Best Forex Brokers in the Netherlands

Several online brokers have offices in the Netherlands, and many foreign brokers open accounts for traders who reside in the country. As part of the European Union (EU), the Netherlands has a strict regulatory environment. But before you begin, it's important to learn the details about forex brokers, Netherlands.

Always ensure that any broker you choose is well-regulated by its local financial authority. Keep in mind that not all forex brokerages are created equal, so make sure to carefully consider your needs as a trader and ensure they are met before making a margin deposit to open a live forex trading account. Benzinga reviewed and found the best Forex brokers in the Netherlands.

Best Forex Brokers in the Netherlands:

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.

The Best Forex Brokers in the Netherlands

If you’re seeking a reliable online forex broker, select from among the well-regulated brokers listed below. This selection mainly includes online brokers with offices in the EU (mainly in the U.K. and Cyprus) like FXTM, FXCM, IG and FXPro.

The list also includes FOREX.com, a well-regulated broker based in the United States. If an online broker has established an office in the EU and is regulated under the MiFID’s rules, it tends to act more responsibly since local legal action can be taken against them if necessary. Litigating outside the EU can be challenging and will likely cost you extra money and time if serious problems with your broker ever arise. All of these legitimate online brokers already have English language websites and customer service staff.

If you prefer to use Dutch rather than English, then you will most likely want to choose a broker with a website translated into Dutch as well as a customer service desk with staff members who speak the language. Selecting the best forex broker for your online trading needs will depend on your unique situation, so check out the options each broker offers to find your best fit. Here’s a quick list of some of the top online forex brokers if you’re from the Netherlands:

Best Overall: FOREX.com

FOREX.com is the top U.S. 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 $250, 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.

When it comes to leverage, FOREX.com has a somewhat low maximum leverage ratio of only 50:1 available to clients trading currencies. You can visit the broker’s official website for more information at FOREX.com.

Read Benzinga's full FOREX.com Review    

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.

Read Benzinga’s full eToro Review

International Brokers

When you try International Brokers, you will enjoy investing in forex and other assets. The forex section of IBKR makes it easier than ever to build your net worth, allowing for:

• Tight spreads
• Low commissions
• Strong liquidity
• More than 100 currency pairs
• Professional FX trading tools

You can read Benzinga’s full review of International Brokers here.

Final Thoughts

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.