How do I open a bank account?

Explained below are procedures for the ING bank, but you are free to open a bank account with any other bank in the Netherlands

ING

You will need a current bank account to manage your day-to-day finances. VU University Amsterdam has an agreement with the ING bank, which should enable all international students of the university to open a bank account.

Required documents for opening a bank account are:

• Valid passport.
• Proof of an address in the Netherlands (e.g. a rental agreement).
• Proof of registration at VU University Amsterdam.

Opening a bank account, including a debit card with chip functionality and (Dutch) Internet banking, involves a one-off cost €20 and thereafter €3,75 every three months. The nearest local branch of the ING in the neighbourhood of Uilenstede is in the shopping mall Gelderlandplein. The address is:

ING BANK
Arent Janszoon Ernstraat 587
1082 LD Amsterdam

Route description from Uilenstede with tram or metro:
Take metro 51 in the direction of Westwijk and get off at Zonnestein (2nd stop). From here it is a four minute walk to the ING bank.

Route description from Uilenstede with bus:
Walk to bus stop Kalfjeslaan/Uilenstede. Take bus 199 in the direction of Schiphol Noord. Get off at bus stop Kronenburg. (6 minute walk)

The local ING bank will be present at the Arrival Days (August 20 and 21). 

For more information and other ING local branches see www.ing.nl/kantoor-zoeken

Of course you can also open a bank account at any other bank that accepts non-Dutch Nationals, e.g. the Rabobank or the ABN Amro bank. However, the above branch of the ING are experienced with international students, and so you are less likely to run into problems there.