Best Netherlands Trading Platforms Regulated by AFM

Written by Miro Nikolov

Miro Nikolov is the co-founder of TradingPedia.com and BestBrokers.com. His mission is to help people make profitable investments by giving them access to educational resources and analytics tools.

, | Updated: October 30, 2024

Our team of expert traders tested several regulated and trustworthy Netherlands trading platforms and compiled a toplist with the best among them. Each trading platform operating in Netherlands received a quality score based on several factors, including Trustpilot rating, regulation, fees and commissions, available trading platforms, customer service and more.

Online trading is legal in the Netherlands but requires authorization from the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), which regulates all financial services providers operating on Dutch soil. As a member state of the EU, the country has also adopted the so-called European passporting regime that enables financial companies to service Dutch customers with licenses issued by other European regulators like the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Because of this, most of the regulatory requirements imposed by the AFM overlap with those enforced in the EU under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive of 2014.

Dutch traders face no shortage of licensed brokerage firms that adhere to the EU’s financial regulatory framework. Trading with all major asset groups is legal in the country, including forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, bonds, and commodities. Traders from the Netherlands can speculate on price changes through contracts for difference (CFDs) and have access to maximum leverage capped at 30:1. Retail investors residing on Dutch soil benefit from negative balance protection and other risk-management policies that prevent them from slipping into debt.

On this page, we cover all there is to know about online trading in the Netherlands, including regulations, the payment methods suitable for Dutch traders, and supported trading platforms. Let’s examine the ten best brokers that cater to traders from the country before we delve deeper into trading regulations in the Netherlands.

Regulators	Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)
Forex Trading Leverage	30:1 for major pairs 20:1 for non-major currency pairs
Stock Trading Leverage	5:1 for shares
CFD Trading Leverage	30:1

Best Netherlands Brokers

Online trading is a popular activity in the Netherlands, with a huge number of regulated brokers accepting clients from the country. We created the following ranking to assist Dutch traders in finding the best brokers operating on the local market. Our top ten picks are based on several important criteria, including trading costs, range of available products, supported platforms, and overall reputation. We also made sure all recommended brokers that made the cut are properly regulated and maintain the highest standards of compliance.

TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW
Regulators
Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Platforms
MT5, MT4, WebTrader, DupliTrade, Fusion+
1. Fusion Markets
Min Deposit
No minimum deposit requirement
Fees
Free deposits and withdrawals
No maintenance fees on inactive accounts
Deposit Methods
Commissions
€2.25 per side on Zero accounts
€0 commission on Classic accounts
Spread
From 0 pips on Zero accounts
From 0.9 pips on Classic accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
500:1 for the Netherlands, according to customer support
Leverage non-EU
500:1 for forex and metals
100:1 for indices
10:1 for cryptocurrencies
Instruments
Forex, soft commodities, energies, precious metals, indices, stocks
Risk Warning: Gleneagle Securities Pty Limited (Company Number 40256) trading as Fusion Markets, is the issuer of the Fusion Markets Products described in this communication. Trading in Fusion Markets Products involves the potential for profit as well as the risk of loss which may vastly exceed the amount of your initial deposit and is not suitable for all investors. You should read all of these Financial Product Service Terms, and the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (available on our website) carefully, consider your own financial situation, needs and objectives for investing in these Fusion Markets Products and obtain independent financial advice.
Fusion Markets is a low-cost trading site licensed in the jurisdictions of Vanuatu and Australia. The broker appeals to both fledgling traders and seasoned investors as it offers competitive pricing, fee-free deposits and withdrawals, and spreads that start from zero pips. Commissions at Fusion Markets, when applicable, are 36% lower compared to those charged by the company’s closest competitors.
The broker gives new clients the ultimate flexibility to start trading with as little as they want since there are no minimum size requirements on live accounts. With that being said, the majority of depositing customers fund their new accounts with at least €1,500 on average, according to the brokerage. Clients can test Fusion Markets’ products via free demo accounts that expire thirty days after registration.
Fusion Markets offers over 250 tradable instruments, including more than 90 currency pairs and 100 stocks. Precious metals, soft commodities, cryptocurrencies, and indices are also available for trading via contracts for difference, with leverage caps reaching 500:1 for retail accounts registered through the VFSC-licensed version of the site.
Leverage at Fusion Markets is instrument-specific and decreases proportionally to the volatility inherent to the underlying assets. Fusion Markets provides a choice from a healthy range of trading platforms, including MT5, MT4, and WebTrader. Copy trading is possible via Fusion+ and DupliTrade.
Traders need not worry about additional costs when it comes to account funding and withdrawals, both of which incur no extra fees on Fusion Markets’ end. The broker provides white-glove customer service via email, telephone, and live chat.
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Regulators
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
Poland Financial Supervision Authority (PFSA)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Central Bank of Ireland
South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
Financial Services Agency of Japan (FSA)
Abu Dhabi Financial Regulatory Services Authority (FRSA)
British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC)
Israel Securities Authority (ISA)
Platforms
MT5, MT4, DupliTrade, AvaOptions, AvaTradeGO, ZuluTrade, Proprietary WebTrader
2. AvaTrade
Min Deposit
€100
Fees
Free deposits and withdrawals
A €50 monthly maintenance fee after three months of inactivity
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commissions
Spread
0.9 pips for EUR/USD
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 for major forex pairs
Leverage non-EU
400:1 for major forex pairs
200:1 for gold
100:1 for crude oil
50:1 for silver, natural gas, and heating oil
Up to 25:1 for cryptocurrencies
10:1 for stocks
Instruments
Forex pairs, indices, commodities, spread betting, indices, stocks, options, bonds, ETFs, cryptocurrencies
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
AvaTrade has been providing affordable trading services since 2006 under licenses granted by the financial regulators of Cyprus, Australia, Japan, and South Africa, among others. The company empowers customers to trade with contracts for difference for currency pairs, commodities, stocks, options, indices, and cryptocurrencies. AvaTrade does not charge commissions on trading or transactions as it generates revenue from the spreads and swaps on trades.
The broker offers over a thousand tradable instruments and provides a friendly user-oriented environment to customers from six continents. The company’s proprietary browser-based platform gives users access to a broad range of timeframes and indicators for valuable technical analysis insights and easy trend recognition. MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are also supported. Customers can duplicate the positions and strategies of seasoned investors in real time with automated social trading platforms like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade.
Inexperienced traders can quickly improve their learning curve as AvaTrade offers comprehensive tutorials, webinars, and various market analysis videos. Being a company with a solid global presence, AvaTrade provides professional customer support in over twenty languages, including Dutch, German, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, and Chinese. The support staff is reachable via local telephone lines, live chat, and WhatsApp. Minimum deposits are higher than the industry average at €100. However, you can give the broker a risk-free test drive via a demo account topped up with €10,000 in virtual funds.
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Regulators
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Jordan Securities Commission (JSC)
South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
Platforms
MT5, MT4, MT WebTrader, MT5 Supreme Edition, StereoTrader, Mobile Apps for iOS and Android
3. Admirals
Min Deposit
€1 for Invest MT5 accounts
€100 for other account types
Fees
Free deposits
One free withdrawal per month
A €10 maintenance fee after two years of inactivity
A 0.3% currency conversion fee
Deposit Methods
Commissions
€0.02 per share for Trade MT4, Trade MT5, and Invest MT5 accounts
Zero MT4 and Zero MT5 accounts: €1.8 to €3 per lot for forex and metals
€0.05 to €3 per lot for indices
€1 per lot for energies
Spread
From 0 pips for Zero MT4, Zero MT5, and Invest MT5 accounts
From 0.5 pips for Trade MT5 and Trade MT4 accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 for forex majors
20:1 for indices
Leverage non-EU
1,000:1
Instruments
Forex, commodities, stocks, indices, bonds, cryptocurrencies, ETFs
Investments involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Admirals is one of the largest forex brokers in the world, boasting an active presence in more than 130 countries on a global scale. The broker has been revolutionizing online trading since 2001 and recently rebranded from Admiral Markets in celebration of its twentieth anniversary. It ranks highly on our list of recommended brokerage firms for Dutch traders as it enables trading with a wide range of instruments at highly competitive pricing.
From currency pairs and commodities to indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies, savvy traders face plenty of opportunities to profit at Admirals. Dutch retail customers can leverage their positions at a maximum ratio of 30:1. Those who qualify for professional accounts will benefit from higher leverage capped at 500:1. There are several account types to choose from, including Zero, Invest, and Trade. Customers can place orders via the downloadable desktop versions of MT4 or MT5 but using the browser-based WebTrader is also an option.
The MetaTrader Supreme Edition plugin accommodates traders looking to perform more sophisticated technical analysis. Experienced investors can also take advantage of StereoTrader. Compatible with MT4 and MT5, this scalable interface comes with advanced order types like Dynamic Trailing and Limit Pullback.
Dutch traders can replenish their live balance with broadly available deposit methods like bank transfers, Visa, Mastercard, and Skrill. Customers are entitled to one free withdrawal per month. Subsequent withdrawal requests made within the same month will cost them €1 with bank transfers and 1% (with a €1 minimum) with the other supported methods.
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Regulators
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
Kenya Capital Markets Authority (CMA)
Platforms
TradingView, cTrader, MT4, MT5, Capitalise.ai
4. Pepperstone
Min Deposit
No minimum deposit requirement
Fees
Free deposits and withdrawals No monthly inactivity fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
€5.20 per lot for stock trades via MT5 and MT4 Razor accounts
Spread
From 0.0 pips on major currency pairs with Razor accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 (500:1 for professional clients)
Leverage non-EU
50:1 for Dubai, 400:1 for Saudi Arabia
Instruments
Forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, stocks, ETFs
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79.7% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Pepperstone was launched in 2010 by a group of seasoned traders that grew tired of dealing with slow order execution, high trading costs, and inadequate support. Thankfully, Dutch traders will not have to go through any of these ordeals at Pepperstone. The brokerage firm is renowned for its excellent order execution, affordable pricing, and white-glove customer care. It carries licenses from first-tier financial regulators like the CySEC, ASIC, and FCA, which further improves its track record.
Customers of Pepperstone benefit from a versatile range of tradable markets for forex, commodities, shares, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Spreads are tight but differ based on what type of account you set up. Clients who register for MT4 and MT5 Razor accounts can trade forex majors with spreads as low as zero pips. The spreads on Standard accounts are slightly higher but still very affordable.
Apart from MT4 and MT5, traders at Pepperstone can place orders via cTrader and TradingView. Capitalise.ai enables customers of all experience levels to automate their bespoke strategies without using programming languages. Clients of the brokerage can access this innovative platform by using the sign-in credentials of their existing MT4 accounts.
The broker supports plenty of payment options, including cards, online banking processors, and bank transfers. Dutch customers can transact in EUR but other base account currencies like USD, GBP, CAD, and AUD are available as well. Withdrawals from your live balance take up to five business days to process, depending on the method used.
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Regulators
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)
Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB)
Spain National Stock Market Commission (CNVM)
France Prudential Control and Resolution Authority (ACPR)
Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA)
South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
Seychelles Financial Services Authority (SFSA)
Platforms
MT5, MT4, MT WebTrader, Mobile Apps for iOS and Android
5. Tickmill
Min Deposit
€100 for Pro and Classic accounts
A €50,000 minimum balance requirement for VIP accounts
Fees
Free deposits and withdrawals
No maintenance fees on inactive accounts
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commissions on Classic accounts
€2 per side per standard lot on Pro accounts
€1 per side per standard lot on VIP accounts
Spread
From 0.0 pips for Pro accounts
From 1.6 pips for Classic accounts
From 0.0 pips for VIP accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 for retail customers
Leverage non-EU
500:1 for forex and gold
200:1 for lower-volatility cryptocurrencies
100:1 for indices, bonds, WTI crude oil, and Brent oil
125:1 for silver
50:1 for copper and natural gas
20:1 for higher-volatility cryptocurrencies
Instruments
Forex, indices, stocks, commodities, bonds, cryptocurrencies
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill Europe Ltd. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Tickmill is a reputable online broker whose global reach extends to over 200 countries spread across six continents. Launched by a group of financial industry experts, the company has procured licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, including the CySEC, FCA, and BaFin. The broker handles more than 105 million trades per month and boasts an average order execution speed of 0.2 seconds.
Tickmill attracts clients with its excellent blend of tradable instruments, allowing them to trade with fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies, bonds, stocks, indices, and commodities. Pricing is affordable at Tickmill, with spreads starting from zero pips and nominal commissions on Professional and VIP accounts. Customers who set up Classic accounts can trade with spreads from 1.6 pips and pay no commissions whatsoever.
The broker offers the full suite of MetaTrader platforms, including MT4, MT5, and WebTrader. Additionally, Tickmill clients can trade the global markets as they go via an intuitive native app compatible with Android 7.0 and iOS 14.0 or higher. Mobile traders can perform detailed technical analysis via Expert Advisors. Strategies like scalping and hedging are also permitted at Tickmill.
Tickmill is a great choice for traders looking to reduce their transactional expenses and manage their funds more effectively. The broker covers all processing fees up to €100 or the currency equivalent. Traders are not penalized for inactivity, either, as dormant accounts incur no monthly maintenance fees. With that said, dormant accounts with a live balance of €50 or less are subject to disablement after 60 calendar days of inactivity.
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Regulators
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Seychelles Financial Services Authority (SFSA)
Platforms
MT4, MT5, TradingView, Proprietary Web Platform, Mobile Apps for iOS 11.0 and Android 5.0
6. easyMarkets
Min Deposit
€25 for Premium and MT5 accounts
€10,000 for VIP accounts
Fees
Free deposits and withdrawals
A €25 monthly maintenance fee after one year of inactivity
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commissions
Spread
From 0.5 pips for EUR/USD trades via MT5 accounts
From 0.7 pips for EUR/USD trades via MT4 accounts
From 0.8 for EUS/USD trades via TradingView and the proprietary platform
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 for retail clients
For professional MT5 accounts:
500:1 for currencies and metals
200:1 for commodities
100:1 for indices
20:1 for stocks and cryptocurrencies
Leverage non-EU
400:1 or 500:1, depending on the account type
Instruments
Forex, stocks, cryptocurrencies, soft and hard commodities, indices, forwards, vanilla options, CFDs
Trade Responsibly: CFDs and Options are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and Options work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Please refer to our full risk disclaimer.
Founded in 2001, easyMarkets is an international online trading provider with offices in Europe, China, and Australia. The company accepts Dutch traders with a license granted by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and operates in full compliance with ESMA’s regulations. Dutch customers will benefit from negative balance protection and funds segregation. Clients can profit from pure price action as CFDs are available for all major asset classes, including currency pairs, commodities, indices, shares, and cryptocurrencies. Trading with vanilla options and forwards is also possible at easyMarkets.
The maximum leverage EU customers can use is restricted to 30:1 in line with the MiFID II legislative framework. Professional clients have access to higher leverage ratios that reach 500:1 for MT5 accounts, 400:1 for MT4 accounts, and 200:1 for TradingView accounts. Spreads are largely fixed unless you open an MT5 account that comes with a variable spread that starts at 0.5 pips for forex majors like EUR/USD. All available account types carry no commissions but inactive traders are charged monthly inactivity fees for maintenance.
Dutch customers face a decent choice of payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Skrill, Neteller, and bank transfers. Deposits and withdrawals come at no extra cost for the customer. Novices are encouraged to start with a free demo account before they risk any real money. EasyMarkets enables them to broaden their trading knowledge with comprehensive courses and free electronic books.
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Regulators
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB)
Platforms
MT4, CloudTrade, Proprietary Web Platform, Mobile Apps for iOS 11.0 and Android 5.0
7. Trade Nation
Min Deposit
No minimum deposit requirements
Fees
Free deposits and withdrawals
No inactivity fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
Zero commissions
Spread
CloudTrade: From 0.3 pips for forex majors like EUR/USD and USD/JPY
MetaTrader 4: 0.0 pips for EUR/USD and USD/JPY
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 for forex majors
20:1 for forex minors, major indices and gold
10:1 for other indices and commodities
5:1 for bonds and shares
Leverage non-EU
200:1 for forex majors and bonds
From 50:1 to 100:1 for other currency pairs
200:1 for indices
20:1 for stocks
Instruments
Forex, indices, energies, metals, bonds, stocks, cryptocurrencies
‌Financial Spread Bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Trade Nation provides cost-effective trading services with narrow spreads, zero commissions, and no hidden fees whatsoever. Clients can explore over a thousand markets from a single account, including forex, stocks, indices, bonds, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The broker offers a proprietary browser-based platform but third-party software like MT4 and CloudTrade is also available. Retail clients from the Netherlands have access to maximum leverage of 30:1, while those based outside the European Union can leverage their trades at a ratio of 200:1.
The spreads on the most popular markets are fixed rather than floating so that customers of Trade Nation always know where they stand. The exact trading costs are market-specific and are clearly outlined in the broker’s market information sheet. The platform you use also matters. Forex majors like EUR/USD have spreads of 0.0 and 0.3 pips when traded via MT4 and CloudTrade, respectively. Transferring funds to and from your live balance is free of charge. Dormant accounts do not incur inactivity fees, either.
Live account holders can top up their balance with credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, online banking processors, and cryptocurrencies. To protect customers from fraud, Trade Nation returns withdrawals to the original source of deposit. Trade Nation safeguards retail customers who trade on margin from running up debt by offering them negative balance protection and guaranteed stop losses. Overall, this broker is suitable for all experience levels and styles, from swing trading to scalping.
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Regulators
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA)
Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
Platforms
MT5, MT4, Mobile Apps for iOS 14.4 and Android 6.0
8. HYCM
Min Deposit
€100 for Classic and Fixed Spread accounts
€200 for Raw accounts
Fees
Free deposits
Free withdrawals over €300
A 1% processing fee for Skrill and Neteller for withdrawals over €5,000
A €10 monthly maintenance fee after 90 days of inactivity
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commissions on Classic and Fixed Spread accounts
An €8 round-turn commission on Raw accounts
Spread
0.1 pips for Raw accounts
1.2 pips for Classic accounts
1.5 pips for Fixed Spread accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 for forex majors
20:1 for indices and commodities
5:1 for stocks
Leverage non-EU
500:1 for forex
200:1 for indices
133:1 for commodities
20:1 for stocks and cryptocurrencies
Instruments
Forex, stocks, commodities, indices
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 66% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
In operation since the late 1970s, HYCM has established itself as one of the most trusted names in the online trading industry. The company is authorized to conduct business in multiple regulated jurisdictions, including Cyprus, Dubai, and the UK. It has earned multiple accolades over the years that further testify to the excellence of its services. One of its most recent achievements was winning the award for Best Mobile Trading App at the 2022 Forex Expo.
HYCM accepts live account registrations from the Netherlands, allowing Dutch customers to trade with over 100 financial instruments. Over 40 currency pairs, stocks, and commodities are available for trading at HYCM. Clients additionally have access to over 15 of the most popular stock indices in the world. Trading costs are low but the exact spreads and commissions vary based on account type (Fixed, Classic, or Raw).
Raw accounts offer the lowest spreads from 0.1 pips but traders incur a €4 commission per round, so their all-in costs equate to €8 in total. No commission is in place for Classic and Fixed accounts but the average spreads are higher at 1.2 and 1.5 pips, respectively. All three account types are available in a swap-free format. The broker ensures seamless out-of-the-box trading via MT4 and MT5. The speed of order execution averages 12 milliseconds.
Deposits are free but withdrawals with e-wallets like Neteller or Skrill can incur additional processing fees when exceeding €5,000 per request. HYCM participates in the Investors Compensation Fund (ICF), which means each Dutch customer is entitled to €20,000 in maximum financial restitution.
TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW
Regulators
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Platforms
TradingView, MT4, MT5, Capitalise.ai
9. Eightcap
Min Deposit
€100
Fees
A 0.75% fee on cryptocurrency withdrawals
No inactivity fee
Deposit Methods
Commissions
€3.50 per standard lot for stocks traded via Raw accounts
Spread
0.0 pips on Raw accounts
1.0 pips on Standard accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 for forex majors
Leverage non-EU
500:1 for currency pairs and commodities
200:1 for indices
20:1 for cryptocurrencies
5:1 for stocks
Instruments
Forex, commodities, indices, stocks, cryptocurrencies
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79.04% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Eightcap has a high trust score among traders worldwide as it is licensed in multiple jurisdictions, including Cyprus, Australia, the Bahamas, and the UK. The broker boasts a proven track record for providing superior trading experience at low pricing. Customers can capitalize on the price movements of all major financial instruments, including forex, stocks, indices, and commodities. Clients with a higher risk tolerance can trade with volatile cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. With that said, crypto trading is unavailable to Dutch traders and customers who register through the .eu domain.
The broker has made real strides in bringing affordable trading services to retail clients as spreads for major currency pairs start from zero pips on Raw accounts. The spreads on Standard accounts average 1.0 pips. Commissions are in place on stock trades but the charges generally align with the industry average. Transactions to and from live accounts are not associated with additional expenses unless you withdraw via cryptocurrencies, in which case you might incur a nominal processing fee.
Eightcap accepts a plethora of payment methods but their availability is region-specific. Dutch customers should feel free to deposit and withdraw via secure banking solutions like Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, and bank transfers. Traders with dormant accounts incur no inactivity fees. Last but definitely not least, Eightcap ensures a foolproof experience for unversed traders, catering to their needs with a healthy range of educational materials. The broker covers all basic trading strategies and fundamentals in the ‘Learn’ section of its website.
TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW
Regulators
Netherlands Authority for Financial Markets (AFM)
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)
Sweden Financial Supervisory Authority (SFSA)
Finland Financial Supervisory Authority (FFSA)
Spain National Securities Market Commission (NSMC)
Polish Financial Supervision Authority (PFSA)
French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (PSRA)
Italian Companies and Exchange Commission
National Bank of Hungary (NBH)
Platforms
MT5, MT4, WebTrader (MT4, MT5), Mobile Apps for iOS 14.0 and Android 7.0
10. XM
Min Deposit
€5 across all retail account types
Fees
Free deposits and withdrawals
€5 monthly maintenance fee after 90 days of inactivity
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commissions on Ultra Low Micro and Ultra Low Standard accounts
€1 per side for major US shares
€9 per side for UK shares
€5 per side for German shares
Spread
From 0.0 pips for Zero accounts
From 0.6 pips for Ultra Low Standard and Ultra Low Micro accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1 for forex majors
Leverage non-EU
1,000:1
Instruments
Forex, soft commodities, stocks, equity indices, energies, precious metals
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 77.37% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Please consider our Risk Disclosure.
XM is one of the largest online trading sites on a global scale as it services more than 10 million customers from over 190 countries. Few brokers can brag about having as many first-tier licenses as XM, which is regulated in the Netherlands, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, and more. The company facilitates trading with more than 1,000 financial instruments, ranging from currency pairs and commodities to shares and equity indices. XM has executed north of 2.4 billion successful trades with no requotes since it launched back in 2009.
This is a full-scale MetaTrader broker that provides a choice from the downloadable MT4, MT5, and WebTrader. Mobile users can stay on top of the financial markets as XM offers dedicated apps available for free download on the App Store and Google Play. The pricing on trades is beyond affordable, with spreads starting from 0.6 pips for Standard and Micro accounts. Zero accounts offer even more competitive spreads from 0 pips. The rub is commissions are charged, instead.
XM is a great fit for seasoned and novice traders alike as it offers superior educational content and plenty of market research tools. Live account holders have access to technical summaries, informative podcasts, educational videos, webinars, and detailed platform tutorials. Just as importantly, the broker caters to its diverse community of traders with multilingual support in over 20 languages, including Dutch, German, French, Italian, and Swedish. The support agents are on standby from Monday to Friday, which some traders might find inconvenient.

Trading Regulation in the Netherlands

The financial services sector in the Netherlands is overseen by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), which took over the regulatory responsibilities of the Securities Board of the Netherlands in 2002. The AFM carries out several important functions, starting with the authorization and supervision of all financial services providers operating in the country. It oversees a range of financial products, including loans, investments, insurance, and savings.

It issues licenses to online brokers, observes for breaches, and imposes sanctions for non-compliance with its regulatory requirements. The watchdog strives to promote confidence in the local financial markets by ensuring they operate smoothly, transparently, and fairly.

It protects the best interests of local investors and operates in conjunction with the Dutch Central Bank (DNB), which is tasked with the implementation of monetary policies and the prudential regulation of financial institutions in the country. Since the Netherlands is part of the European Union, the AFM has obtained membership in the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).

The Dutch regulatory framework largely aligns with the requirements set forth by ESMA under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive 2014 (MiFID II). MiFID II regulation is applicable to all brokers operating on EU soil. It aims to strengthen the level of consumer protection and make the financial markets in the Union more transparent.

Forex Trading Regulation in the Netherlands

Forex brokers must satisfy various requirements to operate legally in the Netherlands. To begin with, they must procure valid operating licenses from the AFM or another financial regulator with supervisory powers in a member state of the European Union. Companies licensed within the EU have ‘European passports’ that enable them to service Dutch residents without additional authorization. Forex brokers that lack authorization in the EU are generally prohibited from catering to traders based in the Netherlands. Regulated brokerage firms must present periodic financial reports to the Dutch regulator.

The reports must contain comprehensive information about the companies’ products and their revenue. This enables the AFM to adequately monitor their financial performance and ascertain licensed brokers are not engaging in any unethical practices or fraudulent activities. If a company’s issued capital grows or declines by 1% or more within any given quarter, these changes must be reported to the regulator without delay. This requirement enables the watchdog to weed out brokers that experience liquidity issues.

Speaking of which, forex brokers must satisfy certain minimum capital requirements to obtain operating licenses in the Netherlands. The firms must also have a physical presence in the country and set up registered offices there. Licensed forex brokers must separate their operating capital from the funds of their customers. They are required to store client money in segregated accounts at reputable first-tier banks.

Stocks Trading Regulation in the Netherlands

The AFM has the mandate to regulate stock trading in the Netherlands and oversees the operations of Euronext Amsterdam, which is regarded as the oldest stock exchange in the world. Euronext has branches in several other European capitals, including Paris, Dublin, Oslo, Lisbon, Brussels, and Milan. It is the largest stock exchange in Europe in terms of liquidity pool and market capitalization (€6.3 trillion as of 2022).

The Dutch financial regulator monitors the conduct of all publicly listed companies on Euronext Amsterdam and approves their prospectuses. It keeps a close watch for unethical practices like insider trading that undermine the integrity of the local stock market. Companies that pursue listing on Euronext Amsterdam must satisfy certain initial listing requirements and have their prospectuses approved upfront by the Dutch watchdog or another relevant financial regulator.

There are no minimum market cap requirements to fulfill but the interested companies must have at least 25% of their shares in free float to gain approval. Lower free float percentages bear consideration on condition a company has sufficient shares to ensure enough liquidity. The bare minimum is set at 5% and must correspond to €5 million or more in free float shares available for public trading. Additionally, the applicants for Euronext Amsterdam listing must provide audited financial statements for the past three years.

Both the AFM and ESMA strictly prohibit naked short selling in stock trading. Also known as ‘naked shorting’, this practice is illegal in many countries worldwide because it involves the sale of shares that have not been positively confirmed to actually exist. It negatively affects the prices of stocks and erodes the integrity of the stock market.

Other than that, residents of the Netherlands can legally participate in stock trading as long as they do so with a properly licensed broker. They can purchase shares on the spot market and earn dividends from them. Speculating on stock prices through contracts for difference is also possible. The maximum leverage Dutch traders can take advantage of in this case is capped at 5:1 under ESMA’s requirements.

CFD Trading Regulation in the Netherlands

Contracts for difference (CFDs) are high-risk derivatives that enable traders to speculate on price movements without purchasing the underlying assets. They are characterized by the use of leverage, which enables traders to gain greater market exposure by putting up only a small initial investment called ‘margin’. Traders who use leverage essentially borrow money from their brokers to open larger positions than they can afford upfront. Leverage has the potential to magnify their profits but can also result in devastating losses when market volatility picks up.

Because of this, the AFM imposes various restrictions on CFD trading, which largely overlap with the requirements outlined in MiFID II. CFD brokers operating on the Dutch market must enforce certain leverage caps to mitigate the risks associated with margin trading. The maximum leverage retail traders can use depends on the volatility of the underlying asset. Retail traders from the Netherlands can leverage their positions at the following ratios:

30:1 (3.33% initial margin) for major forex pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD
20:1 (5% margin) for minor and exotic pairs, major equity indices, and gold
10:1 (10% margin) for other commodities and equity indices
5:1 (20% margin) for stocks
2:1 (50% margin) for cryptocurrencies

Clients who qualify as professional traders have access to significantly higher leverage ratios. In addition to imposing leverage restrictions, CFD brokers operating in the Netherlands must provide automatic margin close-out protection to all retail customers. If a client does not have a sufficient balance to cover their margin, the broker must send them a margin call prompting them to either replenish their account or close the losing position. If the trader does neither in due time, they will suffer an automatic margin closeout.

The AFM and ESMA requirements stipulate that CFD brokers must provide negative balance protection to customers who trade on margin. This policy prevents inexperienced customers from slipping into debt and losing more money than they have available in their balance during periods of high market volatility. When negative balance protection is in place, a trader’s balance resets to zero rather than going into the red. This protection mechanism is a prerogative to retail clients only and professional traders cannot take advantage of it.

Finally, CFD brokers must publish risk disclosures on their websites to warn their clients about the financial risks associated with margin trading and leverage. The risk warnings should be legible and posted in prominent places. These standardized disclosures must also inform potential customers about the percentage of retail investor accounts that lose money when trading contracts for difference with the respective broker.

Offering promotional incentives that encourage retail clients to participate in CFD trading is also restricted in the Netherlands. In July 2017, the country introduced a ban on the advertising of high-risk derivatives, including contracts for difference.

The Netherlands Trading Regulation FAQ

1. Is trading with binary options legal in the Netherlands?

2. Can I legally trade with cryptocurrencies in the Netherlands?

3. Are brokers necessarily required to obtain AFM licenses to legally service Dutch traders?

4. Are Dutch traders entitled to compensation if their brokers file for bankruptcy?

5. Can Dutch residents legally trade with turbos?

Funding and Withdrawing from Dutch Trading Accounts

Dutch-friendly brokers offer a varied assortment of funding and withdrawal methods, including digital wallets, credit/debit cards, online banking processors, and conventional bank transfers. Traders from the Netherlands incur no conversion fees as all brokers operating on the local market support the euro as a base account currency.

Clients can manage their live balances easily and securely while knowing their funds are stored in top-tier banks. Without further ado, here is a complete breakdown of all common payment methods available to Dutch traders, along with their average processing timeframes and fees.

Depositing to Dutch Trading Accounts

Dutch-friendly trading sites accommodate their clients with a broad range of deposit methods, starting with credit and debit cards by Visa, Mastercard, Visa Electron, and Maestro. Cards are the preferred method of choice for traders looking for low transaction costs, efficiency, and security. Most Dutch-friendly brokers waive their minimum deposit requirements, allowing traders to start with an amount they feel comfortable with. When deposit requirements are in place, however, the minimums are normally set at €5 or €10.

Digital wallets are a viable alternative for clients who are unreluctant to use their cards for online trading transactions. E-wallet brands like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and WebMoney are commonly available to traders from the country. They accommodate seamless and secure deposits without requiring users to share their banking information with the payees. The only inconvenience results from the fact you must sign up for an e-wallet account and then top it up with another supported payment method.

Dutch traders can alternatively deposit via locally available online banking processors like iDEAL or Trustly. Transactions with these methods are conducted within the secure online banking environment of participating banks. IDEAL, in particular, is available exclusively to Dutch customers subscribed to the online banking services of ASN Bank, Bunq, Van Lanschot, Rabobank, RegioBank, Knab, Triodos Bank, SNS, and ING.

Standard bank transfers are accepted for deposits as well but are less time-efficient and often incur additional processing fees. The exact costs are bank-specific. As for the processing timeframe, bank transfers usually require up to five business days to complete. Whether you are initiating a domestic or international transfer also impacts the processing times. The timeframe can extend to up to seven days in the case of international transfers.

Whichever method you go for, make sure it is registered in your own name as regulated brokers disallow third-party payments in line with the AFM’s anti-money laundering requirements. There are no reasons for concern when it comes to safety as all banking information is encrypted in transit via SSL.

Common Deposit Methods Offered by Dutch-Friendly Brokers
Type of Method	Usual Limits per Transaction	Processing Timeframes	Processing Fees
Credit and Debit Cards	€0 – €10	Instant	Free
Digital Wallets	€0 – €10	Instant	Free
Online Banking	€0 – €10	Instant	Free
Bank Transfers	€0 – €100	1 to 5 working days	Intermediary bank charges may apply

Withdrawing from Dutch Trading Accounts

The withdrawal methods supported by Dutch-friendly online brokers mostly coincide with those available for account funding. Traders usually have their withdrawals returned to the same payment method they have used to initiate deposits. If a method is unsupported for withdrawals, the trader can choose an alternative solution and go through additional verification checks.

Another thing to keep in mind is that most brokers authorized to operate on Dutch soil tend to process withdrawal requests on weekdays only. Traders will experience delays if they send their requests during weekends or bank holidays. With that in mind, e-wallet withdrawals offer the most expedience as they normally take no more than a couple of working days to complete. Withdrawals to wallets like Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal are usually processed free of charge, with minimum cashable amounts starting at €10.

Mastercard and Visa-branded debit/credit cards receive broad support across most Dutch-friendly trading sites. Brokers tend to waive additional transactional costs for card withdrawals but waiting times can extend to five business days. Online banking processors like Trustly are sometimes available for withdrawals. They offer greater flexibility as brokers typically release the funds within a couple of working days.

Bank transfers pose the least time-efficient way to cash out from your online trading account. Dutch customers can anticipate their funds after three to seven business days. Bear in mind bank transfers are often associated with greater costs since intermediary bank charges apply in some cases. Also, the minimum withdrawable amounts are higher compared to other supported methods.

Common Withdrawal Methods Offered by Dutch-Friendly Brokers
Type of Method	Usual Limits per Transaction	Processing Timeframes	Processing Fees
Credit and Debit Cards	€10	3 to 5 working days	Free
Digital Wallets	€5 – €10	1 to 2 working days	Free
Online Banking	€10	1 to 2 working days	Free
Bank Transfers	€50 – €100	3 to 7 working days	Intermediary bank charges may apply

The Netherlands Trading Platforms

Dutch-friendly trading sites enable their customers to stay on top of the financial markets whether they are on the go or sitting on their desks. Clients have access to popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and ViewTrading, which can accommodate traders of all experience levels. Brokers that facilitate social trading tend to work with platforms like ZuluTrade, cTrader, and DupliTrade. Others prefer to use proprietary platforms built in-house to address the unique needs of their customers. The only downside of using proprietary software is that it takes more time to get used to as each in-house platform has a unique interface and technical specifications.

MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is broadly supported by trading sites licensed to operate in the Netherlands. The platform was released in 2005 and went on to become the most popular electronic trading software in the world. Appropriate for beginner and seasoned investors alike, MT4 is packed with neat features and resources that enhance the trading workflow of users. The platform facilitates trading on the foreign exchange markets, although other asset classes like commodities, indices, and equity shares are also tradable through contracts for difference.

It has nine timeframes that range from a minute to one month but users can also create custom timeframes. This earlier version of the software features most of the standard technical indicators traders might need and a single-thread strategy tester. Trading directly from charts is also possible and so is placing orders with a single click of your mouse button. The interface is fully customizable, allowing Dutch traders to tailor their experience to their individual needs.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5) was launched in 2010 as the successor of MT4 and supports a broader range of financial instruments. It enables users to trade futures as well as spots. This is an improved version of the original software, which gives you access to a greater number of timeframes (as many as 21), graphical objects (44), and technical indicators (38). It supports six types of pending orders as opposed to the four types supported by its predecessor, including advanced orders like Immediate or Cancel and Fill or Kill.

MT5 is a better bet for traders who wish to diversify their portfolios and invest in more asset classes. Both platforms are compatible with portable devices running on the iOS and Android operating systems. The downloadable desktop platform can be installed on computers that use Microsoft Windows, Linux, and MacOS, although a browser-based version of the software is also available at Dutch-friendly brokers.

cTrader

cTrader Launched in 2010 by Spotware, cTrader is the go-to platform for Dutch traders looking for greater flexibility. It is available in a web format and requires no additional software downloads. The interface is clean and uncluttered, which makes the platform a perfect fit for rookie traders. Those unfamiliar with how eTrader works can test the demo version of the platform. Traders interested in performing technical analysis can take advantage of various charting tools and have access to tons of technical indicators, including oscillators and trendlines.

Chart types like Renko, Candlestick, and Heikin Ashi are included as well. The platform supports 26 timeframes, ranging from one minute to an entire month. Versed traders can share their technical analysis and provide novices with valuable insights on price movements by streaming their charts in real time. Stream links can be shared on social media platforms to the benefit of all interested traders even if they have no cTrader accounts at affiliated brokers.

Traders can better control their risk with limit, stop, and stop limit orders. It is worth mentioning cTrader is a multifunctional web platform since it facilitates algorithmic trading as well as copy trading. It is suitable for everyone as it supports trading with all asset classes, including forex, energies, metals, indices, stocks, iShares ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.

TradingView

Dutch-friendly trading sites like Pepperstone and easyMarkets support TradingView, an intuitive platform that doubles as a social network whose community numbers more than 50 million users from around the world. Various instruments can be traded via the platform, including stocks, crypto, equity indices, currency pairs, futures, and bonds. Skilled investors can share their trading ideas to help improve the learning curve of novices. The interface is not as clunky as that in more advanced platforms like MT5, which renders TradingView a solid choice for those who have started to explore the financial markets only recently.

Users can seize lucrative opportunities for profit with the help of advanced trading tools like heatmaps, supercharts, and screeners. The economic calendar allows you to track all major economic news releases that can significantly affect price movements and market volatility. Traders can create configurable watchlists to stay on top of all markets they are interested in.

Charting is where TradingView truly shines, however. The platform provides users with access to over a dozen configurable chart types, including advanced options like Point & Figure and Kagi. Opening up to eight charts in a single tab is possible, not to mention you can also create your own spreads and custom timeframes.

Performing in-depth market analysis is a breeze with TradingView as the platform features hundreds of thousands of technical indicators and smart drawing tools. To top this off, TradingView performs effortlessly on smartphones and tablets, boasting an excellent rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Play and the App Store.

DupliTrade

DupliTrade is a viable alternative for traders from the Netherlands who wish to dabble in copy trading. It enables users to fully automate their trades by following experienced strategy providers and replicating their positions in their own portfolios. A trading simulator is built into the platform, allowing new users to backtest different strategies and analyze the past performance of fellow investors. Strategy providers undergo lengthy assessment and auditing procedures to ensure only the most proficient and successful candidates make the cut.

Less experienced users can shorten their learning curve with algorithmic trading, which is primarily intended for those who trade forex. Other financial instruments like equity indices, stocks, and hard commodities are also available for algo trading but receive less extensive coverage at DupliTrade. Getting started with the platform is beyond easy. All you have to do is set up a free demo account to get acquainted with its features.

We recommend you make the most of your time because free demo accounts expire after a 30-day period. Once you come to grips with how it works you can easily transition to a live account at your preferred Dutch-friendly broker. Traders with live accounts can connect DupliTrade to their MT4 accounts to trade manually.

Best Netherlands Trading Platforms