iDEAL is the Netherlands’ own online payment method and the way most Dutch shoppers prefer to pay online. Instead of entering card details, the customer approves the payment in their own banking app, and the money moves straight from their bank account to the merchant.
If you sell to Dutch customers, you need to offer it. This guide explains how iDEAL works, which countries and banks it covers, how refunds and recurring payments work, what the move to Wero means for merchants, and how to accept iDEAL as a business outside the Netherlands.
Key takeaways
- iDEAL is a bank-to-bank payment method. The customer authorises each payment in their Dutch banking app.
- It is the most widely used online payment method in the Netherlands, so leaving it out of your checkout costs Dutch sales.
- Payments are confirmed instantly and can’t be charged back like card payments. Refunds are made by the merchant.
- iDEAL does not run recurring payments on its own. Subscriptions use a first iDEAL payment to set up a SEPA Direct Debit mandate.
- iDEAL is migrating to Wero, the European Payments Initiative’s wallet, with completion targeted for the end of 2027. Customers keep paying through their own bank.
What is iDEAL?
iDEAL is an online payment method launched in 2005 by Dutch banks. It lets customers pay from their bank account through their own online banking environment, without a card. It is owned by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), the bank-backed company behind Wero.
Because it is supported by the main Dutch banks, including ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank, and by most other banks serving Dutch customers, iDEAL has become the default way to pay online in the Netherlands.
How iDEAL payments work
- The customer chooses iDEAL at checkout.
- They are sent to their bank. On a phone, their banking app opens. On a computer, they usually scan a QR code with the app.
- They approve the payment in the app, with a PIN, fingerprint or face recognition.
- The merchant gets instant confirmation. The payment is final, so you can ship or give access straight away.
- The money is settled to you by your payment provider, along with your other payments.
Because the customer authenticates inside their own bank, the merchant never handles card or bank login details.
Which countries does iDEAL work in?
iDEAL is a Dutch payment method. To pay with it, a customer needs an account at a bank that supports iDEAL, which in practice means a bank serving customers in the Netherlands. Some customers in other countries pay with iDEAL because they hold a Dutch bank account, but it is not a payment method for shoppers in Belgium, Germany, France or the UK generally.
The merchant, on the other hand, can be based anywhere. A business in another EU country, the UK or elsewhere can accept iDEAL through a payment provider that supports it, and payments are always in euros.
For shoppers in neighbouring countries you need their local methods: Bancontact in Belgium, and cards, PayPal or Klarna in Germany, for example. Our guide to local payment methods in Europe covers each market.
Refunds and chargebacks
An iDEAL payment is a direct bank transfer that the customer has approved, so there is no card-style chargeback process. That makes iDEAL attractive for merchants who struggle with friendly fraud on cards.
- Refunds are made by the merchant, usually through the payment provider, which sends the money back to the customer’s account.
- Disputes are handled between you and the customer. If you don’t deliver, customers can still complain to their bank or take other steps, so clear terms and good service still matter.
- Purchase protection is coming. As part of the move to Wero, Dutch banks and payment providers plan to roll out Wero Purchase Protection in stages, with full coverage targeted by 1 January 2028. Check with your provider what this will mean for your business.
Recurring payments with iDEAL
iDEAL itself is for one-off payments: each one has to be approved by the customer. For subscriptions, the usual method is to take the first payment with iDEAL and use it to set up a SEPA Direct Debit mandate. Later payments are then collected by direct debit without the customer having to approve each one.
Keep in mind that SEPA Direct Debit gives customers a right to ask their bank for a refund, normally within eight weeks of the debit. Clear billing, reminders and easy cancellation help keep those refunds down. Our guide to recurring billing explains more.
iDEAL and Wero: what changes
EPI is migrating iDEAL to Wero, its pan-European wallet. The steps so far:
- 2026: iDEAL | Wero co-branding launched at checkouts.
- From October 2026: Dutch banks connect to Wero, and iDEAL payments move gradually onto Wero’s infrastructure.
- By 31 December 2027: the target date for completing the migration.
- By 1 January 2028: the target for full Purchase Protection coverage.
EPI says the payment experience for Dutch shoppers stays largely the same: they keep paying through their own bank. For merchants, the practical point is to work with a payment provider that is following the migration, so your checkout keeps working as iDEAL becomes Wero. EPI has also said Wero scheme pricing will stay broadly in line with current iDEAL | Wero pricing until the end of 2028.
Why merchants should offer iDEAL
- Dutch customers expect it. Many will leave a checkout that doesn’t offer it.
- Instant, final payments. You know straight away that the payment went through.
- No card chargebacks. Lower exposure to friendly fraud than card payments.
- Strong authentication built in. The customer’s bank handles security.
The trade-offs: iDEAL only covers Dutch customers, only works in euros, and needs SEPA Direct Debit alongside it for subscriptions.
iDEAL vs cards vs Klarna
| iDEAL | Cards | Klarna | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the customer pays | From their Dutch bank account, approved in the banking app | Card details, usually with 3D Secure | Pay now, pay later or in instalments |
| Coverage | Customers with Dutch bank accounts | Worldwide | Many European markets and others |
| Chargebacks | No card-style chargebacks | Yes, under card scheme rules | Klarna’s own dispute process |
| Recurring | Via a SEPA Direct Debit mandate | Yes, with stored credentials | Depends on the product |
| Currency | EUR | Many | Local currencies |
Most merchants selling in the Netherlands offer iDEAL and cards together. See our guide to Klarna for more on buy now, pay later.
How to accept iDEAL
You can’t connect to iDEAL directly as a merchant. You accept it through a payment provider that supports it:
- Choose a provider that offers iDEAL and is following the migration to Wero.
- Complete the provider’s onboarding and verification.
- Add iDEAL to your checkout through the provider’s plugin, hosted payment page or API.
- If you sell subscriptions, ask about SEPA Direct Debit and how first-payment mandates work.
- Test the full flow on a phone and a computer before going live.
Frequently asked questions
What is iDEAL?
iDEAL is a Dutch online payment method that lets customers pay directly from their bank account by approving the payment in their own banking app. It is the most widely used way to pay online in the Netherlands.
Which countries use iDEAL?
iDEAL is used by customers with accounts at banks in the Netherlands. Merchants can be based anywhere and accept iDEAL through a payment provider that supports it, in euros.
Is iDEAL safe?
Yes. Each payment is approved inside the customer’s own banking app, usually with a PIN or biometrics, and the merchant never sees the customer’s bank login details.
Can iDEAL payments be charged back?
No, not like card payments. An iDEAL payment is a bank transfer the customer has approved. Refunds are made by the merchant. Wero Purchase Protection is being rolled out in stages, with full coverage targeted by 1 January 2028.
Does iDEAL support recurring payments?
Not on its own. For subscriptions, the first payment is made with iDEAL and used to set up a SEPA Direct Debit mandate, which collects later payments automatically.
Is iDEAL being replaced by Wero?
iDEAL is migrating to Wero, with completion targeted for 31 December 2027. Dutch shoppers keep paying through their own bank, and merchants should make sure their payment provider supports the transition.
Can a business outside the Netherlands accept iDEAL?
Yes. Businesses in other countries can accept iDEAL through a payment provider that supports it. The customer needs a Dutch bank account, and payments are in euros.
Next step
If you sell to Dutch customers, iDEAL belongs in your checkout. Fasto works with adult, subscription, nutraceutical, gaming, dating and hospitality merchants, and we confirm which payment methods are available for your business type when you apply. Approval typically takes two to three weeks.
Get a free quote and tell us which markets you sell to.
Source: European Payments Initiative: iDEAL to Wero migration.
