Fintech licensing in Netherlands
In Netherlands, fintech and crypto licences are issued by the De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) and the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). The Atlas covers 14 licence types there, in 10 families: bank, crypto-asset service provider (MiCA), electronic money institution, fund manager, investment firm, lending, money transmitter, payment institution, stablecoin issuer and trust and corporate services. Because Netherlands is in the EU/EEA, passportable licences issued there can be extended to the other member states by notification. Crypto-asset service providers are authorised under MiCA.
Financial regulators in Netherlands
- Netherlands
Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM)
The Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) is the Netherlands' autonomous conduct-of-business supervisory authority (zelfstandig bestuursorgaan
- Netherlands
De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB)
De Nederlandsche Bank acts as the central bank of the Netherlands and integral member of the Eurosystem and ESCB, exercising prudential supe
Fintech licences available in Netherlands
Bank / credit institution
Crypto-asset service provider (MiCA CASP)
Electronic money institution (EMI)
- EMI · Netherlands
Exempt electronic money institution registration (Vrijstelling elektronischgeldinstelling)
DNB
- EMI · Netherlands
Electronic money institution licence (Vergunning elektronischgeldinstelling)
DNB
Fund manager
- FM · Netherlands
Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) licence under Wft Article 2:65 and Directive 2011/61/EU
AFM
- FM · Netherlands
Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS / ICBE) registration under Wft and Directive 2009/65/EC
AFM
Investment firm / broker-dealer
Lending / consumer credit
Money transmitter / money services business (MSB)
Payment institution (PI)
- PI · Netherlands
Exempt payment service provider registration (Vrijstelling betaaldienstverlener)
DNB
- PI · Netherlands
Payment institution licence (Vergunning betaalinstelling)
DNB
Stablecoin / e-money token issuer
- EMT/ART · Netherlands
Asset-referenced token (ART) issuer licence under EU MiCA
DNB
- EMT/ART · Netherlands
E-money token (EMT) issuer notification under EU MiCA
DNB
Trust and corporate service provider (TCSP)
Path to market
Start by mapping the activities you plan to offer onto the licence types above; the activity pages show which licence permits each one. DNB offers pre-application meetings and an innovation hub; AFM offers pre-application meetings, an innovation hub and a regulatory sandbox; the regulator page explains how to use them. The application goes to DNB and AFM, together with the capital, governance and AML documentation the licence page lists. Once authorised, an EU/EEA licence can be extended to other member states by passport notification rather than a new licence.
Getting licensed in Netherlands
Protegra handles licensing in Netherlands end to end: CASP licensing in the Netherlands.
Need this licence, or a different one?
Tell us your business model and target markets. We check the fit before you spend on an application, then handle the licence end to end.
A free preliminary assessment: we check your business model against the licence before you spend on an application. We handle this licence and any other fintech licence, including jurisdictions the Atlas does not cover yet.