✓ Updated April 2026 · 4 travel cards compared

Best Travel Credit Card in the Netherlands 2026

Which credit card offers the most value for travellers? We compare lounge access, travel insurance, miles and exchange rates from the 4 best travel cards of 2026. From the luxury AMEX Platinum to the affordable N26 You with Allianz insurance.

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Why a dedicated travel credit card?

Not every credit card is suitable for travel. A standard Dutch bank credit card charges foreign exchange surcharges of 1.5% to 2.5% on every international transaction. On a holiday costing €3,000 you pay €45 to €75 extra in exchange costs. Moreover, a standard card often has no travel insurance, no airport lounge access and no purchase insurance.

Dedicated travel credit cards are designed to offer extra value specifically when travelling. Think of free lounge visits worth €30–50 per visit, travel insurance that would otherwise cost €150–400 per year, and currency transparency without unnecessary surcharges. For frequent travellers the right credit card can save hundreds of euros per year.

In 2026 there are four categories of traveller: the luxury high-flyer who wants lounges and Privium (AMEX Platinum), the insurance seeker who wants coverage without a BKR check (N26 You), the miles collector who wants to build up KLM points (Flying Blue AMEX Gold), and the ANWB member who wants the best car rental insurance (ANWB Visa Gold).

Top 4 — Best Travel Credit Cards 2026
Card Cost/yr Lounge Insurance BKR
AMEX Platinum€780UnlimitedComprehensiveYes
N26 You€119NoAllianzNo
Flying Blue AMEX Gold€198LimitedBasicYes
ANWB Visa Gold€52NoComprehensiveYes

The 4 Best Travel Credit Cards of 2026

AMERICAN EXPRESS

AMEX Platinum Card

★★★★★ 5/5
Charge Card BKR Yes
€780/yr
€65 per month
  • ✦1,400+ lounges worldwide
  • ✦Privium Plus at Schiphol free
  • ✦Comprehensive travel & cancellation insurance
  • ✦Platinum Lifestyle Service 24/7
Pros
✓Unlimited lounge + 1 guest
✓Privium Plus (€350 value)
✓Hotel elite status
✓24/7 personal assistant
Cons
✗€780/yr annual fee
✗AMEX ~85% acceptance
✗High minimum income required

The AMEX Platinum is the most complete premium travel card in the Netherlands. With unlimited Priority Pass access (including one guest), free Privium Plus at Schiphol and a 24/7 Lifestyle Service, this is the ultimate card for the frequent flyer. The €780 annual fee sounds high, but for someone who flies 10+ times a year and uses lounges the card pays for itself quickly.

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N26

N26 You Mastercard

★★★★★ 5/5
No BKR Allianz
€119/yr
€9.90 per month
  • ✦Full Allianz travel insurance
  • ✦Unlimited free ATM withdrawals worldwide
  • ✦Cancellation insurance €10,000
  • ✦0% foreign exchange surcharge
Pros
✓Medical up to €1 million
✓Cancellation €10,000
✓No BKR required
Cons
✗€9.90/month
✗Max 90 travel days/yr

N26 You is the best travel card for people who do not want to undergo a BKR (Dutch credit registry) check but still want a fully-fledged Allianz travel insurance. The Allianz coverage is market-leading: medical up to €1 million, cancellation up to €10,000, travel delay and baggage coverage. With 0% foreign exchange surcharge and unlimited ATM withdrawals, this is the most complete package in the mid-range segment.

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KLM / AMERICAN EXPRESS

Flying Blue AMEX Gold

★★★★★ 5/5
BKR Yes KLM Miles
€198/yr
per year
  • ✦1 mile per €1 · 1.5 with KLM
  • ✦5,000 welcome miles
  • ✦30 XP status building
  • ✦Lounge access opportunities
Pros
✓1 mile + 1.5 with KLM
✓5,000 welcome miles
✓30 XP status building
Cons
✗€198/yr
✗AMEX 85% acceptance
✗Min €30k gross income

The Flying Blue AMEX Gold is the ideal card for KLM-loyal travellers. You automatically earn miles with every purchase and build up status experience in the Flying Blue programme. The welcome bonus of 5,000 miles already equals a free ticket on shorter European routes. Ideal if you regularly fly via Schiphol and want to build up your frequent flyer status.

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ANWB

ANWB Visa Gold Card

★★★★☆ 4/5
BKR Yes Visa
€52/yr
per year
  • ✦365-day purchase insurance
  • ✦Car rental excess up to €1,500
  • ✦€2,000 emergency cash worldwide
  • ✦Traffic legal assistance
Pros
✓365-day purchase insurance
✓Car rental excess covers €1,500
✓Emergency card €2,000 · 24/7 ANWB
Cons
✗No cashback or miles
✗€51.95/yr (max for ANWB members)

The ANWB Visa Gold is the most practical and affordable travel card in the Netherlands. For just €52 per year you get a 365-day purchase insurance (unique in this price segment), excess cover on car rentals up to €1,500, and 24/7 ANWB roadside assistance worldwide. For ANWB members the card is even cheaper. Ideal for families who go on holiday annually.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Travel Credit Card

Best travel credit card 2026?+
The best travel credit card in 2026 depends on your travel habits and budget. For luxury travellers who fly frequently and appreciate lounges, the AMEX Platinum (€780/yr) is the absolute number one with 1,400+ lounges and Privium Plus at Schiphol. For the average traveller who wants good travel insurance without a BKR (Dutch credit registry) check, the N26 You (€119/yr) with Allianz coverage is an excellent choice. For budget-conscious travellers who just want free currency exchange, Revolut Standard (free) with €1,000/month fee-free exchange is a solid option.
Do you need a credit card for car rental?+
Yes, virtually all professional car rental companies require a credit card (not prepaid, not a debit card) for the deposit. The deposit is blocked on your card during the rental period. This means your card must have sufficient available balance or credit limit. Most deposits range between €300 and €2,000 depending on the vehicle. A card like the ANWB Visa Gold even has a built-in excess cover, allowing you to decline the expensive CDW insurance at the rental company and save thousands of euros per trip.
What does travel insurance via credit card cover?+
The travel insurance via a credit card varies greatly per card. With the AMEX Platinum the coverage is very comprehensive: medical up to €1 million, cancellation, baggage loss, travel delay and legal assistance. With the N26 You (Allianz) you get medical coverage up to €1 million, cancellation up to €10,000, delay coverage and baggage coverage. With the ANWB Visa Gold the focus is primarily on purchase insurance (365 days) and car rental excess. In most cases coverage is active as soon as your trip has been fully or partially paid with the card. Always check the policy terms before you travel.
AMEX or Visa better for travel?+
Both have strong points. American Express (AMEX) offers superior travel benefits: lounges, Privium, hotel upgrades and a premium Lifestyle Service. The downside is more limited acceptance: AMEX is accepted by approximately 85% of merchants in Europe. Visa is accepted almost everywhere (99%+). For lounge access and luxury travel benefits AMEX wins; for daily use and worldwide reliability Visa wins. Many premium travellers have both: an AMEX Platinum for the benefits and a Visa as backup.
What is Privium Plus and how is it free?+
Privium is a paid membership programme at Schiphol that gives you fast access through dedicated Privium lanes at border control (biometric), a private car park and priority at baggage belts. Privium Plus normally costs approximately €350 per year. With the AMEX Platinum Card you get Privium Plus completely free as an additional benefit. This means you never have to stand in the long queues at passport control again. For frequent users of Schiphol this benefit alone is worth €350, which offsets a significant part of the €780 annual fee.
How to earn KLM miles?+
With the Flying Blue AMEX Gold Card you automatically earn miles with every purchase. You earn 1 mile per euro spent and 1.5 miles per euro on KLM purchases. Upon registration you receive 5,000 welcome miles and 30 XP (Experience Points for status building). Miles can be redeemed for flights with KLM, Air France and 13 other Sky Team partners. 25,000 miles equals an Economy return flight within Europe. You can also transfer miles to hotel or car points. Miles are valid for 36 months as long as you keep your account active.
Best card outside Europe?+
For travel outside Europe it is essential to have a card with 0% foreign exchange surcharge. Both N26 You and N26 Smart offer 0% foreign exchange surcharge worldwide. Revolut Standard exchanges up to €1,000 free per month. The AMEX Platinum offers excellent benefits but AMEX acceptance outside Europe can be limited in some countries. Always carry a backup card: an AMEX as the primary card for benefits, plus a Visa or Mastercard with a low foreign exchange surcharge as backup. In Asia and Latin America Mastercard is sometimes better accepted than Visa.
What is Priority Pass?+
Priority Pass is the world's largest independent lounge access programme with more than 1,400 airport lounges in 140 countries. With a Priority Pass you can enter an airport lounge regardless of your flight class or airline. You enjoy free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, a quiet workspace and showers. With the AMEX Platinum Card you have unlimited Priority Pass access, also for one guest free of charge. With some other cards you pay €25–35 per visit after a maximum number of free visits per year. The AMEX Platinum offers the most favourable Priority Pass terms in the Netherlands.

See also

→ Car Rental
Car Rental Credit Card
→ Cashback
Cashback Credit Cards
→ No BKR
No BKR Check
→ Overview
Best Credit Card NL
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