We all know the Dutch don’t spend money they don’t have to. But there’s more to Dutch financial habits than just splitting the bill at dinner; they’re world-class savers and, increasingly, world-class investors, too.
And that shift matters, because if even the most famously frugal culture in Europe is putting its money to work, it might be worth asking: what do they know that you don’t?
Here’s everything you need to know about saving and investing in the Netherlands — and how you can start making the most of your money while you’re here.
Why are the Dutch so good with money?
The Dutch know-how with money goes back centuries. The Netherlands was home to the world’s first stock exchange: the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, founded in 1602.
With it came a deeply ingrained culture of financial pragmatism. You don’t invent modern capitalism without taking money seriously.
Then there’s Calvinisme (Calvinism), the Protestant tradition that shaped Dutch society for generations. Hard work, thrift, and avoiding excess were true virtues. Even as the country has secularised, that instinct to save rather than splurge has stuck around.
The numbers back this up. According to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), Dutch households ended 2024 with a record €600.5 billion sitting in savings and payment accounts, having added €24.2 billion over the course of the year.
The Dutch are, in short, exceptionally good at holding onto their money.
But something is changing
Here’s what’s interesting: rather than just holding on to it, the Dutch are starting to invest too.
According to DNB and AFM figures, Dutch household portfolio investments rose by nearly 7.8% in 2025, closing the year at €204.3 billion. Around 2.2 million Dutch households (roughly a quarter of all households) now hold investments.
That said, savings still far outpace investment portfolios. And according to DNB research, Dutch households channel just 23% of their freely available assets into investments — compared to a European average of 36%.
So the Netherlands remains firmly a savings nation even as investment appetite grows.
Ultimately, this means that if you’re an international in the Netherlands trying to figure out your own finances here, you’re in good company.
Let’s break it down.
First things first: what’s the deal with savings accounts?
Before thinking about investing, it’s worth understanding your banking options.
A deposit savings account is exactly what it sounds like: an account where you put money and earn interest over time. The two main types are:
- Easy-access accounts (vrij opneembaar / spaarrekening — freely withdrawable / savings account), where your money is available whenever you need it. In the EU generally, rates can be as high as 2.85% on freely accessible accounts.
- Fixed-term deposits, where you lock money away for a set period in exchange for a higher interest rate — they can go as high as 3.25% p.a., depending on how long you fix for.
So, what about savings accounts in the Netherlands specifically? Unfortunately, Dutch banks have historically offered fairly low interest rates.
A typical interest rate you would see is around 1.25% to 1.45% at major Dutch banks like ABN AMRO. Your money sits there technically earning interest, but not always enough to meaningfully grow your wealth.
This is why many people in the Netherlands are turning to banks in other European countries that offer noticeably better rates.
And accessing them is easier than it sounds. For example, it can be done smoothly using a variety of investment and savings apps.
You can easily compare savings accounts from banks across Europe and open one directly — all from a single account. Need an example? Raisin currently offers a flexible savings account with a yearly interest rate of 2.85%.
So what about investing?
Once you have a handle on your savings, it’s time to start thinking about investing in stocks and ETFs. But if you’ve never done it before, it can feel daunting.
Here’s a simple way to think about it: investing means putting your money into assets, like shares in companies or funds, with the hope they’ll grow in value over time.
Unlike a savings account, returns aren’t guaranteed. However, over the long term, investing has historically offered higher growth than keeping money in savings accounts (especially with those low interest rates at your Dutch bank).
So, how do you start your investment journey?
Investment platforms: what they are and why they matter
An investment platform is a service that lets you invest without having to make every individual decision yourself.
Aside from buying individual stocks, many platforms offer portfolio-based investing — where your money is spread across a range of assets, typically ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and index funds.
ETFs and index funds bundle together many different investments. Instead of betting everything on a single company, your money is spread across dozens or hundreds of them, reducing the risk of any one investment dragging down your entire portfolio.
This is known as diversification, and it’s one of the most widely recommended approaches to long-term investing.
Want to start investing but not sure where to begin? Raisin lets you save and invest from a single account.
Answer a few quick questions about your finances, and you’ll be matched with a portfolio that fits. From there, Raisin takes care of everything: financial experts passively manage a mix of ETFs and index funds, spread across more than 8,000 shares and bonds worldwide. Best of all, you can get started with as little as €25.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risks. You could lose (part of) your investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Raisin Investing is offered by Raisin Bank.
What to consider when thinking of investing
If you’re weighing up whether you should invest, a few things are worth bearing in mind.
Diversification means your money isn’t tied to the fate of a single company or sector. If one investment drops, others may hold steady or rise.
Long-term thinking is key. Markets fluctuate in the short term — 2025 saw significant turbulence following US tariff announcements — but diversified portfolios have historically grown over longer periods. The fact that Dutch investors closed 2025 up nearly 8% despite all that market noise says a lot.
Accessibility has improved enormously. You no longer need to be wealthy or financially savvy to start, and many platforms are designed with beginners in mind.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that the Dutch government has been adjusting financial policies in ways that affect how savings and investments are taxed, and retirement ages continue to shift.
Factors like these make careful thinking about investing vs saving now all the more important.
The Dutch didn’t build their savings-and-investment culture overnight. It took centuries of habit, history, and hard-won financial common sense.
But the fundamentals are the same for everyone: know your options, make your money work for you, and don’t let it sit idle if it doesn’t have to.
Are you already saving or investing in the Netherlands? Let us know how you manage your money in the comments below!
Interest rates mentioned in the article are valid as of 27.03.2026