Banks in the Netherlands are governed by The Financial Supervision Act of 2006 that reformed Dutch banking laws to take into account that big, multinational banks now dominate banking in the Netherlands. The law empowers two main agencies to watch over Netherlands banks, a central bank and a regulatory agency.

1. The Netherlands Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank) is responsible for the financial stability of the banks in the Netherlands.
2. The Authority for Financial Markets supervises the banking market, the operations of banks and protects bank customers and investors.
3. The European Central bank sets overall monetary policy for the European Union, including the Netherlands.

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Grasp the regulatory structure of a Netherlands bank to create foundational understanding

Banking in the Netherlands comes under the regulatory administration of the Netherlands Central Bank, which prints the money and centralizes the banking system. Working in tangent with the European Central Bank (since the creation of the European Union) and the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank (also known as De Nederlandsche Bank, or DNB) operates under the mission to create financial stability in the country. Nationalized since 1948, The Central bank of the Netherlands oversees the running of other national and private banks as well as acting as liaison and compliance officer for the government. The Authority for Financial Markets, established by the law of 2006, regulates the conduct of banks and insurance companies.

I recommend: The Dutch Ministry of Finance offers an explanation of how Netherlands bank law works, including a link to the text of the act. Follow the activities of the De Nederlandsche Bank and the Authority for Financial Markets at their English-language websites.

Recognize the top banks of the Netherlands have assistance from the top financial lawyers

Swimming the banking waters of another country can be overwhelming. To avoid drowning in financial regulations, the smart business leader asks the professional for legal guidance. The Netherlands has a number of top financial firms and consultants that can assist any investor with banking law questions.

I recommend: Blenheim is one of the Netherlands' top law firms specializing in banking laws, securities, antitrust provisions and regulation compliance. STvB Advocaten offers financial and legal advice to many Dutch banks and specializes in securities, off shore banking and banking tax law.

Understand that international bank in the Netherlands operate under additional laws and guidelines

Global banks in the Netherlands must adhere to both national and international banking laws and regulations. Familiarity with international regulatory systems that hold sway in the Netherlands is a must for the wise investor. Those business leaders considering establishing a foreign bank in Amsterdam, placing their savings in a global bank in Amsterdam or considering shares in a global Dutch bank or foreign bank in Amsterdam should carefully review options and compliance regulations.

I recommend: The European Central Bank banking regulations cover all European countries including Amsterdam and share their basic guidelines and monetary policy on their website. The World Bank Group offers the most comprehensive guidelines of the domestic and international banking policies of each of its member countries, including the Netherlands.

If you’re thinking of moving to the Netherlands or doing business in the country, then finding the right Netherlands bank to handle your financial business is going to be at the top of your To Do list.

Take the time to research the banks in the Netherlands carefully. Volatility in the financial sector of all countries is not uncommon these days. Here a few things to keep in mind:

1. Collect all of the information you can on the banks of the Netherlands before you move or conduct any business in the country.
2. Seek help with finding the right bank in the Netherlands from people who have already gone through the process. Ask friends, family, expatriates or anyone who has banked in the nation for information regarding the steps you need to take to get things done.
3. Use the largest commercial bank in the Netherlands for personal use since they will have the most branches throughout the nation as well as provide more services.

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Assemble general information on Netherlands banks

It is important to know all you can about business banking in the Netherlands before you begin the process of opening a bank account in the country. You want to know about the banks policies, foreign investment, the exchange rate and any other information you can think of to make your business or personal transactions easier.

I recommend: Justlanded.com offers a step-by-step guide to opening an account in the Netherlands. EscapeArtist.com has a host of information for anyone looking to move or do business in The Netherlands.

Contact expatriates for advice on the Netherlands banking institutions

If you don't know where to begin when banking in the Netherlands seek out expatriates for advice. They have already made the transition from the US to the Netherlands so they can give you the information you need to begin that process.

I recommend: EXPACTAX offers a wealth of information on banks in the Netherlands, from the banks available to information on starting a business. Expactica.com is a site where you can communicate with expats and tourists regarding all aspects of life on The Netherlands.

Use the largest Netherlands banks for everyday business

Just as there are benefits to using the big banks here in the US, there are advantages to using the biggest of the Netherlands commercial banks for your everyday banking. Using the largest of the Netherlands banks will give you more access to branches throughout the nation, more access to ATM's as well as just making your transition to the Netherlands much easier.

I recommend: ABN-AMRO and ING are two of the top banks in the Netherlands and are equipped with good online banking systems.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pay attention to the actions of the Central Bank of the Netherlands. The decisions they make will affect monetary policy, other banks in the Netherlands, and the economy as a whole.

When banking in the Netherlands, it's imperative that you or your company uses news and trends within the industry to protect and grow financial investments. For instance, if there are rumors of the central bank of the Netherlands making a monetary policy change, you can position accounts to take advantage of this change. Conversely, if you're behind the information curve, you can miss opportunities that could impair assets in the Netherlands banks.

The resources for the banks in the Netherlands news and trends vary from banking associations to publications to policy websites. Whichever avenue you choose to use, each provides an opportunity to plan for a coming trend. Even though the banks in Netherlands are stable relative to most banking systems, in the age of technology and in uncertain economic times, there can be rapid developments that could impair your company’s deposited assets. Therefore, to help you find this information there a few items to consider, such as:

1. Contact the Netherlands banking associations for the latest banking information.

2. Use banks of Netherlands news and information portals to view the latest trends.

3. Review the information from Netherlands bank conferences and forums.

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Examine associations for international banking in Netherlands news

When it comes to news and trends within the banking industry, it makes sense to start with the entities closest to the banks. This includes the banks themselves and the associations to which they belong. However, you'll need other sources because banks tend to paint trends in a positive light because their business depends on it.

I recommend: Evaluate the information available at the Netherlands Bankers’Association and Association of International Bankers in the Netherlands Antilles for banking news. Contact the prominent banking entities ABN Amro and De Nederlandsche Bank in the Netherlands to review their resources for industry trends.

Assess the news websites for any international bank in Netherlands financial industry

Internet newsgathering websites are excellent sources of banking industry trends and news in that you don't have to search all the available banking websites. These websites do the research for you and bring all of the relevant information together in one place. Any of these sites are great stand-alone resources but together they comprise a comprehensive banking news source.

I recommend: Review the bank listing resources at Expatica. Visit the EIN News website for breaking news on the Netherlands banking industry. Use the information at Connect-Project for more banking news and trends.

Evaluate the conferences and policy information for the banks in the Netherlands

Banking conferences and policy studies can help you understand the coming trends within the Netherlands banking industry. These resources can also help you understand past trends and this can give an indication as to where the future trends may lead.

I recommend: Use the reports from Ark Conferences to help determine trends in the Netherlands banking system. Examine the studies from the Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe for help in trend spotting in the Netherland banks.

Before your company deposits assets in the banking system of the Netherlands, it's important to know some of the key industry terms. These terms will establish a knowledge base that'll make it easier to navigate this foreign banking system. Like U.S. banks, banks in the Netherlands have a central bank that helps manage the stability of the country's financial infrastructure. While the Netherlands structure is similar to the U.S. system, there are differences in the rules and regulations, which the Netherlands Ministries of Finance establishes. These key terms will help you differentiate between the two banking systems.

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Dutch Central Bank or De Nederlandsche Bank

The Dutch Central Bank is the public financial institution that regulates monetary policy, operates payment systems and promotes financial stability. The De Nederlandsche bank, as it's called in the Netherlands, serves essentially the same function as the Federal Reserve in the United States.

I recommend: Review the information at the Dutch Central Bank for more information on the functions of this institution.

Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets

The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets or simply the Authority, supervises the financial and insurance industries in the Netherlands.

I recommend: Examine the resources at Care Why Personal Finance for further explanation of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets.

Netherlands Ministries of Finance

The Netherlands Ministries of Finance is the governmental entity that provides legislation, which directly influences the banking regulations in the country. The Netherlands Ministries of Finance performs a similar function to that of the Treasury Department in the United States.

I recommend: Study the information available at the Netherlands Ministries of Finance for more details.

Rabobank Group

The Rabobank Group is one the largest full-service financial institutions in the Netherlands. While the bank specializes in the food and agribusiness industry, it does offer services to other businesses.

I recommend: Visit the Rabobank Group website for more information on the institution.

Euro

In 2002, the Netherlands changed the national currency from the Guilder to Euro. The Euro is the official currency of many European nations in addition to the Netherlands.

I recommend: Check out the Investor Glossary to learn more about the Euro.

Social Fiscal Identification number

The Social Fiscal Identification number is the Netherlands version of the Social Security number. If you or your employees wish to open a personal account in the Netherlands, you'll to register for a Social Fiscal Identification number.

I recommend: Scroll down the page at the Utrecht University, for more information on the Social Fiscal Identification number.