Effective January 1, 2026, a ban on cash payments of €3,000 or more for goods will take effect. An exception applies to purchases made outside the EU. No other exceptions will be introduced.
Ban on cash payments of €3,000 or more
Cash payments of €3,000 or more will be prohibited in the Netherlands starting January 1, 2026. The ban applies to all businesses that buy or sell goods in or from the Netherlands, regardless of the sector in which they operate. It does not matter whether the business is buying or selling to another business or to a private individual. Furthermore, it does not matter whether the transaction takes place in the Netherlands or abroad. In all cases, cash payments to or from businesses based in the Netherlands of €3,000 or more are not permitted.
Please note!Private sellers are exempt from the ban. For example, a private individual selling something to another private individual via Marktplaats may still accept a cash payment exceeding €3,000.
Exception for purchases outside the EU
An exception applies to the enforcement of the ban for purchases outside the EU. A business based in the Netherlands may therefore pay in cash for a purchase outside the EU of €3,000 or more.
No other exceptions
Representatives from various vehicle, metal, and shipping sectors—where parties from Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe often pay in cash—have discussed with the Minister of Finance the challenges arising from the ban on cash payments. However, these discussions have not led the minister to grant an exception for these sectors.
The minister does not intend to allow a broader exception for specific goods, sectors, or transactions with foreign parties. This would conflict with the purpose of the cash payment ban, be unenforceable, and not align well with the European ban on cash payments set to take effect in 2027.
European ban
Starting July 10, 2027, a European ban on cash payments of €10,000 or more will also take effect. This European ban does not mean that the threshold in the Netherlands will then be raised to €10,000. EU countries are free to set their own threshold for cash payments, provided that it remains below €10,000 as of July 10, 2027.
Goods, and services starting July 10, 2027
The ban currently applies only to the trade in goods. A ban on cash payments for services will follow starting July 10, 2027, with the introduction of the European ban. In the Netherlands, the limit for services will be €3,000, just as it is for goods.