Betaaljournaal 31

Newsletter Dutch Payments Association

This first Betaaljournaal of the new year is almost the last that I am honored to introduce as director of the Dutch Payments Association. My successor Arjan Bol will come on board on April 1, and I will retire on May 30.

The new year has many new developments in store, not just for me and for our association. There are also many new challenges in store for our members and for collective payments. The geopolitical context is turbulent and this is also leading to changes in Brussels, to strengthen the European Union.

After briefly looking back at the past year, this edition looks ahead to new laws and regulations for cash that will affect us in the coming years, amongst others. Cash remains important, as we already established last year in our mini-conference ‘Constant Cash’.

Enjoy reading this edition.

Gijs Boudewijn, managing director

 

New laws and regulations for cash on the horizon

Het Convenant Contant is in het leven geroepen om contant geld goed beschikbaar voor u te houden.

Until 2015, cash was still the most commonly used payment method at points-of-sale in the Netherlands (54% of all payments in 2014). Ten years later – in 2024 – only one in five POS transactions were paid for in cash. The remaining four transactions were carried out electronically, with a (contactless) payment card, smartphone or smartwatch. A lot has happened around cash in recent years and we see various new developments, laws and regulations coming our way.

Our overview of all developments around cash

 

Payments in 2024 at a glance

At the start of the new year we look back at collective payments in the old year with a factsheet. While point-of-sale debit card spending increased by 2.8% in 2024 compared to 2023, online spending with iDEAL increased by no less than 13%. The annual turnover with iDEAL is now almost as high as with debit cards. Contactless payments at points-of-sale with smartphones and smartwatches continue to grow strongly, although in 2024 it was not yet the most commonly used POS payment method.

View facts and figures about other payments in our 2024 factsheet

 

Arjan Bol to become new director of the Dutch Payments Association

The board of the Payments Association has appointed Arjan Bol as General Manager starting April 1, 2025. After a short transition period, our current director Gijs Boudewijn will retire on May 30, 2025. In mid-May 2025, the Payments Association will organize a symposium to bid farewell to Gijs Boudewijn and welcome Arjan Bol.

Find out more about our new director

 

Finance Minister presents vision on financial sector in 2025

In a recent letter to Parliament, Finance Minister Heinen shared his vision on the financial sector in 2025. In his letter, he also addresses topics that affect payment transactions, such as cash, accessibility of banking and payment services and the Basic Bank Account. We are happy to share the vision of the Payments Association on a few important topics in the letter to Parliament:

  • We hope that the flexible agreements from the Cash Covenant can be properly adopted in the upcoming legislation and regulations for cash.
  • Banks already work together intensively to provide accessible services. New legislation does not seem necessary to us.
  • The Basic Bank Accounts offered to people who cannot open a regular bank account are sufficient. Five Dutch banks offer Basic Bank Accounts that go beyond the minimum legal requirements.
  • Rules for basic payment accounts for businesses must come from the EU, in order to create a level playing field among all member states. Until then, we prefer self-regulation over national legislation.

Read Minister Heinen’s entire vision on the financial sector

 

Milestones for Accessible Banking in 2024 at a glance

We also look back at the Accessible Banking program in 2024 with an insightful factsheet. As part of the program, banks are making their digital products and services more accessible and offering more help to customers who have difficulty using digital services. Much has been set in motion in 2024. In 2025, we will focus on raising public awareness of the many possibilities to access banking and payment services.

View all the milestones in 2024 in our factsheet

 

Broad offering for payment accounts

A comprehensive payment account is very important for everyone, both consumers and businesses. Who are the providers in the Netherlands, and what should you take into account? On our website, we give an overview of the most important characteristics and options.

Read more about payment accounts offerings in the Netherlands

 

Gijs Boudewijn to chair the European Payments Council

Gijs Boudewijn over soevereiniteit en internationale interoperabiliteit tijdens een conferentie.

On December 18, 2024, the General Assembly of the European Payments Council (EPC) elected Gijs Boudewijn as its new chairman for a two-year term, starting on June 11, 2025. This will allow for a smooth transition from the current chairman, Javier Santamaría. On May 30, 2025, Gijs Boudewijn will retire as director of the Dutch Payments Association.

Read the full announcement of the EPC

 

Agenda

  • March 20 – Payment Institutions Advisory Council
  • March 25 – Advisory Council
  • March 27 – Future of payments, NH Amsterdam Barbizon Palace
  • April 14 – Stakeholder Forum
  • April 16 – Board meeting
  • May 15 – Conference to mark the retirement of Gijs Boudewijn

 

Member Bulletins

In addition to this Betaaljournaal, the Dutch Payments Association issues Member Bulletins. These bulletins usually appear a few times a month and relate to a specific topic. If you are a member and you do not yet receive these bulletins, you can subscribe to the mailing list via secretariaat@betaalvereniging.nl.

 

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