The Netherlands has established itself as a significant player in the global forex market, with a thriving economy and a robust financial sector. As a result, there are several forex brokers operating in the country that cater to both beginner and experienced traders.
In this article, we cover some of the best forex brokers in the Netherlands, highlighting their key features, regulatory frameworks, and trading conditions. Whether you are a novice looking for user-friendly platforms or a professional seeking advanced trading tools, the Netherlands offers a range of options to suit your needs.
Quick Look: Best Forex Brokers in the Netherlands
- Best for all Around Offerings: FOREX.com
- Best for Fast Execution Speed: Blackbull Markets
- Best for Beginners: Capital.com
- Best for Mobile Traders: HYCM
- Best for Copy Trading: eToro
Best Forex Brokers in the Netherlands
Let's delve into the top forex brokers in the Netherlands and discover the advantages they offer to traders in this dynamic and vibrant market.
1. Best for all Around Offerings: FOREX.com
- Best For:Excellent Trading Conditions and Overall OfferingsVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through Forex.com Europe's website
FOREX.com is the top forex broker with respect to client assets. While it may not be regulated by the AFM, it is instead strictly regulated by the NFA and CFTC in the United States, in addition to regulators in the U.K., Canada, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Cayman Islands.
You can fund a trading account at FOREX.com with only $100, and the broker lets you trade micro lot if you prefer to start with smaller trading amounts. The broker also segregates client accounts from its own funds and has an Islamic account option.
The company offers several desktop, web-based and mobile trading platforms, including NinjaTrader and the ever-popular MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms from MetaQuotes. Clients can also use its proprietary Advanced Trading Platform for desktop computers and its Web Trading platform if you prefer to trade via a web browser.
2. Best for Fast Execution Speed: Blackbull Markets
- Best For:Lightning Fast Execution SpeedVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through BlackBull Markets's website
BlackBull Markets is a leading trading broker founded in 2014 with its headquarters located in New Zealand. As a No Dealing Desk (NDD) broker, BlackBull Markets is known for offering a wide range of trading options including forex, indices, commodities, energies, metals and CFDs.
One notable aspect of BlackBull Markets is its regulatory status. The company is regulated by both the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the Seychelles. Over the years, BlackBull Markets has achieved notable success and has built a strong reputation in the industry.
3. Best for Beginners: Capital.com
- Best For:Market-Leading SpreadsVIEW PROS & CONS:CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 83.51% of retail investors lose money.
When it comes to trading platforms for beginners, Capital.com stands out as the best choice. The platform offers a beginner friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it perfect for those who are new to trading.
One of the key features that make Capital.com an excellent option for beginners is its comprehensive educational resources. The platform provides a variety of learning materials, including tutorials, articles, and videos, to help beginners understand the fundamentals of trading. These resources cover topics such as market analysis, risk management and trading strategies.
Another advantage of choosing Capital.com is the wide range of markets available for trading. Including stocks, ETFs, forex, crypto and CFDs on over 3,700 global markets. This not only allows beginners to explore different markets, but also provides opportunities for diversification and potential profit.
4. Best for Mobile Traders: HYCM
- Best For:Straightforward MetaTrader Platform ExperienceVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through HYCM Capital Markets's website
HYCM is a trading platform that is particularly beneficial for mobile traders due to its easy-to-use interface and advanced features. One of its major advantages is its accessibility across different devices, allowing traders to conveniently access the platform from their smartphones or tablets, regardless of their operating system.
HYCM also provides real-time price data, ensuring that traders have access to the most up-to-date market information. The platform offers a variety of drawing tools and indicators, which allow traders to perform detailed technical analysis directly on their mobile devices.
In terms of educational resources, HYCM offers a wealth of materials to help traders enhance their knowledge and skills. These include webinars, tutorials, and market analysis reports, which are all easily accessible on the mobile platform. HYCM provides excellent customer support available 24/5 through various channels, such as live chat, email, and phone.
5. Best for Copy Trading: eToro
eToro is a social trading platform that has provided forex products and more to retail clients for over 10 years. With 10 million worldwide account holders, eToro allows users to be a part of the trading community around them.
eToro has many features, with its most popular ones for forex trading being CopyTrader, CopyPortfolios, and the Social News Feed. With the Social News Feed, you get access to a Twitter-esque feed to trader updates. Traders discuss the markets, their strategies, and are able to get alerts based on certain market factors.
With CopyTrader and CopyPortfolio, you can locate a successful trader and copy their strategy. With the ability to copy up to 100 traders, this feature is easy to set up and access.
Trading Forex in the Netherlands
The Dutch national currency is the European Union’s euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 smaller denominations known as cents. According to the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), the euro was the second most-traded currency in 2016 and made up roughly 31.4 percent of overall forex market turnover in that year.
With respect to Dutch financial sector regulation, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) is the financial services regulatory authority for the Netherlands.
Its role is comparable to that of the SEC in the United States. The regulator aims to protect investors and traders by ensuring that Dutch financial markets operate smoothly and remain accessible, as well as promote investor confidence. Financial institutions need to be authorized by AFM before operating in Holland, and its regulatory authority includes overseeing online forex brokers based in the Netherlands.
When it comes to forex trading, there are several reputable forex brokers based in the EU to choose from, although Dutch residents can easily deposit money and trade forex via accounts held with foreign brokers regulated in other strict jurisdictions like the United States.
Remember that any legitimate foreign forex broker will generally submit to regulation in the country where your primary operations are situated, so be sure to choose a reputable broker overseen by a reasonably strict regulatory organization.
What to Look for in a Dutch Forex Broker
No matter whether an online forex broker is based in the EU or elsewhere, the best online brokerage options will typically have the following characteristics:
- Regulated in a strict jurisdiction
- Solid client reputation
- Allows you to open an account of the type you want
- Requires an affordable minimum deposit
- Has a high enough maximum leverage ratio for your trading strategy
- Has competitive dealing prices
- Provides protection against negative balances
- Keeps order slippage to a minimum
- Maintains client funds separate from its own money
- Has withdrawal and deposit methods that suit you
Another important thing to keep in mind when choosing a suitable online forex broker involves well-supported trading software. Many online brokers have their own proprietary trading platforms clients can use and at the same time provide market access via popular third-party trading platforms such as NinjaTrader, cTrader and MetaTrader 4 and 5 from MetaQuotes.
FX Trading with Trusted Brokers
If you live in the Netherlands, choose a well-regulated broker that keeps client accounts segregated from its own accounts and places them on deposit with a top-tier bank. Regulation by an EU-based financial oversight authority is also highly recommended, while the NFA and CFTC also offer strict regulation.
The safety of your margin deposit is another very important factor to remember when choosing a forex broker. Also, be sure that any trading profits you earn can be easily and promptly withdrawn upon request. Take some time to research the broker’s client reputation ratings thoroughly and watch out for warning signs, such as a significant number of account holders who report unresolved issues when they try to withdraw earnings from the broker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is forex trading legal in the Netherlands?
Forex trading is legal in the Netherlands as long as the broker is certified by the AFM, a local regulator.
What is the regulating agency for forex brokers in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) regulates forex and CFD platforms, while banks and money exchange businesses that offer forex services are licensed by the Dutch National Bank (DeNederlandsche Bank).
Can I use a foreign forex broker in the Netherlands?
Yes, you can use a foreign forex broker in the Netherlands as long as they are registered with the proper authority.
Get a Forex Pro on Your Side
FOREX.com, registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), lets you trade a wide range of forex markets with low pricing and fast, quality execution on every trade.
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- EUR/USD as low as 0.2 with fixed $5 commissions per 100,000
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Learn more about FOREX.com’s low pricing and how you can get started trading with FOREX.com.
About Jay and Julie Hawk
Jay and Julie Hawk are the married co-founders of TheFXperts, a provider of financial writing services particularly renowned for its coverage of forex-related topics. With over 40 years of collective trading expertise and more than 15 years of collaborative writing experience, the Hawks specialize in crafting insightful financial content on trading strategies, market analysis and online trading for a broad audience. While their prolific writing career includes seven books and contributions to numerous financial websites and newswires, much of their recent work was published at Benzinga.