The Dutch buy a lot online. In 2021, Dutch consumers spent no less than € 30.6 billion, which amounts to 31% of total spending. This is also a growth of 13% compared to 2020.

In other words, online purchases are becoming more and more important in our lives. It is therefore even more important that these are paid in a secure manner. That is why in that article we list the safest payment methods and their advantages and disadvantages for you.

1. iDeal
iDeal is by far the most popular payment method in the Netherlands. No less than 69% of all purchases at Dutch webshops are made via iDeal. What exactly makes iDeal so popular? One of the reasons may be that iDeal is a popular payment method at online casinos, which have recently been legalized.
Another reason is that iDeal is fast, efficient and very user-friendly. The security of the SSL-encrypted payment method also appeals to people. iDeal acts as an intermediary and holds your money until the webshop has sent the product. In addition, iDeal works together with a large number of Dutch banks.
However, iDeal also has disadvantages. For example, the company is not responsible if something goes wrong. If a webshop does not want to send your product, iDeal cannot help you with this. In addition, iDeal does not exist abroad. You will therefore have to choose a different payment method on a foreign webshop.

2. PayPal
PayPal is more or less similar to iDeal in the sense that it acts as an intermediary. But what distinguishes PayPal from iDeal is that PayPal is better known abroad and that it does offer purchase protection. This means that if you buy a product and pay with PayPal, and the webshop does not ship the product, you will get your money back through PayPal.
PayPal also uses Strong Costumer Authentication (SCA). This means that you need an email address and a password to log in. If PayPal cannot identify your identity, you may be required to enter an additional code. All this ensures an extra secure payment.
Unlike iDeal, PayPal is not only used in the Netherlands, but all over the world. Therefore, the risk of phishing emails is also greater. So always check whether an e-mail has really been sent by PayPal.

3. Credit card
Of course, paying directly with your credit card is also an option. Paying with a credit card can be useful at a foreign webshop that does not offer iDeal. You also benefit from a so-called chargeback scheme when paying via your credit card. This means that you can get your money back if you do not receive the product, if you do not receive the right product or if the product is broken. The credit card company will recover the money from the seller and return it to you.
However, this method has the disadvantage that it may be slightly less secure than iDeal or PayPal. After all, scammers only need the credit card number, expiration date, and 3- or 4-digit CVS number on the back of the card. However, the guidelines for payment services have been revised since January 1, 2021, and Strong Costumer Authentication (SCA) is now often required to make a payment.

4. Tikkie
Tikkie is another popular payment method in the Netherlands, and is mainly used to ask family and friends for money back after a night out, for example.
But are Tikkies safe? The short answer is: yes, very safe. The app was developed in 2016 by ABN Amro and uses a secure https connection, which encrypts data digitally. This is the same security that banking websites use. This means that a Tikkie is just as safe as any other form of online banking.
However, in 2019 Tikkie had to deal with a privacy leak, which made it possible to see the payment details of other users. ABN Amro immediately took the function that caused this offline. However, most of Tikkie’s drawbacks are due to human error. For example, ABN Amro does not check whether you have entered your payment details correctly. If not, you may not receive money sent to you.

As you can see, there are plenty of secure payment methods to choose from, each with their own pros and cons. What if you accidentally transfer money to a scammer? Then report it to the police and to your bank. They can help you get your money back.

This article was written in collaboration with gambling.com