Best Netherlands Trading Platforms

Written by Miro Nikolov

Miro Nikolov

Miro Nikolov is the co-founder of TradingPedia.com and BestBrokers.com. His mission is to help people make profitable investments by giving them access to educational resources and analytics tools.

, | Updated: November 5, 2025

Our team of expert traders tested several regulated and trustworthy Dutch trading platforms and compiled a top list of the best among them. Each trading platform operating in the Netherlands received a quality score based on several factors, including its Trustpilot rating, regulation, fees and commissions, available trading platforms, customer service, and more.

Online trading is legal in the Netherlands but requires authorisation from the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), which regulates all financial services providers operating on Dutch soil. As a member state of the EU, the country has also adopted the so-called European passporting regime that enables financial companies to serve Dutch customers with licences issued by other European regulators like the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Because of this, most of the regulatory requirements imposed by the AFM overlap with those enforced in the EU under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive of 2014.

Dutch traders face no shortage of licensed brokerage firms that adhere to the EU’s financial regulatory framework. Trading in all major asset groups is legal in the country, including forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, bonds, and commodities. Traders from the Netherlands can speculate on price changes through contracts for difference (CFDs) and have access to maximum leverage capped at 1:30. Retail investors residing on Dutch soil benefit from negative balance protection and other risk-management policies that prevent them from slipping into debt.

Best Netherlands brokers

Online trading is a popular activity in the Netherlands, with a large number of regulated brokers accepting clients from the country. We created the following ranking to assist Dutch traders in finding the best brokers operating on the local market. Our top-ten picks are based on several important criteria, including trading costs, range of available products, supported platforms, and overall reputation. We also ensured all recommended brokers are properly regulated and maintain the highest standards of compliance.

1. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   FSAS (Seychelles, # SD096), VFSC (Vanuatu, # 40256), ASIC (Australia, # 385620)

   Platforms

   cTrader, DupliTrade, Fusion+ Copy Trading, MetaFX, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView
   1. Fusion Markets

   Min Deposit

   $0

   Fees

   • Free deposits and withdrawals
   • No maintenance fees on inactive accounts

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   • €2.25 per side on Zero accounts
   • €0 commission on Classic accounts

   Spread

   EUR/USD: AVG 0.93 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 1 pips, USDJPY: AVG 1.7 pips

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   1:500 for the Netherlands, according to customer support

   Leverage non-EU

   1:500 (ASIC | Pro Account), 1:30 (ASIC | Retail Account), 1:500 (VFSC | Retail Account)

   Instruments

   Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Forex CFDs, Indices CFDs, Metals CFDs, Stock CFDs

   Risk Warning: Gleneagle Securities Pty Limited (Company Number 40256) trading as Fusion Markets, is the issuer of the Fusion Markets Products described in this communication. Trading in Fusion Markets Products involves the potential for profit as well as the risk of loss which may vastly exceed the amount of your initial deposit and is not suitable for all investors. You should read all of these Financial Product Service Terms, and the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (available on our website) carefully, consider your own financial situation, needs and objectives for investing in these Fusion Markets Products and obtain independent financial advice.

   Fusion Markets is a low-cost trading site licensed in Vanuatu and Australia. The broker appeals to both fledgling traders and seasoned investors, offering competitive pricing, fee-free deposits and withdrawals, and spreads that start from zero pips. When applicable, commissions at Fusion Markets are approximately 36% lower than those charged by the company’s closest competitors.

   The broker gives new clients the flexibility to start trading with any amount they wish, as there are no minimum deposit requirements on live accounts. That being said, the brokerage reports that most customers fund their new accounts with approximately €1,500 on average. Clients can test Fusion Markets’ products through free demo accounts that expire thirty days after registration.

   Fusion Markets offers more than 250 tradable instruments, including over 90 currency pairs and 100 stocks. Precious metals, soft commodities, cryptocurrencies, and indices are also available for trading via contracts for difference, with leverage caps of up to 1:500 for retail accounts registered through the VFSC-licensed version of the site.

   Leverage at Fusion Markets is instrument-specific and decreases in proportion to the volatility inherent in the underlying assets. The broker offers a healthy range of trading platforms, including MT5, MT4, and WebTrader. Copy trading is available via Fusion+ and DupliTrade.

   Traders need not worry about additional costs when funding or withdrawing from their accounts, as Fusion Markets charges no fees on its end. The broker provides white-glove customer service via email, telephone, and live chat.

2. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   CIRO (Canada), CySEC (Cyprus, # 347/17), FRSA (United Arab Emirates, # 190018), FFAJ (Japan, # 1574), FSCA (South Africa, # 45984), FSRA (Canada, # 190018), ISA (Israel, # 514666577), JFSA (Japan, # 1662), ASIC (Australia, # 406684), BVIFSC (Virgin Islands, British, # SIBA/L/13/1049), CBI (Ireland, # C53877)

   Platforms

   AvaOptions, DupliTrade, AvaSocial, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTadeGO, Proprietary Web, ZuluTrade
   2. AvaTrade

   Min Deposit

   $100

   Fees

   • Free deposits and withdrawals
   • A €50 monthly maintenance fee after three months of inactivity

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   No commissions

   Spread

   EUR/USD: AVG 0.8 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 1.2 pips, USDJPY: AVG 1.3 pips

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   1:30 for major forex pairs

   Leverage non-EU

   1:400 (Pro Account), 1:30 (Standard Account)

   Instruments

   Bonds CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Crypto Options, Energy CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Forex Options, Index Options, Indices CFDs, Metals CFDs, Share CFDs, Stock CFDs, Stock Options, US Stock Options

   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

   AvaTrade has been providing affordable trading services since 2006 under licenses granted by the financial regulators of Cyprus, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and others. The company empowers customers to trade through contracts for difference in currency pairs, commodities, stocks, options, indices, and cryptocurrencies. AvaTrade does not charge commissions on trading or transactions, as it generates revenue from spreads and swaps.

   The broker offers over a thousand tradable instruments and provides a friendly, user-oriented environment to customers from six continents. The company’s proprietary browser-based platform gives users access to a broad range of time frames and indicators for valuable technical analysis insights and easy trend recognition. MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are also supported. Customers can duplicate the positions and strategies of seasoned investors in real time with automated social trading platforms such as DupliTrade and ZuluTrade.

   Inexperienced traders can quickly shorten their learning curve, as AvaTrade offers comprehensive tutorials, webinars, and market analysis videos. With a solid global presence, AvaTrade provides professional customer support in more than twenty languages, including Dutch, German, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, and Chinese. The support staff is reachable via local telephone lines, live chat, and WhatsApp. The minimum deposit is higher than the industry average, at €100. However, you can give the broker a risk-free test drive through a demo account topped up with €10,000 in virtual funds.

3. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   • Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
   • UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
   • Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
   • Jordan Securities Commission (JSC)
   • South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)

   Platforms

   MT5, MT4, MT WebTrader, MT5 Supreme Edition, StereoTrader, Mobile Apps for iOS and Android
   3. Admirals

   Min Deposit

   • €1 for Invest MT5 accounts
   • €100 for other account types

   Fees

   • Free deposits
   • One free withdrawal per month
   • A €10 maintenance fee after two years of inactivity
   • A 0.3% currency conversion fee

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   • €0.02 per share for Trade MT4, Trade MT5, and Invest MT5 accounts
   • Zero MT4 and Zero MT5 accounts: €1.8 to €3 per lot for forex and metals
   • €0.05 to €3 per lot for indices
   • €1 per lot for energies

   Spread

   • From 0 pips for Zero MT4, Zero MT5, and Invest MT5 accounts
   • From 0.5 pips for Trade MT5 and Trade MT4 accounts

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   • 1:30 for forex majors
   • 1:20 for indices

   Leverage non-EU

   1:1,000

   Instruments

   Forex, commodities, stocks, indices, bonds, cryptocurrencies, ETFs

   Investments involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

   Admirals is one of the world’s largest forex brokers, boasting an active presence in more than 130 countries. The broker has been revolutionizing online trading since 2001 and recently rebranded from Admiral Markets to celebrate its twentieth anniversary. It ranks highly on our list of recommended brokerage firms for Dutch traders because it enables trading in a wide range of instruments at highly competitive prices.

   From currency pairs and commodities to indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies, savvy traders can find plenty of opportunities to profit at Admirals. Dutch retail customers can leverage their positions at a maximum ratio of 1:30. Those who qualify for professional accounts can benefit from higher leverage capped at 1:500. There are several account types to choose from, including Zero, Invest, and Trade. Customers can place orders via the downloadable desktop versions of MT4 or MT5, but using the browser-based WebTrader is also an option.

   The MetaTrader Supreme Edition plugin accommodates traders who want to perform more sophisticated technical analysis. Experienced investors can also take advantage of StereoTrader. Compatible with MT4 and MT5, this scalable interface offers advanced order types such as Dynamic Trailing and Limit Pullback.

   Dutch traders can fund their live accounts with widely available deposit methods such as bank transfers, Visa, Mastercard, and Skrill. Customers are entitled to one free withdrawal per month. Subsequent withdrawal requests made within the same month will incur a fee of €1 for bank transfers and 1% (with a €1 minimum) for the other supported methods.

4. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   CySEC (Cyprus, # 388/20), DFSA (United Arab Emirates, # F004356), FCA (United Kingdom, # 684312), FSAS (Seychelles, # SD108), SCB (Bahamas, # SIA-F217), ASIC (Australia, # 414530), BaFin (Germany, # 151148), CMA (Kenya, # 128)

   Platforms

   MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Mobile, Proprietary Web
   4. Pepperstone

   Min Deposit

   $0

   Fees

   Free deposits and withdrawals No monthly inactivity fees

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   €5.20 per lot for stock trades via MT5 and MT4 Razor accounts

   Spread

   EUR/USD: AVG 1.1 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 1.3 pips, USDJPY: AVG 1.3 pips

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   1:500 (CySEC | Pro Account), 1:30 (CySEC | Retail Account), 1:30 (FCA | Retail Account)

   Leverage non-EU

   1:500 (SCB | Pro Account), 1:30 (ASIC | Retail Account), 1:30 (DFSA | Retail Account), 1:200 (SCB | Retail Account)

   Instruments

   Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Energy CFDs, Forex CFDs, Indices CFDs, Metals CFDs, Stock CFDs

   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79.7% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

   Pepperstone was launched in 2010 by a group of seasoned traders who had grown tired of slow order execution, high trading costs, and inadequate support. Thankfully, Dutch traders will not encounter any of these issues at Pepperstone. The brokerage firm is renowned for its excellent order execution, competitive pricing, and white-glove customer care. It holds licenses from first-tier financial regulators such as CySEC, ASIC, and the FCA, which further enhances its track record.

   Customers of Pepperstone benefit from a broad range of tradable markets, including forex, commodities, shares, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Spreads are tight but vary depending on the type of account you open. Clients who register for MT4 and MT5 Razor accounts can trade major forex pairs with spreads as low as zero pips. The spreads on Standard accounts are slightly higher but remain very affordable.

   In addition to MT4 and MT5, traders at Pepperstone can place orders through cTrader and TradingView. Capitalise.ai enables customers of all experience levels to automate bespoke strategies without the need for programming languages. Clients can access this innovative platform by using the login credentials of their existing MT4 accounts.

   The broker supports numerous payment options, including cards, online banking processors, and bank transfers. Dutch customers can transact in EUR, but other base account currencies such as USD, GBP, CAD, and AUD are also available. Withdrawals from your live balance can take up to five business days to process, depending on the method used.

5. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   CySEC (Cyprus, # 278/15), DFSA (United Arab Emirates, # F007663), FCA (United Kingdom, # 717270), FSAS (Seychelles, # SD008), FSCA (South Africa, # FSP 49464)

   Platforms

   MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Mobile, Proprietary Web
   5. Tickmill

   Min Deposit

   $100

   Fees

   • Free deposits and withdrawals
   • No maintenance fees on inactive accounts

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   • No commissions on Classic accounts
   • €2 per side per standard lot on Pro accounts
   • €1 per side per standard lot on VIP accounts

   Spread

   EUR/USD: AVG 1.7 pips, EUR/USD: AVG 0.1 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 1.9 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 0.3 pips, USDJPY: AVG 1.7 pips, USDJPY: AVG 0.1 pips

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   1:500 (CySEC | Pro Account), 1:500 (FCA | Pro Account), 1:30 (CySEC | Retail Account), 1:30 (FCA | Retail Account)

   Leverage non-EU

   1:1000 (FSAS)

   Instruments

   Bonds CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Forex CFDs, Indices CFDs, Stock CFDs

   Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill Europe Ltd. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

   Tickmill is a reputable online broker whose global reach extends to more than 200 countries across six continents. Founded by a group of financial industry experts, the company has obtained licenses from several top-tier regulators, including CySEC, the FCA, and BaFin. The broker processes over 105 million trades per month and boasts an average order execution speed of 0.2 seconds.

   Tickmill attracts clients with its wide range of tradable instruments, allowing them to trade fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies, bonds, stocks, indices, and commodities. Pricing is competitive at Tickmill, with spreads starting at zero pips and low commissions on Professional and VIP accounts. Customers who open Classic accounts can trade with spreads from 1.6 pips and pay no commissions at all.

   The broker offers the full suite of MetaTrader platforms, including MT4, MT5, and WebTrader. Additionally, Tickmill clients can access the global markets on the go via an intuitive native app compatible with Android 7.0 and iOS 14.0 or later. Mobile traders can perform detailed technical analysis through Expert Advisors, and strategies like scalping and hedging are also permitted.

   Tickmill is an excellent choice for traders looking to reduce their transactional expenses and manage their funds more effectively. The broker covers all processing fees up to €100 or the currency equivalent. Traders are not penalized for inactivity either, as dormant accounts incur no monthly maintenance fees. That said, dormant accounts with a live balance of €50 or less are subject to disablement after 60 calendar days of inactivity.

6. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   CySEC (Cyprus, # 079/07), FSAS (Seychelles, # SD056), FSCA (South Africa, # 54018), ASIC (Australia, # 246566), BVIFSC (Virgin Islands, British, # SIBA/L/20/1135)

   Platforms

   MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Mobile, Proprietary Web, TradingView
   6. easyMarkets

   Min Deposit

   $25 ($2,000 for MT4 Premium, $10,000 for MT4 VIP)

   Fees

   • Free deposits and withdrawals
   • A €25 monthly maintenance fee after one year of inactivity

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   No commissions

   Spread

   EUR/USD: MIN 0.8 pips, EUR/USD: AVG 0.7 pips, GBP/USD: MIN 1.4 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 0.9 pips, USDJPY: MIN 1.5 pips, USDJPY: AVG 2 pips

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   1:500 (CySEC | Pro Account), 1:30 (CySEC | Retail Account)

   Leverage non-EU

   1:500 (ASIC | Pro Account), 1:30 (ASIC | Retail Account), 1:2000 (FSAS | Retail Account)

   Instruments

   Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Forex CFDs, Forex Forwards, Forex Options, Indices CFDs, Metal Options, Metals CFDs, Share CFDs

   Trade Responsibly: CFDs and Options are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and Options work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Please refer to our full risk disclaimer.

   Founded in 2001, easyMarkets is an international online trading provider with offices in Europe, China, and Australia. The company accepts Dutch traders under a license granted by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and operates in full compliance with ESMA regulations. Dutch customers benefit from negative balance protection and segregated funds. Clients can take advantage of pure price action, as CFDs are available on all major asset classes, including currency pairs, commodities, indices, shares, and cryptocurrencies. Trading in vanilla options and forwards is also available at easyMarkets.

   The maximum leverage EU customers can use is restricted to 1:30 in line with the MiFID II legislative framework. Professional clients have access to higher leverage ratios that reach 1:500 for MT5 accounts, 1:400 for MT4 accounts, and 1:200 for TradingView accounts. Spreads are largely fixed unless you open an MT5 account, which offers variable spreads starting at 0.5 pips for major forex pairs like EUR/USD. All available account types are commission-free, but inactive traders are charged a monthly inactivity fee.

   Dutch customers have a decent choice of payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Skrill, Neteller, and bank transfers. Deposits and withdrawals incur no extra costs for the customer. Novices are encouraged to start with a free demo account before they risk any real money. easyMarkets enables them to broaden their trading knowledge through comprehensive courses and free e-books.

7. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   FCA (United Kingdom, # 525164), FSAS (Seychelles, # SD150), FSCA (South Africa, # 49846), SCB (Bahamas, # SIA-F216), ASIC (Australia, # 422661)

   Platforms

   MetaTrader 4, TradingView, TN Trader, TradeCopier
   7. Trade Nation

   Min Deposit

   $0

   Fees

   • Free deposits and withdrawals
   • No inactivity fees

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   Zero commissions

   Spread

   EUR/USD: AVG 0 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 0.6 pips, USDJPY: AVG 0 pips

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   1:30 (FCA | Standard Account)

   Leverage non-EU

   1:500 (ASIC | Pro Account), 1:30 (ASIC | Standard Account)

   Instruments

   Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Forex CFDs, Indices CFDs, Share CFDs

   ‌Financial Spread Bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

   Trade Nation provides cost-effective trading services with narrow spreads, zero commissions, and no hidden fees. Clients can explore more than a thousand markets from a single account, including forex, stocks, indices, bonds, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The broker offers a proprietary browser-based platform, but third-party platforms such as MT4 and CloudTrade are also available. Retail clients from the Netherlands have access to maximum leverage of 1:30, while those based outside the European Union can leverage their trades at a ratio of 1:200.

   The spreads on the most popular markets are fixed rather than floating, so Trade Nation’s customers always know where they stand. The exact trading costs are market-specific and are clearly outlined in the broker’s market information sheet. The platform you choose also matters. Forex majors like EUR/USD have spreads of 0.0 and 0.3 pips when traded via MT4 and CloudTrade, respectively. Transferring funds to and from your live balance is free of charge. Dormant accounts do not incur inactivity fees either.

   Live account holders can top up their balances with credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, online banking processors, and cryptocurrencies. To protect customers from fraud, Trade Nation returns withdrawals to the original source of deposit. The broker also safeguards retail clients who trade on margin against running up debt by providing negative balance protection and guaranteed stop-loss orders. Overall, this broker is suitable for all experience levels and trading styles, from swing trading to scalping.

8. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   • Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
   • UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
   • Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA)
   • Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)

   Platforms

   MT5, MT4, Mobile Apps for iOS 14.4 and Android 6.0
   8. HYCM

   Min Deposit

   • €100 for Classic and Fixed Spread accounts
   • €200 for Raw accounts

   Fees

   • Free deposits
   • Free withdrawals over €300
   • A 1% processing fee for Skrill and Neteller for withdrawals over €5,000
   • A €10 monthly maintenance fee after 90 days of inactivity

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   • No commissions on Classic and Fixed Spread accounts
   • An €8 round-turn commission on Raw accounts

   Spread

   • 0.1 pips for Raw accounts
   • 1.2 pips for Classic accounts
   • 1.5 pips for Fixed Spread accounts

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   • 1:30 for forex majors
   • 1:20 for indices and commodities
   • 1:5 for stocks

   Leverage non-EU

   • 1:500 for forex
   • 1:200 for indices
   • 1:133 for commodities
   • 1:20 for stocks and cryptocurrencies

   Instruments

   Forex, stocks, commodities, indices

   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 66% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

   In operation since the late 1970s, HYCM has established itself as one of the most trusted names in the online trading industry. The company is authorized to conduct business in multiple regulated jurisdictions, including Cyprus, Dubai, and the UK. It has earned numerous accolades over the years, further testifying to the excellence of its services. One of its most recent achievements was receiving the award for Best Mobile Trading App at the 2022 Forex Expo.

   HYCM accepts live account registrations from the Netherlands, allowing Dutch customers to trade more than 100 financial instruments. Over 40 currency pairs, as well as stocks and commodities, are available for trading at HYCM. Clients also have access to more than 15 of the world’s most popular stock indices. Trading costs are low, but the exact spreads and commissions vary based on account type (Fixed, Classic, or Raw).

   Raw accounts offer the lowest spreads, starting from 0.1 pips, but traders incur a €4 commission per round, so the all-in cost totals €8. Classic and Fixed accounts are commission-free, but their average spreads are higher, at 1.2 and 1.5 pips, respectively. All three account types are available in a swap-free format. The broker ensures seamless, out-of-the-box trading via MT4 and MT5. The average order-execution speed is 12 milliseconds.

   Deposits are free, but withdrawals via e-wallets like Neteller or Skrill can incur additional processing fees when the amount exceeds €5,000 per request. HYCM participates in the Investors Compensation Fund (ICF), which entitles each Dutch customer to a maximum of €20,000 in financial restitution.

9. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

   Regulators

   CySEC (Cyprus, # 246/14), FCA (United Kingdom, # 921296), SCB (Bahamas, # SIA-F220), ASIC (Australia, # 391441)

   Platforms

   MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView
   9. Eightcap

   Min Deposit

   $100

   Fees

   • A 0.75% fee on cryptocurrency withdrawals
   • No inactivity fee

   Deposit Methods

   

   Commissions

   €3.50 per standard lot for stocks traded via Raw accounts

   Spread

   EUR/USD: AVG 1.1 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 1.2 pips, USDJPY: AVG 1.3 pips

   Withdrawal Methods

   

   Leverage EU

   1:30 (CySEC | Retail Account), 1:30 (FCA | Retail Account)

   Leverage non-EU

   1:30 (ASIC | Retail Account), 1:500 (SCB | Retail Account)

   Instruments

   Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Forex CFDs, Indices CFDs, Share CFDs

   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79.04% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

   Eightcap has a high trust score among traders worldwide because it is licensed in multiple jurisdictions, including Cyprus, Australia, the Bahamas, and the UK. The broker boasts a proven track record of providing a superior trading experience at low cost. Customers can capitalize on the price movements of all major financial instruments, including forex, stocks, indices, and commodities. Clients with a higher risk tolerance can trade volatile cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. That said, crypto trading is unavailable to Dutch traders and customers who register through the .eu domain.

   The broker has made significant strides toward providing affordable trading services to retail clients; spreads for major currency pairs start from zero pips on Raw accounts. Spreads on Standard accounts average 1.0 pip. Commissions apply to stock trades, but the charges generally align with the industry average. Transactions to and from live accounts are not associated with additional expenses unless you withdraw via cryptocurrencies, in which case you might incur a nominal processing fee.

   Eightcap supports a wide range of payment methods, although availability is region-specific. Dutch customers can deposit and withdraw via secure banking solutions such as Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, and bank transfers. Traders with dormant accounts incur no inactivity fees. Last but not least, Eightcap ensures a seamless experience for inexperienced traders, catering to their needs with a robust range of educational materials. The broker covers all basic trading strategies and fundamentals in the ‘Learn’ section of its website.

10. TRADE NOWREAD REVIEW

    Regulators

    CFTC (United States, # 0516820), CySEC (Cyprus, # 120/10), DFSA (United Arab Emirates, # F003484), FSCA (South Africa, # 49976), IFSC (Belize, # 000261/27), FSCM (Mauritius, # GB23202700)

    Platforms

    MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 4 MultiTerminal, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Mobile, Proprietary Web
    10. XM Group

    Min Deposit

    $5

    Fees

    • Free deposits and withdrawals
    • €5 monthly maintenance fee after 90 days of inactivity

    Deposit Methods

    

    Commissions

    • No commissions on Ultra Low Micro and Ultra Low Standard accounts
    • €1 per side for major US shares
    • €9 per side for UK shares
    • €5 per side for German shares

    Spread

    EUR/USD: AVG 1.2 pips, GBP/USD: AVG 1.5 pips, USDJPY: AVG 1.4 pips

    Withdrawal Methods

    

    Leverage EU

    1:30 (CySEC | Retail Account)

    Leverage non-EU

    1:1000 (IFSC | Retail Account)

    Instruments

    Bonds CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Energy CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Forex Options, Index Options, Indices CFDs, Metals CFDs, Share CFDs, Stock CFDs, Stock Options, US Stock Options

    Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 77.37% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Please consider our Risk Disclosure.

    XM is one of the largest online trading sites globally, as it serves more than 10 million customers from over 190 countries. Few brokers can boast about having as many first-tier licenses as XM, which is regulated in the Netherlands, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, and more. The company facilitates trading with more than 1,000 financial instruments, ranging from currency pairs and commodities to shares and equity indices. XM has executed more than 2.4 billion successful trades with no requotes since it launched in 2009.

    This is a full-scale MetaTrader broker that provides downloadable versions of MT4, MT5, and WebTrader. Mobile users can stay on top of the financial markets, as XM offers dedicated apps available for free on the App Store and Google Play. Pricing on trades is highly competitive, with spreads starting at 0.6 pips for Standard and Micro accounts. Zero accounts offer even more competitive spreads from 0 pips. The catch is that commissions are charged.

    XM is a great fit for both seasoned and novice traders alike, as it offers superior educational content and plenty of market research tools. Live account holders have access to technical summaries, informative podcasts, educational videos, webinars, and detailed platform tutorials. Just as importantly, the broker caters to its diverse community of traders with multilingual support in over 20 languages, including Dutch, German, French, Italian, and Swedish. Support agents are on standby from Monday to Friday, which some traders might find inconvenient.

Trading regulation in the Netherlands

The financial services sector in the Netherlands is overseen by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), which took over the regulatory responsibilities of the Securities Board of the Netherlands in 2002. The AFM carries out several important functions, starting with the authorisation and supervision of all financial services providers operating in the country. It oversees a range of financial products, including loans, investments, insurance, and savings.

It issues licences to online brokers, monitors for breaches, and imposes sanctions for non-compliance with its regulatory requirements. The watchdog strives to promote confidence in the local financial markets by ensuring they operate smoothly, transparently, and fairly.

It protects the best interests of local investors and operates in conjunction with the Dutch Central Bank (DNB), which is tasked with the implementation of monetary policies and the prudential regulation of financial institutions in the country. Since the Netherlands is part of the European Union, the AFM has obtained membership in the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).

Forex trading regulation in the Netherlands

Forex brokers must satisfy various requirements to operate legally in the Netherlands. To begin with, they must obtain valid operating licences from the AFM or another financial regulator with supervisory powers in a member state of the European Union. Companies licensed within the EU have ‘European passports’ that enable them to serve Dutch residents without additional authorisation. Forex brokers that lack authorisation in the EU are generally prohibited from catering to traders based in the Netherlands. Regulated brokerage firms must present periodic financial reports to the Dutch regulator.

The reports must contain comprehensive information about the companies’ products and their revenue. This enables the AFM to adequately monitor their financial performance and ascertain licensed brokers are not engaging in any unethical practices or fraudulent activities. If a company’s issued capital grows or declines by 1% or more within any given quarter, these changes must be reported to the regulator without delay. This requirement enables the watchdog to weed out brokers that experience liquidity issues.

Speaking of which, forex brokers must satisfy certain minimum capital requirements to obtain operating licences in the Netherlands. The firms must also have a physical presence in the country and set up registered offices there. Licensed forex brokers must separate their operating capital from the funds of their customers. They are required to store client money in segregated accounts at reputable first-tier banks.

Stock trading regulation in the Netherlands

The AFM has the mandate to regulate stock trading in the Netherlands and oversees the operations of Euronext Amsterdam, which is regarded as the oldest stock exchange in the world. Euronext has branches in several other European capitals, including Paris, Dublin, Oslo, Lisbon, Brussels, and Milan. It is the largest stock exchange in Europe in terms of liquidity pool and market capitalisation (€6.3 trillion as of 2022).

The Dutch financial regulator monitors the conduct of all publicly listed companies on Euronext Amsterdam and approves their prospectuses. It keeps a close watch for unethical practices like insider trading that undermine the integrity of the local stock market. Companies that pursue listing on Euronext Amsterdam must satisfy certain initial listing requirements and have their prospectuses approved upfront by the Dutch watchdog or another relevant financial regulator.

There are no minimum market-cap requirements to fulfil, but the interested companies must have at least 25% of their shares in free float to gain approval. Lower free-float percentages bear consideration on the condition that a company has sufficient shares to ensure enough liquidity. The bare minimum is set at 5% and must correspond to €5 million or more in free-float shares available for public trading. Additionally, the applicants for Euronext Amsterdam listing must provide audited financial statements for the past three years.

Other than that, residents of the Netherlands can legally participate in stock trading as long as they do so with a properly licensed broker. They can purchase shares on the spot market and earn dividends from them. Speculating on stock prices through contracts for difference is also possible. The maximum leverage Dutch traders can take advantage of in this case is capped at 1:5 under ESMA’s requirements.

CFD trading regulation in the Netherlands

Contracts for difference (CFDs) are high-risk derivatives that enable traders to speculate on price movements without purchasing the underlying assets. They are characterised by the use of leverage, which enables traders to gain greater market exposure by putting up only a small initial investment called ‘margin’. Traders who use leverage essentially borrow money from their brokers to open larger positions than they can afford upfront. Leverage has the potential to magnify their profits but can also result in devastating losses when market volatility picks up.

Because of this, the AFM imposes various restrictions on CFD trading, which largely overlap with the requirements outlined in MiFID II. CFD brokers operating on the Dutch market must enforce certain leverage caps to mitigate the risks associated with margin trading. The maximum leverage retail traders can use depends on the volatility of the underlying asset. Retail traders from the Netherlands can leverage their positions at the following ratios:

• 1:30 (3.33% initial margin) for major forex pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD
• 1:20 (5% margin) for minor and exotic pairs, major equity indices, and gold
• 1:10 (10% margin) for other commodities and equity indices
• 1:5 (20% margin) for stocks
• 1:2 (50% margin) for cryptocurrencies

Clients who qualify as professional traders have access to significantly higher leverage ratios. In addition to imposing leverage restrictions, CFD brokers operating in the Netherlands must provide automatic margin close-out protection to all retail customers. If a client does not have a sufficient balance to cover their margin, the broker must send them a margin call prompting them to either replenish their account or close the losing position. If the trader does neither in due time, they will suffer an automatic margin close-out.

Finally, CFD brokers must publish risk disclosures on their websites to warn their clients about the financial risks associated with margin trading and leverage. The risk warnings should be legible and posted in prominent places. These standardised disclosures must also inform potential customers about the percentage of retail investor accounts that lose money when trading contracts for difference with the respective broker.

Offering promotional incentives that encourage retail clients to participate in CFD trading is also restricted in the Netherlands. In July 2017, the country introduced a ban on the advertising of high-risk derivatives, including contracts for difference.

Funding and withdrawing from Dutch trading accounts

Dutch-friendly brokers offer a varied assortment of funding and withdrawal methods, including digital wallets, credit/debit cards, online banking processors, and conventional bank transfers. Traders from the Netherlands incur no conversion fees, as all brokers operating on the local market support the euro as a base account currency.

Clients can manage their live balances easily and securely while knowing their funds are stored in top-tier banks. Below is a complete breakdown of all common payment methods available to Dutch traders, along with their average processing timeframes and fees.

Depositing to Dutch trading accounts

Dutch-friendly trading sites accommodate their clients with a broad range of deposit methods, starting with credit and debit cards by Visa, Mastercard, Visa Electron, and Maestro. Cards are the preferred method for traders looking for low transaction costs, efficiency, and security. Most Dutch-friendly brokers waive their minimum deposit requirements, allowing traders to start with an amount they feel comfortable with. When deposit requirements are in place, however, the minimums are normally set at €5 or €10.

Digital wallets are a viable alternative for clients who are reluctant to use their cards for online trading transactions. E-wallet brands like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and WebMoney are commonly available to traders from the country. They accommodate seamless and secure deposits without requiring users to share their banking information with the payees. The only inconvenience results from the fact you must sign up for an e-wallet account and then top it up with another supported payment method.

Standard bank transfers are accepted for deposits as well but are less time-efficient and often incur additional processing fees. The exact costs are bank-specific. As for the processing timeframe, bank transfers usually require up to five business days to complete. Whether you are initiating a domestic or international transfer also impacts the processing times. The timeframe can extend to seven days in the case of international transfers.

Whichever method you choose, make sure it is registered in your own name, as regulated brokers disallow third-party payments in line with the AFM’s anti-money-laundering requirements. There is no reason for concern when it comes to safety, as all banking information is encrypted in transit via SSL.

Withdrawing from Dutch trading accounts

The withdrawal methods supported by Dutch-friendly online brokers mostly coincide with those available for account funding. Traders usually have their withdrawals returned to the same payment method they used to initiate deposits. If a method is unsupported for withdrawals, the trader can choose an alternative solution and go through additional verification checks.

Another thing to keep in mind is that most brokers authorised to operate on Dutch soil tend to process withdrawal requests on weekdays only. Traders will experience delays if they send their requests during weekends or bank holidays. With that in mind, e-wallet withdrawals offer the most speed, as they normally take no more than a couple of working days to complete. Withdrawals to wallets like Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal are usually processed free of charge, with minimum cashable amounts starting at €10.

Bank transfers are the least time-efficient way to cash out from your online trading account. Dutch customers can anticipate their funds after three to seven business days. Bear in mind bank transfers are often associated with higher costs since intermediary bank charges apply in some cases. Also, the minimum withdrawable amounts are higher compared to other supported methods.

The Netherlands trading platforms

Dutch-friendly trading sites enable their customers to stay on top of the financial markets whether they are on the go or sitting at their desks. Clients have access to popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and ViewTrading, which can accommodate traders of all experience levels. Brokers that facilitate social trading tend to work with platforms like ZuluTrade, cTrader, and DupliTrade. Others prefer to use proprietary platforms built in-house to address the unique needs of their customers. The only downside of using proprietary software is that it takes more time to get used to, as each in-house platform has a unique interface and technical specifications.

MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is broadly supported by trading sites licensed to operate in the Netherlands. The platform was released in 2005 and went on to become the most popular electronic trading software in the world. Appropriate for beginners and seasoned investors alike, MT4 is packed with neat features and resources that enhance users’ trading workflows. The platform facilitates trading on the foreign exchange markets, although other asset classes like commodities, indices, and equity shares are also tradable through contracts for difference.

It has nine timeframes that range from a minute to one month, but users can also create custom timeframes. This earlier version of the software features most of the standard technical indicators traders might need and a single-thread strategy tester. Trading directly from charts is also possible, and so is placing orders with a single click of your mouse button. The interface is fully customisable, allowing Dutch traders to tailor their experience to their individual needs.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5) was launched in 2010 as the successor to MT4 and supports a broader range of financial instruments. It enables users to trade futures as well as spots. This is an improved version of the original software, which gives you access to a greater number of timeframes (as many as 21), graphical objects (44), and technical indicators (38). It supports six types of pending orders as opposed to the four types supported by its predecessor, including advanced orders like Immediate or Cancel and Fill or Kill.

cTrader

Launched in 2010 by Spotware, cTrader is the go-to platform for Dutch traders looking for greater flexibility. It is available in a web format and requires no additional software downloads. The interface is clean and uncluttered, which makes the platform a perfect fit for rookie traders. Those unfamiliar with how cTrader works can test the demo version of the platform. Traders interested in performing technical analysis can take advantage of various charting tools and have access to numerous technical indicators, including oscillators and trendlines.

Chart types like Renko, Candlestick, and Heikin Ashi are included as well. The platform supports 26 timeframes, ranging from one minute to an entire month. Versed traders can share their technical analysis and provide novices with valuable insights on price movements by streaming their charts in real time. Stream links can be shared on social media platforms to the benefit of all interested traders even if they have no cTrader accounts at affiliated brokers.

Traders can better control their risk with limit, stop, and stop-limit orders. It is worth mentioning cTrader is a multifunctional web platform since it facilitates algorithmic trading as well as copy trading. It is suitable for everyone as it supports trading with all asset classes, including forex, energies, metals, indices, stocks, iShares ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.

TradingView

Dutch-friendly trading sites like Pepperstone and easyMarkets support TradingView, an intuitive platform that doubles as a social network whose community numbers more than 50 million users from around the world. Various instruments can be traded via the platform, including stocks, crypto, equity indices, currency pairs, futures, and bonds. Skilled investors can share their trading ideas to help improve the learning curve of novices. The interface is not as clunky as that in more advanced platforms like MT5, which renders TradingView a solid choice for those who have started to explore the financial markets only recently.

Users can seize lucrative opportunities for profit with the help of advanced trading tools like heatmaps, supercharts, and screeners. The economic calendar allows you to track all major economic news releases that can significantly affect price movements and market volatility. Traders can create configurable watchlists to stay on top of all markets they are interested in.

Performing in-depth market analysis is a breeze with TradingView, as the platform features hundreds of thousands of technical indicators and smart drawing tools. To top this off, TradingView performs effortlessly on smartphones and tablets, boasting an excellent rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Play and the App Store.

DupliTrade

DupliTrade is a viable alternative for traders from the Netherlands who wish to dabble in copy trading. It enables users to fully automate their trades by following experienced strategy providers and replicating their positions in their own portfolios. A trading simulator is built into the platform, allowing new users to back-test different strategies and analyse the past performance of fellow investors. Strategy providers undergo lengthy assessment and auditing procedures to ensure only the most proficient and successful candidates make the cut.

Less experienced users can shorten their learning curve with algorithmic trading, which is primarily intended for those who trade forex. Other financial instruments like equity indices, stocks, and hard commodities are also available for algo trading but receive less extensive coverage at DupliTrade. Getting started with the platform is beyond easy. All you have to do is set up a free demo account to get acquainted with its features.