The cost to accept a payment can change significantly depending on the payment method, the card, and the country it's coming from. Understanding the mechanics behind those fees can help you make smarter decisions about what your business offers, how you route payments, and what fees you pay. When setting up your payments system, it's important to balance the fees you'll pay with the methods your customers prefer. If you're running a business in the Netherlands or selling into the Dutch market, for example, including iDEAL payments is mandatory. These payments accounted for about three-quarters of online transactions in 2024, and they also come with lower fees than credit and debit card payments.

Below, we'll explain how payment gateway fees work in the Netherlands, and what you can do to reduce your costs without compromising your business.

What's in this article?

• What are payment gateway fees, and why do they vary?
  
• How do fees differ between local and international transactions?
  
• What are the best ways to reduce payment gateway costs?
  
• What are Stripe's payment gateway fees in the Netherlands?
  

What are payment gateway fees, and why do they vary?

Every time you accept an online payment, you pay your payment gateway provider. Your payment gateway transmits the payment information to your payment processor for verification and settlement, and the gateway fees you pay are often bundled with your payment processor fees. Here are some fees businesses typically pay to payment gateways:

• Setup fees: This covers the initial setup and integration of the payment gateway with your sales system.
  
• Transaction fees: These fees compensate the payment gateway for each transaction it processes. This is typically calculated as a percentage of the sale's value plus a small fixed amount.
  
• Monthly fees: Some payment gateways also charge a recurring monthly fee.
  
• Chargeback and refund fees: When a customer disputes a charge and a transaction is reversed, the business often pays a chargeback fee. Similarly, some gateways charge a refund fee any time you issue a refund.
  
• Compliance fees: Some gateways charge a fee for maintaining Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance for card transactions.
  
• Termination fees: If a business cancels its account before the end of its contract, it might incur a termination fee.
  
• Other fees: Payment gateways can also charge fees for additional services, such as international transactions or transactions involving currency conversion.
  

Fees don't stay the same for every transaction. The biggest factor determining what fee you'll pay is the payment method.

Card payments vs. other methods

• iDEAL and SEPA Direct Debit transactions cost less than credit and debit card payments.
  
• Buy now, pay later (BNPL) payments generally cost more than card payments.
  

Different types of card payments

• Domestic credit and debit card payments usually cost less than international card payments.
  
• Debit card payments cost less than credit card payments.
  
• Consumer card payments cost less than commercial card payments.
  
• Premium rewards cards tend to cost more than standard credit card payments.
  

Even with the same raw costs, different providers can charge differently, too.

How do fees differ between local and international transactions?

Local transactions are typically less expensive than international transactions. When the customer and business are in the same country – or at least both in the European Economic Area (EEA) – the cost to accept payment drops.

Here's why local transactions tend to have lower costs:

• Processing transactions from cards issued within the EEA involves fewer intermediaries and comes with fewer fraud risks than payments made with international cards. Payment providers layer on extra fees for international transactions since they have to handle cross-border routing, currency conversion, and increased fraud risks.
  
• The EU caps interchange fees – which make up a portion of gateway and processor transaction fees – at 0.2% for local consumer debit cards and 0.3% for local consumer credit cards. Interchange fees for cards issued outside the EEA aren't capped, which makes international transactions more expensive.
  
• Local payment methods such as iDEAL and SEPA Direct Debit are low-cost and efficient, but they're primarily used in Europe.
  

If you're a Dutch business selling globally, expect to pay more for international transactions than for domestic ones. That difference can be meaningful at scale, especially if your customer base is mostly outside of Europe.

What are the best ways to reduce payment gateway costs?

Businesses can reduce payment fees by making informed trade-offs. Here's what makes a difference in the Netherlands.

Prioritise low-cost methods where they fit

Offer iDEAL by default to Dutch customers. It's widely trusted and the flat fee is appealing, especially on larger orders. Accept SEPA Direct Debit for payments from European customers, since it's inexpensive and works particularly well for subscriptions and B2B transactions. But limit BNPL usage to cases where it's driving measurable conversion or average order value. Those higher fees can add up fast if you're not seeing a clear return on investment (ROI).

Match payment methods to customer geography

Localise your checkout. Local payment methods often cost less to process than international cards, and they'll be familiar to customers. In Belgium, for example, that could mean accepting Bancontact. The more domestic transactions you have compared to international transactions, the lower your costs will be.

Choose pricing models that suit your business

Blended pricing is predictable: one rate covers everything. Interchange plus pricing is granular: you see each fee component and can audit what you're paying. This is especially useful at scale or when card mix is varied. Either model can be efficient, but transparency matters. Be wary of providers that bury costs in monthly statements or apply vague cross-border transaction fees.

Know your transaction mix

If most of your sales volume runs through iDEAL and local debit cards, your average transaction fee is probably low. Break down your volume by method, geography, and card type to identify the biggest levers for cost optimisation.

What are Stripe's payment gateway fees in the Netherlands?

Stripe takes a clear, all-in pricing approach in the Netherlands. You don't need a separate merchant account, and there are no setup fees, monthly fees or hidden surcharges. You pay per successful transaction, and the published rates apply across the board.

Stripe's blended pricing means you know exactly what a transaction will cost up front, with no surprises at settlement. This is particularly useful if your transaction mix includes multiple methods or card types. And because the Stripe Dashboard offers real-time visibility into which methods your customers use and what they cost, you can track and manage fees more effectively.

Learn more about Stripe's pricing details.