Best Netherlands Forex Brokers 2023

To help you find the best forex broker in the Netherlands, I’ve listed my top three picks based on three important factors: they are highly regulated in the EU and across the globe, they accept clients in the Netherlands, and are highly ranked according to our own data-based ratings (learn more about how we test brokers). Here are my top picks for forex brokers in the Netherlands:

1. IG

99 Trust Score - Most trusted broker in 2023, Best Overall Broker in 2023

From among forex brokers that are regulated throughout the EU and accept clients in the Netherlands, IG reigns number one in 2023. In addition to being regulated by the the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) under its Netherlands entity IG Europe GmbH Netherlands, IG holds a huge number of regulatory licenses in trusted jurisdictions around the world, and is publicly traded in the U.K. (LON: IGG). Read about Trust Score to learn more about why regulation is so important when choosing a forex broker.

IG also delivers access to a wide range of markets, including exchange-traded derivatives, CFDs, shares, and forex. Traders at IG also enjoy powerful research content and IG’s vast selection of educational resources. IG continues to impress me year over year, and for these reasons I’ve named IG my top forex broker in the Netherlands in 2023. To learn more, check out my review of IG.

Check out a gallery of screenshots from IG's trading platforms, taken by our research team during our product testing.

2. FOREX.com

99 Trust Score - Earned the Industry Award for #1 New Trading tool in our 2023 Annual Awards

FOREX.com is another excellent choice from among the best forex brokers that accept clients in the Netherlands in 2023. In addition to being highly regulated throughout the world and across the EU, Forex.com is backed by StoneX, a publicly traded Fortune 500 company. (NASDAQ: SNEX).

I’ve found over the years that FOREX.com has delivered a consistently excellent balance of platforms and tools, mobile apps, research, and educational content. And last but not least, FOREX.com offers multiple account types to cater to both retail and active professional traders, helping it rank among the top brokers in the Netherlands year after year. Learn more by checking out my review of FOREX.com.

Browse a gallery of screenshots from FOREX.com’s trading platforms, taken by our research team during our product testing.

3. XTB

96 Trust Score - Publicly traded

Rounding out our top picks for the best brokers in 2023 for the Netherlands is XTB. In addition to holding multiple regulatory licenses from jurisdictions around the world (and within the EU), XTB is publicly traded (WSE: XTB) and has been in business for 20 years.

Traders who pick XTB can trade a wide variety of markets, including forex, CFDs, shares, and exchange-traded securities. XTB clients can use the MetaTrader platform as well as the broker’s proprietary xTrade5 web platform and mobile app – both of which impressed me with their responsive design and streamlined user experience. I’m also a big fan of the broker’s high-quality research content, which helped XTB win Best in Class honors for Research in 2023 – learn more by reading my review of XTB.

Check out some screenshots from XTB's trading platforms, taken by our research team during our product testing.

To verify the authorisation of a broker, enter the name of the broker in the financial registrar on the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets website.

The marketing and distribution of forex and CFDs is tightly restricted in the Netherlands, and some products (such as binary options) are banned outright. In some EU countries, such as Belgium, CFD trading has been banned altogether. The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) regulates the CFD industry in the Netherlands according to EU law; this includes brokers that offer derivatives, forex, and other securities. The European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) imposes rules and requirements across all EU forex brokers, ensuring that brokers offer obligatory protections for clients that trade CFDs and that the required risk disclaimers and disclosures are in place for retail and professional clients.

Yes, forex trading is legal in the Netherlands. That being said, any broker or bank that offers forex trading must be properly licensed and regulated. The AFM regulates forex and CFD providers, while banks and money exchange businesses that offer forex services are licensed by the Dutch National Bank (DeNederlandsche Bank). The AFM also enforces rules applicable to financial influencers on social media platforms, referred to as “finfluencers” by the AFM. Regardless of what they are labeled, this kind of social media influencer is prohibited from promoting financial products (such as forex trading) in return for compensation. With social media influencers, there's a danger that they are scamming forex traders out of their money. Learn more about social media forex scams by reading our forex scam educational series.

The Netherlands’ financial markets

Thanks to the currency stability provided by the Netherlands’ membership in the Eurozone within the European Union, the country enjoys a fairly stable currency environment, and a national currency that will be familiar to forex traders – the euro (EUR).

One of the oldest modern stock exchanges, the Netherlands’ Euronext Amsterdam was founded in 1602 (more than four hundred years ago!) by the Dutch East India Company. Previously known as the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX), it merged with the Paris Bourse and the Brussels Stock Exchange in September of 2000 to create Euronext. Today, Euronext is the largest financial exchange in Europe.

Since August 1, 2018, the European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) has restricted the amount of leverage that retail traders are permitted to use with forex and CFD brokers within the European Union (EU). The maximum amount of leverage goes up to 30:1 (3.3% margin) for major currency pairs, and can go as low as 2:1 leverage (50% margin) for assets like cryptocurrency CFDs. The full breakdown is as follows:

• 30:1 for major currency pairs;
• 20:1 for non-major currency pairs, gold, and major indices;
• 10:1 for commodities other than gold and non-major equity indices;
• 5:1 for individual equities and other reference values;
• 2:1 for cryptocurrencies;

ESMA also requires negative balance protection on a per-account basis, and for brokers to publish certain risk disclosures and to reveal the percentage of their clients that lose money. ESMA also dictates how margin close-out rules are handled by brokers (at 50% of the minimum margin) to help reduce potential client losses. However, the leverage restrictions and negative account balance protection do not apply to clients designated as Elective Professional traders.

Since October 1, 2021, Turbo certificates, a form of exchange-traded binary options, had their leverage restricted by the AFM, for customers trading these products in the Netherlands.

If you want to start trading forex in the Netherlands, your first step should always be to choose a forex broker that is well-regulated and properly licensed in the EU and highly reputable global jurisdictions. That said, I’ve also created this helpful step-by-step guide to help you get started on your forex trading journey in the Netherlands:

1. Choose a well-regulated broker that is properly licensed in highly reputable jurisdictions – and preferably in the EU.
2. Learn how to use your broker’s trading software. I always recommend starting with a free demo account, but it’s also a good idea to explore your broker’s trading platforms and apps
3. Fund your trading account using your preferred funding method (as long as it’s accepted by your forex broker). One deposit method that has become increasingly popular among traders and forex brokers is PayPal, due to its international presence and wide range of supported currencies. Check out our guide to the best PayPal forex brokers to learn more.
4. Put together a trading plan. Any forex trader will tell you: even the best traders can lose money. The key to long-term success as a forex trader lies in sticking to a well-researched, established trading plan.
5. Enter the forex market. Choose your desired trade size, and open a long position by clicking buy on a given currency, or open a short position by clicking sell.

Important Note: Should you decide to open a position to trade – whether you are buying or selling – it’s important to have clearly defined goals and risk management parameters in place. Consult with your broker to make sure that you understand the broker’s terms and conditions, order execution policy, and the risks involved when forex trading.

IG is my pick for the best forex broker for beginners in the Netherlands in 2023. Simply put, it’s hard to find a broker that offers more resources for beginners than IG. Traders at IG gain access to a wide selection of high-quality educational content, such as articles, videos, quizzes, and webinars – as well as a mobile app exclusively dedicated to trader education. IG also delivers easy-to-use, intiuitive trading platforms that still deliver the powerful tools and features sought after by intermediate and advanced forex traders. Check out my review of IG to see why I recommend this broker so highly for beginner forex traders.

Forex Risk Disclaimer

There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses. Read more on forex trading risks.