One part of living in the Netherlands which might surprise its international community is the popularity of joint bank accounts. Most Dutch couples tend to share an account which they use to pay communal bills, such as rent and shopping, and have a second personal account for individual, and private, purchases.

“Joint accounts are very popular in some countries but not everywhere, so internationals can be taken aback to discover that they are the norm here,” says Erwin Heenk, marketing manager at ING, one of the largest banks in the Netherlands. “But a joint account can be a great way of addressing inequality in income between couples, particularly when you have just arrived as an international in the Netherlands.”

It’s fairly common for one partner to arrive in the Netherlands with a job and the other to still be job hunting, but how do you make sure the partner without a fixed income – yet – can still feel financially independent?

“Having different incomes, currencies, savings or employment situations can make things feel uneven between couples,” says Erwin. “That’s why we make it easy to build a setup that feels fair, transparent and comfortable for both partners to share expenses –

Going Dutch

As an example, Erwin mentions setting up individual accounts for personal spending, a joint account for rent, groceries and bills, and a shared savings account for holidays and emergencies. “This way both can retain their independence while still contributing to their shared life,” he points out.

Open a joint current account

Not every couple wants a 50/50 split, of course, so ING supports different ways of sharing costs. You can make contributions based on whatever share suits you and your individual income best, and then use fixed monthly transfers to your joint account. Both partners can then track their shared payments through the ING App.

A joint account with ING also includes two debit cards — a popular way of paying for goods and services in the Netherlands — as well as hassle-free mobile phone options such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Garmin Pay.

You can keep your individual account private, of course, so your other half won’t find out how much you spent on their birthday present.

Cash is not king

— and that debit cards (PIN) or payments via mobile phone apps are the most popular way to pay. As for cheques? They were phased out in the Netherlands decades ago.

If you are not sure what the best option is, an ING Insight Conversation can help you map out your shared expenses and future financial goals without obligation and free of charge for ING customers.

Schedule an Expat Insight Conversation

If you haven’t moved to the Netherlands yet, you can already start the account opening process before you arrive. After registering with your local Dutch municipality, you’ll receive a BSN (citizen service number), which you then have 90 days to provide to ING.