Choosing a broker in the Netherlands: criteria and comparison
A broker is your access to the market. Which one suits you depends on what you buy, how often you trade and what matters most to you. This article explains what to look at and places several brokers side by side. It is not personal advice and there is no ranking.
Note: own interest. Daytraders.nl and Easybroker are both part of DMA Europe B.V. This is a conflict of interest. We may also receive a fee if you open an account with Finst through our links. We apply the same methodology to every broker. See our page on affiliate relationships for more detail.
What to look at when choosing a broker
Costs
Look at all costs, not only the cost per trade:
- cost per trade (fixed amount, percentage or both);
- custody or subscription fees;
- currency conversion costs on foreign investments;
- costs for deposits, withdrawals and inactivity.
If you trade rarely, fixed yearly costs matter most. If you trade often, the cost per trade matters most.
Product range
Not every broker offers everything. Some focus on stocks and ETFs. Others also offer options, futures or crypto. Decide first what you want to buy. See our glossary for terms.
Protection and supervision
Check who supervises the broker and in which country your account is legally held. That decides which investor compensation scheme applies. It can be a Dutch, German or Irish scheme, with different amounts. Crypto is usually not covered by an investor compensation scheme. Always check this in the broker’s terms.
Platform
Choose a platform you understand. A simple app suits beginners. A professional platform offers more features but takes longer to learn. Check whether there is both an app and a web version.
Service
Look at the language of customer support, opening hours and contact options. Also check whether the broker provides annual statements you can use for your tax return.
Overview of several brokers
The table shows only characteristics from our broker pages. Current fees are on the review page and with the broker itself. The order is alphabetical.
| Broker | Type | Product range | Supervision (per our broker page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUX Zero | Stocks and ETFs | Stocks, ETFs | AFM |
| DEGIRO | Stocks and more | Stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, funds, crypto | AFM, DNB, BaFin |
| Easybroker | Stocks and more | Stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, forex, warrants | AFM, DNB; Central Bank of Ireland (via Interactive Brokers Ireland) |
| Interactive Brokers (EU) | Multiple markets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds, forex, options, futures, crypto | Central Bank of Ireland |
| LYNX | Stocks and more | Stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, forex, CFDs | AFM, DNB |
| Saxo | Multiple markets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds, forex, options, futures | Danish FSA; AFM (register, EU passport); DNB |
| Scalable Capital | Stocks and more | Stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, derivatives, crypto | BaFin, Deutsche Bundesbank |
| Trade Republic | Multiple markets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds, crypto | BaFin, Deutsche Bundesbank |
| Bitvavo | Crypto | Crypto | AFM (MiCA) |
| Finst | Crypto | Crypto | AFM (MiCA) |
How these brokers differ
- Stocks and ETFs, low trading frequency. BUX Zero, DEGIRO, Scalable Capital and Trade Republic have a simple set-up. Pricing structures differ a lot: a fixed amount per order, a subscription or a plan. Compare this with how often you trade.
- Professional platforms. LYNX, Interactive Brokers and Saxo offer broader platforms and more products. This suits experienced investors who want options, futures or many exchanges. For beginners the range is often too wide.
- Business investing. According to our broker page, Easybroker also opens accounts for a B.V., holding company, N.V. or foundation. See our overview of business investing.
- Crypto. Bitvavo and Finst focus on crypto. According to our broker page, Finst charges a flat 0.15%. Bitvavo uses a scale that depends on trading volume. Which one is cheaper depends on how much and how you trade.
Easybroker: own interest and when it fits less well
Easybroker is a brand of DMA Europe B.V., the same owner as Daytraders.nl. That is why we also state where Easybroker fits less well:
- The account is legally held with Interactive Brokers Ireland. The Irish investor compensation scheme applies, not the Dutch one (90% of the claim, up to €20,000 per person).
- For business accounts Easybroker charges fixed monthly costs (€30 per month for one entity and one shareholder). At low trading volume these can weigh heavily.
- Easybroker has few research tools of its own. If you want extensive analysis, another broker may suit you better.
- According to our broker page, costs for private investors are comparable to other Dutch brokers. There is no fixed price advantage.
- If you only want crypto, Easybroker is not an option because it does not offer crypto.
Also read the Easybroker review.
Choosing a broker in four steps
- Write down what you want to buy and how often you trade.
- Calculate what a normal month or year costs at two or three brokers.
- Check supervision, compensation scheme and how your investments are held.
- Start with a small amount and see whether the platform and service suit you.
More background is in the tutorial What is a broker and how to choose one.
Tax statements and currency
Investors in the Netherlands report their assets for box 3. Ask the broker which annual statements it provides. On foreign investments, currency conversion costs can add up. See also the glossary.
Risk warning
Investing involves risk. You can lose part or all of your money. Past results say nothing about the future. Crypto assets can swing sharply in value and are usually not covered by an investor compensation scheme. This article is educational and not personal investment advice. Consult a qualified adviser before making a decision.