between more affordable cards without travel benefits and high-end cards with awesome perks but a high monthly fee.

To be eligible, you must have a minimum income of €1,150 net per month, and you must not have a negative BKR assessment — simple!

The best Visa credit card for those on a budget, the ICS Visa World Card combines everyday convenience with some stellar globetrotting perks.

As one of the most widely accepted credit cards, it offers you excellent discounts on holidays, products, and services across the globe.

When it comes to global banking, security is key — which is exactly where the Visa World Card’s 24/7 fraud protection and purchase insurance come in handy. For up to 180 days after your initial purchase, your items are protected against loss, theft, and damage.

Unfortunately, you can’t register and start using the card straight away, as you’ll likely need a proven monthly income of at least €1,150 to apply for the Visa World Card.

Income requirements aside, the card offers you the flexibility to set a spending limit between €1,000 and €5,000 — based on your predicted monthly expenses and how well you can afford to repay them, ensuring that your credit score stays in tip-top shape.

Plus, with a 21-day grace period to repay any outstanding balances and full control over your spending in the ICS Creditcard app, this card gives you the tools to efficiently manage your money.

Dubbed the “intelligent business bank account for freelancers”, the N26 Business Mastercard is our top pick for a ZZPer-approved free business banking card.

Though technically a debit Mastercard, this virtual card also comes with a free N26 Business bank account, giving powerful money-management features and savings options — from the comfort of your mobile phone.

With this handy business account, you also get access to N26’s full suite of banking tools: a German IBAN, free virtual cards, and a host of sub-accounts.

When it comes to ordering your virtual Mastercard, you can wave goodbye to endless paperwork and credit checks — the entire process can be done online, in a matter of minutes.

And for those who prefer a physical card, you’ll just need to pay a delivery cost of €10 to have your snazzy card whizzing through the post to you.

Even better? In addition to giving you an in-depth monthly overview of your incoming and outgoing payments, this N26 account also helps you file taxes and keep track of business invoices.

So, whether you’re a seasoned freelancer or just dipping your toes in the “be your own boss” life, the N26 Business Mastercard can give you the best financial tools for success.