Best Forex Brokers in Netherlands for 2025

Like many other countries in Europe, the Netherlands has adopted a legal framework regulating forex trading, allowing residents to legally trade various currency pairs. While it is not mandatory for Dutch traders to join forex brokers regulated by the local authority, it is recommended to register with trading brands that have obtained permission to operate from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). If you are looking for the brands offering the best trading experience to Dutch customers, we suggest checking our list of top forex brokers operating in the Netherlands. Our team of experts has thoroughly tested all brands listed below, opening live trading accounts with each broker.

1Fusion Markets

Rating: 4.7 ⭐

74-89% of retail's CFD accounts lose money

Top Rated

2ActivTrades

Rating: 4.5 ⭐

72% of retail investor accounts lose money

3BlackBull Markets

Rating: 4.8 ⭐

Trading leveraged products is risky

4Global Prime

Rating: 4.6 ⭐

74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

5Axi

Rating: 4.5 ⭐

The vast majority of retail client accounts lose money

6Eightcap

Rating: 4.2 ⭐

59.57% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

7Plus500

Rating: 4.1 ⭐

82% of retail investor accounts lose money

8FBS

Rating: 4.3 ⭐

72.12% of retail investor accounts lose money

9easyMarkets

Rating: 4.3 ⭐

71% of retail investor accounts lose money

10Tickmill

Rating: 3.9 ⭐

70% of retail investor accounts lose money

Dutch Forex Brokers Ranked by Trustpilot Score

Dutch Forex Brokers Ranked by Spread Commission

Dutch Forex Brokers Ranked by Commission per Lot

Important Note:The AFM has laid down stringent guidelines brokers must follow to obtain permission to legally operate in the Dutch market. By joining a forex broker regulated by the AFM, traders can be certain that they will always place orders in a safe and fair environment. While licenses from other major regulators can also indicate a good broker choice for Dutch forex traders, we advise them to pick AFM-regulated brands. To learn more about the regulator and follow any changes it may introduce to the way forex trading is being regulated in the Netherlands, you can head to the official AFM website or follow the authority’s X, Facebook, or LinkedIn profiles.

Top 10 FX Brokers in Netherlands

1. 

   1. Fusion Markets

   READ REVIEW

   TRADE NOW 74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

   Fusion Markets Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	No
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	ASIC, FSA (Seychelles), VFSC (Vanuatu)
   Min Deposit	$0
   Trading Platforms	MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, cTrader, DupliTrade, Fusion+ Copy Trade, TradingView
   Trustpilot Rating	4.7 out of 3,162 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	80+
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:30 (1:500 for forex and metals via VFSC) Index CFDs: 1:5 Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:2 (ASIC), 1:10 (FSA, VFSC)
   Spread	EURUSD: 0.93 avg (Classic) USDJPY: 1.7 avg (Classic) EURGBP: 1.09 avg (Classic) GBPUSD: 1 avg (Classic)
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0 Classic Account, $4.50 round turn on Zero Account
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, Jeton Wallet, Perfect Money, Online Naira, Doku, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, USDT, Tether, Ripple, bank wire, ZotaPay, VNPay, DuitNow, XPay, DragonPay, VAPay, FasaPay, AstroPay, PayID, Jetonbank, Sticpay, Interac, LuqaPay, Zotapay, MiFinity
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Wire, Skrill, Neteller,Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, Ripple, MiFinity, Interac, PayPal, AstroPay, Jetonbank, DragonPay

   Key Pros

   • Offers some of the lowest spreads
   • ASIC clients enjoy a negative balance protection
   • Supports popular trading platforms
   • Offers two copy trading platforms
   • Supports fiat and crypto payment solutions

   Key Cons

   • Does not offer investor protection
   • Traders outside Australia have no negative balance protection
   • Cannot set up an account in a minor currency
   • Has no FCA license
2. 

   2. Global Prime

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   TRADE NOW 74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

   Global Prime Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	No
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	ASIC (No. 385620), VFSC (No. 40256)
   Min Deposit	$0
   Trading Platforms	MT4, MT4 Webtrader, MT4 Android; for VFSC clients MT4, MT5, and GP Copy
   Trustpilot Rating	4.6 out of 247 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	56
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:500 (1:30 for ASIC entity) Index CFDs: 1:100 (1:20 for ASIC entity) Cryptocurrencie CFDs: Up to 1:2 (ASIC); Up to 1:5 (Pro and VFSC)
   Spread	EURUSD: 0.96 avg (Standard) USDJPY: 1.47 avg (Standard) EURGBP: 1.19 avg (Standard) GBPUSD: 1.12 avg (Standard)
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0 Standard Accounts; $7 round turn on Raw Accounts
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Gate8, Dragonpay, Fasapay, VNPay, Pagsmile, BPay, POLi, AstroPay, Bank Transfer, Interac, Perfect Money, PayID, Jeton, MiFinity, XPay, Crypto
   Withdrawal Methods	Mastercard, Visa, Local Bank Transfer, Bank Wire Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay, PayPal, Dragonpay, Perfect Money, Jeton, Interac, Cryptocurrencies

   Key Pros

   • Overseen by a top-tier financial regulator (ASIC)
   • No fees on deposits and withdrawals
   • Low fees for FX trading
   • Streamlined sign-up process
   • A broad range of currency pairs

   Key Cons

   • Could use more trading platforms
   • A limited range of educational resources
   • Does not offer Islamic or cent accounts
3. 

   3. ActivTrades

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   TRADE NOW 72% of retail investor accounts lose money

   ActivTrades Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	No
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	FCA (UK), CMVM (Portugal), CVM (Brazil), SCB (Bahamas), FSC (Mauritius)
   Min Deposit	$0
   Trading Platforms	ActivTrader, TradingView, MT4, MT5
   Trustpilot Rating	4.5 out of 1,460 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	56
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:30 (1:400 Bahamas) Index CFDs: 1:20 (1:200 Bahamas) Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:2 (1:20 Bahamas)
   Spread	EURUSD: 0.50 USDJPY: 0.50 EURGBP: 0.80 GBPUSD: 0.80
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer, Cryptocurrencies
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer, Cryptocurrencies

   Key Pros

   • Holds an FCA license since 2009
   • Safeguards all traders with negative balance protection
   • Stores customer funds at first-tier banks like Barclays and Lloyd’s
   • Supports free PayPal deposits and withdrawals

   Key Cons

   • Additional fees on deposits with cards
   • Charges administrative fees after 50 weeks of inactivity
4. 

   4. easyMarkets

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   TRADE NOW 71% of retail investor accounts lose money

   easyMarkets Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	No
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	CySEC (license no. 079/07), ASIC (license no. 246566), FSA (license no. SD056), FSCA (54018), and FSC (license no. SIBA/L/20/1135)
   Min Deposit	$25
   Trading Platforms	easyMarkets Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView
   Trustpilot Rating	4.3 out of 1,714 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	95+
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:30 Index CFDs: 1:20 Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:2
   Spread	EURUSD: 0.7 USDJPY: 1.2 EURGBP: 1.0 GBPUSD: 1.3
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, Sofort, iDEAL, Web Money, BPay, Bank Transfer
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, Sofort, iDEAL, Web Money, BPay, Bank Transfer

   Key Pros

   • Offers tight spreads and low fees
   • Supports trading of over 90 currency pairs
   • Regulated by several reputable authorities
   • Supports a wide range of payment methods
   • Offers a proprietary platform

   Key Cons

   • Number of supported products is somewhat limited
   • Does not offer copy trading platform
   • Traders from certain countries may have access to fewer payment methods
5. 

   5. Saxo Bank

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   TRADE NOW 65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

   Saxo Bank Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	Yes
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	FCA (No. 551422), FSA Denmark (No. 1149), MAS (No. 200601141M), ASIC (No. 32110128286), SFC Hong Kong (No. 1395901), FSA Japan (No. 0104-01-082810), Registered with CONSOB (no. 296)
   Min Deposit	$0 Classic $200,000 + Platinum $1,000,000 + VIP
   Trading Platforms	Proprietary, SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO, TradingView, SaxoInvestor
   Trustpilot Rating	3.7 out of 7,235 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	185+
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:30 Index CFDs: 1:20 Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:2
   Spread	EURUSD: 1.2 USDJPY: 2 EURGBP: 3.1 GBPUSD: 1.6
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$3 per lot
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, Quick Payment
   Withdrawal Methods	Bank Transfer

   Key Pros

   • Offers a varied range of major, minor, and exotic FX pairs
   • Provides tier-1 liquidity for high order fill rates
   • Boasts over 30 years of experience in the financial industry
   • Offers more than 140 FX forward contracts
   • Excellent fill rates for FX majors like EUR/USD

   Key Cons

   • Steep minimum deposits for VIP and Platinum accounts
   • Overcrowded and hard-to-navigate website
   • Customizing SaxoTraderPRO for desktop takes some time
6. 

   6. Tickmill

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   TRADE NOW 70% of retail investor accounts lose money

   Tickmill Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	No
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	CySEC (No. 278/15), FCA (733772), CONSOB (No.4310), BaFin (No.146511), ACPR (No.75473), CNVM (No.4082), FSA Seychelles (SD 008), FSCA (FSP 49464), DFSA (F007663)
   Min Deposit	$100
   Trading Platforms	MT4, MT5, WebTrader, ZuluTrade, TradingView
   Trustpilot Rating	4.2 out of 1,076 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	62
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:30 Index CFDs: 1:20 Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:2
   Spread	EURUSD: 0.1 USDJPY: 0.1 EURGBP: 0.4 GBPUSD: 0.3
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0 on Classic Account; $3 per side on Raw Account
   Deposit Methods	Bank Transfer, Skrill, Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, Przelewy24, Neteller, Trustly
   Withdrawal Methods	Mastercard, Visa, Skrill, Neteller, Przelewy24, PayPal, Bank Transfer

   Key Pros

   • Offers swap-free accounts for Islamic customers
   • No commissions on FX trades via Classic accounts
   • Global presence in over 180 countries
   • FX spreads from zero pips on Raw accounts
   • Swift order execution with no requotes

   Key Cons

   • Could use more base account currencies
   • Bank-transfer deposits below $5,000 incur extra fees
7. 

   7. Plus500

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   TRADE NOW 82% of retail investor accounts lose money

   Plus500 Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	Yes
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	FSA (No.4.1-1/18), FCA (No. FRN 509909), CySEC (No.250/14), FMA (No.47546), SFSA (No. SD039), MAS (No. CMS100648), DFSA (No. F005651), ASIC (No. 417727), BaFin registration, SCB (SIA-F250)
   Min Deposit	$100
   Trading Platforms	Proprietary, desktop and mobile platforms
   Trustpilot Rating	4.1 out of 15,556 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	60+
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:30 Index CFDs: 1:20 Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:2 (1:5 via FSA)
   Spread	EURUSD: 1.4 USDJPY: 2.2 EURGBP: 1.5 GBPUSD: 1.9
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0
   Deposit Methods	Debit Visa/Mastercard, Wire transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay
   Withdrawal Methods	Debit Visa/Mastercard, Wire transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay

   Key Pros

   • Trades publicly on the London Stock Exchange
   • Commission-free CFD trading with tight spreads
   • Great selection of analytical tools and educational materials
   • Easy and quick account opening
   • Provides real-time quotes

   Key Cons

   • Charges administrative fees on inactive accounts
   • The platform could use more customization features
8. 

   8. Eightcap

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   TRADE NOW 76.09% of retail investor accounts lose money

   Eightcap Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	No
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	SCB (No. SIA-F220), ASIC (No.391441), CySEC (No. 246/14), FCA (No. 921296), SCA
   Min Deposit	$100
   Trading Platforms	MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, WebTrader, TradingView, Capitalise.ai, FlashTrader
   Trustpilot Rating	4.2 out of 3,052 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	50+
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:30 Index CFDs: 1:20 Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:2
   Spread	EURUSD: 1.00 (min) USDJPY: 1.1 EURGBP: 1 GBPUSD: 1
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0 on Standard and TradingView Accounts; $7 round turn on Raw Accounts
   Deposit Methods	Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Neteller, Skrill, Tether, Bitcoin, BPAY, Dragonpay, Fasapay, Interac, Pix, UnionPay
   Withdrawal Methods	Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Bitcoin, Tether, Wire Transfers, BPay, Fasapay, Pix, Interac, UnionPay

   Key Pros

   • Commission-free FX trading via standard accounts
   • Spreads from 0 pips on major currency pairs
   • Accepts cryptocurrency deposits
   • Fantastic variety of deposit and withdrawal methods
   • Insights section with webinars, trade ideas, and weekly forecasts

   Key Cons

   • Below-average range of tradable instruments
   • Crypto withdrawals incur transaction fees
9. 

   9. BlackBull Markets

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   BlackBull Markets Broker Details
   Supports Dutch	No
   Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
   Regulators	FSA (Seychelles) (No. SD045), FMA (No. FSP403326)
   Min Deposit	$0 (Standard) $2,000 (Prime) $20,000 (Institutional)
   Trading Platforms	MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, TradingView, cTrader, MT WebTrader, BlackBull Shares, BlackBull CopyTrader, BlackBull Trade, BlackBull Invest, ZuluTrade
   Trustpilot Rating	4.8 out of 1,876 reviews
   Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	70+
   Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:500 Index CFDs: 1:500 Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:500
   Spread	EURUSD: 0.9 USDJPY: 1.2 EURGBP: 1.7 GBPUSD: 1.2
   Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0 Standard; $6 per lot Prime; $4 per lot Institutional
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Airtm, Skrill, Bank Transfer, HexoPay, American Express, POLi, Payment Asia, Help2Pay, FXPay, Fasapay, China Union Pay, Boleto, AstroPay, Beeteller, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Ripple, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Chainlink, USD Coin, Stellar
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Airtm, Skrill, Neteller, American Express, POLi, HexoPay, Payment Asia, Help2Pay, FXPay, China Union Pay, Boleto, Fasapay, Beeteller, AstroPay, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Tether, Ripple, Stellar, Chainlink, Ethereum, USD Coin

   Key Pros

   • Uses proprietary copy-trading platform
   • Swap-free trading via ECN Standard and Prime accounts
   • Multi-platform support
   • Provides a 24/7 customer support service
   • Great Education Hub for traders looking to hone their skills

   Key Cons

   • High commissions per lot on Prime and Institutional accounts
   • Charges a $5 fee on withdrawals
10. 

    10. Forex.com

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    TRADE NOW 77.7% of retail investor accounts lose money

    Forex.com Broker Details
    Supports Dutch	No
    Netherlands Currency (EUR)	Yes
    Regulators	ASIC, MAS, FCA, CIRO, JFSA, CFTC, CySEC, CIMA, CySEC
    Min Deposit	$100
    Trading Platforms	MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, WebTrader, NinjaTrader
    Trustpilot Rating	4.7 out of 2,069 reviews
    Number of CFD Forex Pairs to Trade	80+
    Leverage	Forex & Metals CFDs: 1:30 Index CFDs: 1:20 Cryptocurrencie CFDs: 1:2
    Spread	EURUSD: 1.0 min (Standard) USDJPY: 0.9 min (Standard) EURGBP: 1.3 min (Standard) GBPUSD: 1.3 min (Standard)
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade	$0 for Standard accounts; $5 per standard lot per side for Raw accounts
    Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, PayPal
    Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal

    Key Pros

    • Supports a great selection of trading platforms
    • Enables easy mobile trading
    • Offers over 80 currency pairs
    • Provides a vast variety of over 6,000 products
    • Forex spreads can be very competitive

    Key Cons

    • Navigating the platforms can be difficult for beginners
    • Instruments on MT4 are significantly fewer than other platforms
    • Charges monthly fee after 12 months of inactivity

Is Forex Trading Legal in the Netherlands?

Forex is a constantly expanding market in the Netherlands, with the latest market stats showing average daily forex turnover of $74 billion, with foreign exchange swaps accounting for approximately 91% of this trading volume. Forex trading is considered a legal activity for residents of the Netherlands, with the AFM being the main regulator overseeing forex trading operations conducted on the territory of the country. To be sure that they are trading in a safe and fair environment, Dutch traders are recommended to join only brokers that have obtained the proper license from the AFM. Since the Netherlands is a member of the EU, forex brokers operating in the Dutch market are also required to follow guidelines imposed by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and conduct trading abiding by the MiFID 2 directive.

Since properly regulated Dutch forex brokers are operating following guidelines imposed by both the local regulator and EU authorities, Dutch traders can always be certain that their funds will be protected using industry-standard security tools and measures. Negative balance protection, maximum leverage, and KYC are just a few of the instruments implemented in the operation of licensed Dutch brokers. In April 2019, the AFM moved to prohibit advertising, distributing, and selling binary options to retail clients from the Netherlands.

How Does the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) Regulate Forex Trading?

Established in 2002, the AFM is an independent agency responsible for the regulation of firms, making sure they operate following directives issued by the Dutch Ministry of Finance. While the regulator has plenty of responsibilities, some of them include issuing licenses to entities who wish to conduct finance activities, including forex brokers.

The AFM has also been authorized to take regulatory actions like imposing financial penalties or withdrawing licenses when a company has breached regulatory guidelines. Beyond licensure, the AFM’s primary objectives include fostering transparent and efficient financial markets and safeguarding the interests of Dutch investors. The body is governed by an executive board, consisting of four members, with Laura van Geest serving as a Chairperson at the time of publication.

With the AFM being stringent with its regulation, all Forex brokers licensed in the Netherlands are making sure they offer a safe trading environment that will help them keep their AFM licenses. The Dutch regulator frowns upon aggressive marketing practices, prohibiting licensed brokers from offering bonuses and other promotional incentives to local traders.

One of the AFL license conditions forex brokers are required to meet involves periodic financial statements as well as audit reports that companies must submit regularly. Such documents are submitted on a regular basis to help the local regulator monitor the financial activities of licensed entities, allowing for the prevention of any fraudulent activities.

CFD brokers, in particular, must also publish standardized risk warnings to inform Dutch clients about the high risk associated with using leverage and engaging in derivative trading. Said disclosures must also contain information about the percentage of retail customers who have lost their money when trading CFDs with the respective broker. Brands operating under an AFM license are also required to keep their customers’ money in segregated accounts, ensuring their safety.

Brokers and investment firms looking to obtain licenses from the AFM must have a starting capital of at least €730,000 as per MiFID II requirements. When it comes to the operation capital of AFM-regulated forex brokers, companies are required to notify the regulator about any significant changes in their issued capital. Every time the overall operating volume of a licensed entity marks a change of over 1% in the previous three months, it is instructed to inform the AFM about these changes.

How Can I Verify AFM Authorization?

Confirming the validity of an AFM license is extremely easy, allowing Dutch traders to verify whether a certain forex broker is trustworthy. You can check the online registry available on the AFM official website, allowing you to search for any company and verify the information provided by the broker. The Central Bank of the Netherlands (DNB) maintains a separate register where consumers can find all entities it licenses and oversees.

Traders may also follow the regulator’s social media accounts as well as subscribe to its newsletter, which provides the latest news about the Dutch financial industry. Public notices and warnings can also be found on the official website of the AFM, informing Dutch traders about any regulatory actions taken against entities that have breached AFM guidelines.

Dutch traders can also get in touch with the AFM by directly sending an email to info@afm.nl or by visiting the regulator’s headquarters in Amsterdam (Vijzelgracht 50, 1017). If you decide to pay them a visit, make sure you carry a valid identification document like a passport, government-issued identification card or driver’s license.

Are My Funds Safe with Forex Brokers Operating in the Netherlands?

You can be certain that as long as a forex broker has been licensed by the AFM or has been authorized by the EU authorities, it is offering a fair and secure trading experience. As mentioned above, you can easily verify the legal status of any forex broker operating in the Dutch market, with the local regulator also taking proper actions against any brand participating in unlawful activities.

Following both MiFID directives and security guidelines imposed by the AFM, Dutch forex brokers are required to ensure a safe trading environment for their clients, assessing risk levels and offering the best possible results for traders’ operations. As already mentioned, the Dutch regulator requires licensed brokers to keep their customers’ funds in segregated bank accounts, ensuring an additional layer of protection for traders’ money.

Top forex brokers operating in the Netherlands accept a wide range of payment solutions, offering traders various convenient and safe options for their deposits and withdrawals. It should be noted that reliable forex brokers utilize enterprise-class security tools like SSL encryption, preventing any unauthorized third parties from accessing the banking information you may share while initiating transactions.

Do Dutch Brokers Provide Negative Balance Protection?

If you register with an AFM-regulated forex broker, you can be certain that the brand will offer negative balance protection to its clients. Both the AFM and MiFID 2 require regulated Dutch brokers to implement mandatory negative balance protection for traders residing in the Netherlands. Thanks to this safety measure, traders cannot amass losses that exceed their cumulative deposits.

When Dutch traders are placing orders and making use of leverage, they may risk accumulating bigger losses due to the leverage and lose an amount bigger than what is available in their balances. In that case, traders will owe the broker more money, which may lead to trading volumes that exceed the amounts they can afford to lose. Thanks to the negative balance protection feature, Dutch traders are safeguarded from accumulating debts, with the maximum potential losses being capped at the amount equal to the deposits traders have already made to their accounts.

Do You Pay Taxes on Forex Trading in the Netherlands?

Generally speaking, Dutch traders are not required to pay any taxes on capital gains, which is the category that profits from forex trading fall under. Since the Dutch Supreme Court has ruled out that forex profits are not subject to corporate income taxes, Dutch traders are not required to pay capital gains tax. However, this is the case if your profits do not exceed the value of typical assets.

In case the transactions of Dutch forex traders exceed the typical asset management, their gains are considered income generated from different types of activities, which may also include business income. Factors such as high trading frequency, a professional approach to trading, and the use of sophisticated strategies may lead the Dutch tax authorities to classify forex profits as business income, subject to the progressive income tax rates declared in Box 1. For 2025, these rates range roughly between 35.82% and 49.5%.

If profits are not classified as business income, they fall under Box 3, where income from savings and investments is taxed based on a deemed return rather than actual gains. Currently, this deemed return is taxed at a flat rate of 36% on assets exceeding the tax-free allowance of €57,684 (€115,728 for individuals with tax partners). Notably, from 2028 onward, the Dutch tax system will shift to taxing actual returns instead of assumed ones, which may affect how forex trading profits are treated. We should remind readers that tax laws are often subject to amendments so it is always recommended to contact your local financial experts to help you determine whether your forex income should be subject to taxation.

How Does the Available Leverage of AFM-regulated Brokers Compare to the Leverage of Brokers Regulated in Different Jurisdictions?

If you look at the maximum leverage Dutch forex brokers offer to their retail clients, you will notice the same offerings as the ones at any EU-regulated broker. Due to the ESMA regulations imposed across all brokers operating in EU countries, there is a mandatory maximum leverage of 1:30 on major currency pairs and 1:20 on non-major pairs. Dutch brokers make no exception, offering the same maximum leverage on currency pairs.

The compulsory maximum leverage was introduced in 2018, with every EU broker required to stick to these restrictions. Dutch forex brokers are also implementing the aforementioned leverage maximums, which were introduced as an additional protection measure, balancing out risk levels while trading currency pairs.

The same maximum leverage of 1:30 on major pairs and 1:20 on non-major currency pairs are also implemented by the financial regulators in Australia and the UK. Meanwhile, the maximum leverage you can use if you reside in the US is capped at 1:50. Depending on the market and the local regulator responsible for overseeing financial activities, the leverage can be significantly higher. We suggest traders check with the broker to make sure what is the highest leverage they can get while trading with major and non-major currency pairs.

It should be noted that leverage limitations do not apply to accounts of clients who have been designated as Elective Professional traders. These types of accounts will also have no negative balance protection, enabling higher-risk trading with bigger leverage. Professional traders are often excluded from investor compensation schemes, which reimburse retail customers if a broker files for bankruptcy.

While Dutch traders are advised to opt for Forex brokers that are locally regulated or have been authorized to operate by a tier-1 regulator in the EU region, some traders from the Netherlands may opt for registering with offshore brokers overseen by the authorities of the Seychelles, Vanuatu, Mauritius, or the Bahamas, to name a few. Such foreign regulatory bodies often permit significantly higher leverage ratios that may reach up to 1:500, 1:1000, or even higher in some cases. While higher leverage may sound tempting, we advise Dutch traders to properly assess risk levels, as some foreign brokers may not offer investor protection tools that are mandatory for EU-regulated entities.

What Do You Need to Qualify to be Designated as a Professional Trader in the Netherlands?

If you wish to bypass the mandatory leverage limitations, you may want to classify as a professional trader. While any reputable Dutch broker will allow you to set up a professional trading account and enjoy higher leverage while trading forex pairs, you should know that you must meet certain conditions to qualify as a professional trader.

According to ESMA, to be eligible for the perks that come with professional trading, customers must prove they are experienced, knowledgeable, and have the portfolio to back up their high-risk trading. Dutch traders, as well as experts residing in other EU countries, are required to meet at least two of three requirements to be eligible to open professional trading accounts with forex brokers:

• Initiate 10 transactions of sufficient amount per quarter within the last 12 months
• Have at least one year of experience in the financial sector
• Have a financial instruments portfolio worth at least €500,000

Each Dutch broker will require a set of documents to prove that you can meet the criteria that will classify you as a professional trader. Make sure to follow the steps required for the verification process and you may be able to enjoy plenty of perks that come with professional trading accounts, with competitive margins and low or no commission rates being just a few of them.

What Trading Platforms are Available to Dutch Traders

To meet the highest standards and provide a seamless experience to Dutch traders, forex brokers strive to offer some of the most popular and easy-to-use trading platforms. While some brokers develop proprietary platforms, there are also commonly used options like MetaTrader 4 and cTrader implemented in the operations of many reputable Dutch brokers:

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MetaTrader 4: It is extremely common for Dutch forex brokers to support MT4, offering both newbies and experienced traders a rather easy-to-use platform that is extremely suitable for forex trading. In most cases, MT4 is adapted for both desktop and mobile trading, letting Dutch users enjoy an easy cross-platform trading experience.

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MetaTrader 5: While offering a similar experience to MT4, MT5 is more suitable for traders who wish to expand their portfolio and enjoy options beyond forex pairs. In most cases, MT5 offers more markets and better pricing. What is more, MT5 is considered to be faster than MT4, which is something that any forex trader would appreciate.

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WebTrader: This platform represents the web-based version of MT4, offering the same seamless trading experience straight in your preferred browser. That eliminates the need to install any software on your device, making trading even more intuitive. WebTrader tends to have fewer customization options than MT4 but it is very suitable for beginners who can make use of basic technical analysis tools.

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cTrader: Many Dutch brokers support the cTrader platform, favored by advanced forex traders for its modern approach and powerful analytical capabilities. cTrader boasts an extensive array of over 70 default indicators alongside intuitive drawing tools, enabling expert traders to conduct thorough market analysis and identify potential opportunities.

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Interested in exploring the forex trading regulations in the Netherlands? Below you can find some useful references with links to help you navigate the forex market in the Netherlands with ease and confidence.

1. The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM): The regulatory body responsible for financial markets in the Netherlands.
2. Searching the register: a register of financial service providers where traders can verify the authorization of a broker.
3. DNB database: The Dutch Central Bank maintains a separate database where consumers can find the entities it licenses and regulates.
4. Complaints: AFM describes the procedure necessary to file a complaint against financial institutions in the Netherlands.
5. Official LinkedIn page of the AFM: the official LinkedIn page of the authority where Dutch traders can view related news, articles, and videos.