Dutch annual iDEAL spending approaches spending with debit cards

While debit card spending at Dutch points-of-sale increased by 2.8% in 2024 compared to 2023, spending with the Dutch iDEAL online payment method increased by no less than 13%. Annual spending with iDEAL is now almost as high as that with debit cards, as shown in the ‘Factsheet on Dutch Payments in 2024‘ from the Dutch Payments Association.

Modest increase in debit card payments

The number of debit card payments at Dutch points-of-sale (POS) and the associated spending only rose slightly in 2024 compared to the previous year. The volume rose to 5.77 billion payments (+2.9%) and the spending to €147 billion (+2.8%). In the years prior to the corona pandemic, debit card payments at POS increased at considerably higher rates. In 2018, the debit card transaction volume increased by almost 13%.

Paying with a smartphone or smartwatch at POS continues to grow strongly, although in December 2024 it was not yet the most commonly used method for POS payments in the Netherlands. Of all POS payments (including cash), an estimated 81% were card payments. Of those card payments, 94% were contactless. Of all contactless payments, 55% were with a physical card and 45% with a smartphone or smartwatch.

Online iDEAL spending increased sharply

Payments with the leading Dutch online payment method iDEAL were on the rise in 2024. The volume increased by 10% to 1.47 billion payments. At €141 billion, iDEAL spending in 2024 was only 4% below the total debit card spending of €147 billion.

Payment cards in Dutch public transport

Traveling nationwide with a contactless payment card in Dutch public transport continues to increase steadily. Of all contactless cards used in December 2024 to check in and out of public transport, 41% were debit or credit cards, also digitally on a smartphone or smartwatch. The remaining 59% were so called ‘OV-chipkaarten’. Twelve months earlier, the share of payment cards used in public transport was still 33%.