iDEAL will be replaced by Wero in 2026, and it is now clear that the iDIN identification system will also disappear. You need to know this.
After iDEAL, iDIN will also disappear
At the beginning of December we wrote that iDEAL, the most used online payment method, will disappear. This Dutch payment system has been the standard for most internet payments since 2005. This will change in 2026 with the arrival of Wero. Wero is a completely new European payment system that should make both digital and physical transactions easier.
With the Dutch iDIN service you can show proof of identification online. This service was introduced in the Netherlands almost ten years ago by a partnership of major banks. It is an identification system that allows online visitors to prove who they are by logging in once to the bank. iDIN will eventually disappear and be replaced by the Belgian service itsme.
The itsme app
The Belgian itsme will be available in the Netherlands in mid-2026, but that is not yet the time when iDIN will disappear. Unlike iDIN, itsme does not connect to the bank, but works with a copy of your passport or ID card. If you want to confirm your identity on a site, you can click on the itsme button. A QR code will then appear that you can scan with the itsme app to log in. So you only have to enter your ID once. The information is then encrypted with a unique code that you choose yourself.
Itsme does not have access to the data without that code, even though it is stored on the company’s servers. The company emphasizes that the information is only stored in European data centers. The app itself continues to be developed and there will always be research into whether it can be made even safer.
Complete replacement only in 2028
Although itsme will be available in mid-2026, iDIN will not disappear completely until 2028. Until then, both services still exist side by side and you can choose which one you use. The company indicates that the use of itsme will remain free in 2028. In Belgium, the service is not only used as a digital ID by commercial organizations, but citizens can also use it to log in to the government.
Do you always want to stay informed of developments? Then sign up for our newsletter!
Download the iPhoned app
