The best Shopify payment gateways for Dutch businesses

Key takeaways

• A Shopify payment gateway lets businesses accept payments directly on their Shopify website.

• The best options let your customers pay in a variety of local payment methods, charge transparent fees, integrate easily via your chosen method, and settle funds into your bank account quickly.

• Airwallex is designed for international commerce, helping Shopify merchants sell overseas easily, without unnecessary FX fees or slow payouts.

You've built a Shopify store, connected your inventory, and launched to your market. Then, you notice customers start abandoning their carts at checkout. 

This might be because your payment gateway doesn't support iDEAL, charges excessive fees, or redirects people to unfamiliar third-party pages. Instead of just racking up failed transactions, you’re losing customers.

In this guide, we'll walk through the top 5 Shopify payment gateways for Dutch businesses, the local payment methods they support, their fees, and the best fit for you.

What is a Shopify payment gateway?

A Shopify payment gateway is the technology that connects your Shopify store checkout to your customer's bank account. It securely processes transactions, moving money from your customer to your business account.

Your payment gateway determines which payment methods you can offer (such as iDEAL, credit cards, or Bancontact), how quickly you receive funds, and how much you pay in fees. It might not seem that important at first, but the gateway you choose directly affects conversion rates and cash flow (more on that below).

Here's how Shopify payment gateways work:

• Your customer enters their payment details at your Shopify checkout and clicks pay

• The gateway encrypts the data to protect card numbers and bank details during transmission

• Information goes to the processor, which forwards it to the customer's bank for verification

• Customer's bank checks the account has sufficient funds and authorises (or declines) the transaction

• Approval travels back through the payment gateway to your Shopify store

• Customer sees confirmation, and you receive notification of the sale

• Funds settle into your account within hours or days, depending on your gateway provider

The entire process happens in seconds for the customer. How long the funds take to reach your account varies by provider – some offer same-day payouts, others take three to five business days.

What makes a great Shopify payment gateway?

Chances are you’re looking for a gateway that supports the local payment methods your customers use, charges transparent fees, is easy to set up, and settles funds quickly. 

Support for local payment methods

The more payment methods you support that match your customers’ local preferences, the higher your conversion rates are likely to be. Limited payment choices can directly restrict your market reach.

iDEAL is a non-negotiable for Dutch businesses, as three-quarters of eCommerce payments in the Netherlands are made via it. You probably also want to offer Bancontact, SEPA direct debit, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Transparent fees and FX 

Payment gateway fees typically include a percentage per transaction plus a fixed amount (for example, 1.5% + €0.20). Additional costs can include currency conversion fees, cross-border transaction fees, chargeback fees, and monthly platform fees.

FX markups matter if you sell internationally or accept payments in multiple currencies, and can eat into your margins quickly. Providers charge anywhere from 0.5% to 3% above interbank rates for currency conversion, and some even force you to convert twice.

Easy Shopify integration

There are three main ways to connect your gateway to your Shopify store – whether you’re a digital native or not so tech-savvy, there’s an option for you. Picking the right one is essential for designing the checkout experience you want and your conversion rates.

Native integration: Shopify Payments is found in Shopify's platform and sits in your dashboard with no additional setup required.

Plugin/app integration: These are pre-built apps designed to integrate with Shopify, allowing you to install them without coding. Customer payments are processed directly on your site.

API/custom integration: These gateways require developer work but provide full control over your checkout flows. They are useful for custom payment experiences or complex requirements. 

Settlement speed and payout frequency

Settlement speed is the time it takes for funds to reach your business account after a customer pays. Most business owners prioritise faster settlement to help with cash flow for inventory restocking, ad spend, and operational costs.  

Speed typically ranges from same-day to five business days, depending on your provider. Some will pay out once a day or next day, while others only pay out weekly or monthly.

Security, compliance, and support

A great payment gateway must be PCI DSS compliant to securely handle card data and support 3D Secure authentication for European transactions. Fraud detection tools should also be built in to flag suspicious activity and reduce chargebacks.

When it comes to customer support, gateways with dedicated account managers and fast response times in Dutch or English are usually preferred, but chat support and 24-48 hour email responses are also solid options.

A quick look at the best Shopify payment gateways in the Netherlands

*€0/month if you deposit at least €10k per month or hold a minimum balance of €10k.

Top Shopify payment gateways for Dutch merchants

Here's a closer look at how each gateway works for Dutch Shopify stores, what they cost, and which businesses benefit most.

Airwallex

Airwallex helps Dutch Shopify merchants sell internationally without losing unnecessary money to FX fees or waiting days for payouts. You get a complete financial platform with multi-currency accounts, cards, and expense management in one place, which means fewer systems to juggle and more control over your cash flow.

Key features:

• Accept payments in 130+ currencies through 160+ payment methods 

• Hold and manage funds in 23 currencies without forced conversions

• FX rates at interbank + 0.5-1%

• 1 business day settlement available for faster access to funds.

Mollie

Mollie is one of the Netherlands’ best-known payment providers for good reason. It’s designed for frictionless checkouts and built around local payment habits, making it a strong fit for Shopify merchants focused on Dutch and European customers.

Key features:

• Supports 27+ European payment methods

• Dutch-language support and resources

• Simple, fast setup with transparent per-transaction pricing and no monthly fees

• Payouts to your business bank account are typically within one business day

• Good reporting and reconciliation tools for SMEs.

Shopify Payments

Shopify Payments is built into your Shopify dashboard, so you have no third-party setup or additional transaction fees on top of your plan costs. Because it’s all in one ecosystem, there’s no juggling of separate portals for payments, reconciliation, payouts and reporting. 

Key features:

• Supports 100+ currencies through 11 payment methods

• No third-party gateway fees (included in your Shopify plan)

• Settlement speed is typically three business days

• Currency conversion fees around 2% when selling outside your home currency.

Adyen

Based in the Netherlands, Adyen handles high transaction volumes and omnichannel operations for enterprise merchants. It's popular with businesses that need one platform to manage online, in-store, and mobile payments across multiple markets.

Key features:

• Global payments platform covering the full payment value chain, so you don’t need a separate gateway and acquirer

• Supports 150+ currencies through 100 + local payment methods

• Online, in-store and mobile payment support with powerful analytics

• Sophisticated AI-powered fraud risk tools.

Klarna

Klarna is a Buy Now, Pay Later service that works alongside other payment gateways. Shoppers, particularly in fashion and electronics, use it to split purchases into instalments or delay payment. 

Key features:

• Customers can choose to pay in 30 days, in 3 instalments, or immediately

• Klarna pays merchants immediately for approved purchases 

• Transaction fees vary by contract with provider

• Only available to customers in specific regions.

Each of these gateways offers something different for Dutch merchants. If you’re interested in a broader comparison of payment gateways beyond Shopify, check out our guide to the best payment gateways for Dutch businesses.

The local payment landscape

Dutch customers shop differently to the Germans or French. Understanding how iDEAL, SEPA, and cross-border methods work – and how different gateways support them – should help you choose the right payment setup for your Shopify store.

iDEAL

iDEAL processes over 1 billion transactions annually by connecting directly to Dutch banking apps. Customers authenticate through their own bank rather than entering card details on your site. Payments are instant and irreversible, eliminating chargeback risk.

Most modern gateways support iDEAL, but implementation varies. Some require you to hold a Dutch business registration or bank account, whilst others, like Mollie and Airwallex, allow international merchants to accept iDEAL without local presence. 

SEPA

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) standardises euro payments across 36 countries through two methods: bank transfers for one-off payments and Direct Debit for recurring charges.

For Dutch subscription businesses, SEPA Direct Debit is particularly useful and offers a lower-cost option compared to credit card payments. The downside is these payments aren’t settled immediately – confirmation from banks can take up to 48 hours, and occasionally up to 14 days.

You’ll need a payment gateway provider that can securely collect customer IBANs, store mandates correctly, and handle delayed settlement.  Our guide to understanding SEPA payments covers more.

Gateway support for cross-border methods

Payment coverage beyond the Netherlands is essential if you’re ambitious, even if you're mostly selling domestically today. 

Take Bancontact as an example: it's Belgium's equivalent of iDEAL, used by nearly 60% of Belgian consumers for online purchases. If a Belgian customer lands on your site and only sees iDEAL or card options, they'll likely abandon checkout. To effectively reach that market, you’ll need to either switch payment gateways or add a second one to capture that sale.

The same applies to BNPL options like Klarna. Dutch customers expect it for fashion and electronics purchases, but so do customers across Germany, Sweden, and other EU markets. A gateway with broad European coverage means you can expand into new markets without reworking your entire payment setup. You’ll also want to get a multi-currency account once you're handling payments across multiple European markets.

How to choose the right gateway for your store

Let’s walk through the key factors that will help you evaluate which gateway fits your Shopify store.

Payment method coverage: Does the gateway support iDEAL and the other payment methods your customers use? If you plan to sell beyond the Netherlands, check coverage for your target markets – Bancontact for Belgium, Sofort for Germany, and so on.

Fees and costs: Look beyond the headline transaction fee. Calculate your total monthly cost, including currency conversion fees, monthly minimums, setup costs, and chargeback fees, based on your expected volume and average order value.

FX and multi-currency needs: If you sell internationally, check the gateway's FX rates, and whether you can hold multiple currencies. Rates vary and can add up quickly on cross-border sales.

Settlement timing: Settlement ranges from same-day to five business days. Faster access helps cash flow for inventory and ads, but may cost more. Match settlement speed to your working capital needs.

Integration complexity: Does it offer a no-code Shopify app, or require developer work? Check if it integrates with your accounting software (e.g., Xero or QuickBooks) to reduce admin time.

Your business model: Consider your transaction volume and average order value. High-volume merchants may benefit from subscription pricing, whilst lower volumes suit pay-per-transaction models. 

Future flexibility: Will this gateway grow with you? Check if it supports new payment methods, additional markets, or subscription billing without forcing you to switch providers later.

How Airwallex can support Shopify stores in the Netherlands

The payment challenges covered in this guide – high FX costs, slow settlement, and limited cross-border support – usually stem from using providers built for single-market operations. We solve this by treating international commerce as the default, not an add-on.

When you accept payments in pounds from UK customers or dollars from the US, with Airwallex you can hold those currencies in separate accounts rather than converting everything to euros immediately. This means you can pay your UK or US suppliers in their currency, eliminating the 2-3% FX markup on both sides of the transaction, and the FX conversions you do need cost market-leading rates at interbank + 0.5-1%.

We’re also popular because our all-in-one financial platform consolidates payment processing, acceptance, business accounts, and spend management into one system. You accept Bancontact for European customers, manage corporate cards for your team, pay suppliers internationally, and track cash flow across currencies from a single dashboard. 

Airwallex provides the financial infrastructure you need to expand without rebuilding your payment setup for each new market. 

Join over 150,000 businesses processing more than $100 billion annually - open an Airwallex account for your Shopify store today.

FAQs

Can I use more than one payment gateway on Shopify?

Yes, many Dutch merchants do. One gateway might give you local methods like iDEAL and Klarna, while another offers lower cost FX. Using multiple gateways can help you optimise conversion, costs, and cash flow.

What’s the easiest way to integrate a new payment gateway into my Shopify store?

If you want something that you can get up in minutes without any coding, look for a plug-and-play provider with a Shopify app.  If you want greater control for complex checkout flows, pick a gateway that offers API integration. Most Dutch merchants stick to app-based integrations as they don’t require developer support and still offer checkout continuity.

How can I avoid losing money on FX when selling internationally through Shopify?

Most of the time, there is some cost to moving money across borders. But, to reduce your exposure, look for providers that offer:

• Local payment rails

• Reduced FX rates (as close to interbank rates as possible)

• Multi-currency accounts that let you accept, hold, and spend in foreign currencies. 

The latter means you can collect funds, use them to pay suppliers in the same currency, and convert when rates suit you.

Which Shopify payment gateway is the cheapest for Dutch merchants?

It depends on how international your sales are. 

Domestic-only stores usually only have to focus on per-transaction fees (and maybe monthly subscriptions). But if you sell outside the Netherlands, the real cost-killer is FX and forced conversions. Gateways with higher FX rates and no functionality to hold currencies will be more expensive.

Sources and references

1. https://docs.mollie.com/docs/payment-methods

2. https://www.mollie.com/pricing

3. https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shopify-payments/local-payment-methods

4. https://www.shopify.com/au/pricing

5. https://www.adyen.com/nl_NL/tarieven