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Why would you expect to be able to use a creditcard in a physical shop in the Netherlands? Surely you knew? It works if the payment terminal has support for it, but since no Dutch person uses a creditcard outside of the internet, your kinda going against the grain.




That's not really true. Especially in the more touristy places, credit cards are generally accepted and it'd be unusual for it not to be. If you're out in a village in, I dunno, Brabant, then sure. But the places that visitors are likely to be I'd expect cards to work.

I think even AH accepts credit cards these days, though I haven't tried it myself.


Why would you expect people not living in the Netherlands to just know this?

In South Africa where I live, anywhere that accepts cards accepts Visa and Mastercard. Outside of the "informal business" sector (e.g. tiny "businesses" like a roadside stall), card acceptance is so ubiquitous I don't carry cash anymore and it's very rarely an issue.


> Why would you expect people not living in the Netherlands to just know this?

Because this is a thing in most of Europe. Most people don't own a creditcard, and those that do use it mostly for online purchases outside of the EU. I don't travel to another continent without looking up how to pay for things when I get there.


> Because this is a thing in most of Europe.

I think you wastly exegarate your observations.



It's not about owning credit card, but about being able to use it in physical shop. In one of the parent comments author of comment to which I replied said:

> Why would you expect to be able to use a creditcard in a physical shop in the Netherlands?

And then

> Because this is a thing in most of Europe.


This is definitely not a thing in most of Europe.

Netherlands' anti-credit card stance is quite unique, perhaps only matched by Germany and their obsession with cash.


I was just in Germany and lived on my credit card - not a single Euro used. I strongly disagree with this generalization based on extensive personal experience.

> Why would you expect people not living in the Netherlands to just know this?

It’s generally a good idea to learn something about your travel destination and not to assume everything there is the same as where you live. The world is big and diverse.




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