Consumer credit under AFM supervision
Offering consumer credit in the Netherlands requires a licence from the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), which supervises conduct, while De Nederlandsche Bank oversees the prudential side of banks. The AFM register shows whether a provider or intermediary is authorised.
Licensed lenders must assess whether a loan is responsible, using income, fixed charges and standard living costs set by the sector's code of conduct. The result is a cautious lending culture that rarely approves loans that would strain a household budget.
The maximum credit cost
Dutch law caps the annual credit cost of consumer loans at the statutory interest rate plus a fixed margin of 12 percentage points. This ceiling, which moves when the statutory rate changes, applies to personal loans, revolving credit and overdrafts alike, including all fees.
BKR registration
The Bureau Krediet Registratie (BKR) records consumer loans above €250 with a term over three months, together with any payment arrears. Lenders must check BKR before granting credit. A negative code remains for five years after the arrears are settled, which affects mortgage applications.
Buy-now-pay-later providers are being brought under consumer credit rules as the revised EU consumer credit directive takes effect from November 2026, and BKR registration of such instalment credit has been prepared. Small deferred payments are therefore becoming visible to future lenders.
Who mainstream lenders suit
Licensed lenders suit residents with a stable, documented income, a Dutch bank account and a clean BKR file. Self-employed people need several years of figures. Applicants with a negative code or high existing debts are generally better served by municipal debt services.
Municipal credit banks and social lending
Several cities and regions operate a gemeentelijke kredietbank, a public lender for residents who cannot obtain credit elsewhere. They offer social loans for necessities and debt-consolidation loans (saneringskrediet) as part of formal debt assistance, at modest rates and with budget support.
Debt assistance through the municipality
Municipalities are legally responsible for free debt assistance (schuldhulpverlening). Residents with arrears can apply directly, and the municipality may negotiate with creditors, arrange a consolidation loan, or support an application under the statutory debt restructuring scheme (Wsnp).
Crowdfunding and peer lending
Consumer peer-to-peer lending is minimal in the Netherlands. Crowdfunding platforms such as Geldvoorelkaar or Collin Crowdfund finance businesses rather than individuals, and since 2021 they operate under the EU crowdfunding regulation with AFM authorisation. Private persons seeking personal credit rarely use them.
| Option | Supervisor | Cost control | Main documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal loan | AFM | Statutory rate plus 12 points | ID, payslips, BKR check |
| Revolving credit | AFM | Same cap, variable rate | Income and expense data |
| Municipal credit bank loan | Municipality | Social rates | Budget overview, debts list |
| Business crowdfunding | AFM | Disclosed upfront | Annual accounts, plan |
| Parent loan | Belastingdienst rules | Agreed, often market rate | Notarial or written agreement |
Comparing offers correctly
Every advertisement must show the annual percentage rate and the warning that borrowing costs money. Comparing the total amount payable over the full term matters, because a longer duration lowers the monthly instalment while raising the overall cost of the loan.
Borrowing from parents
Parent loans are popular among first-time buyers. To make the interest deductible as an owner-occupied home debt, the loan must follow the rules for eigenwoningschuld: annuity or linear repayment within thirty years, a written agreement, and a market-level interest rate.
Tax consequences on both sides
The borrower reports the loan in the income tax return and informs the Belastingdienst about the home debt. The parents declare the claim in box 3. An interest-free loan can be treated as a gift of the interest benefit, subject to gift tax rules.
Steps to borrow privately in the Netherlands
The order below suits most borrowers weighing a licensed lender, municipal support or a parent loan, and helps avoid problems with BKR, the Belastingdienst or relatives later. Most steps are free and can be completed online with DigiD in a single afternoon.
- Request your free BKR overview.
- Check the lender in the AFM register.
- Compare the annual rate and total payable over the full term.
- Contact the municipality early if arrears exist.
- Draw up parent loans in writing, ideally with a notary for home purchases.
- Report the loan correctly in both tax returns.
Mistakes and red flags
Fraudsters target people with BKR registrations, promising loans "zonder BKR-toetsing". Legitimate Dutch lenders are obliged to check BKR, so such promises are themselves a warning sign. Other common traps involve costs rather than fraud, as the list below shows.
- Paying "notariskosten" or a "BKR-verwijdering" fee to an unknown lender before money arrives: licensed providers never charge in advance, and nobody can buy a BKR code removal.
- Taking revolving credit for long-term needs.
- Using a parent loan at zero interest while claiming mortgage interest deduction.
- Ignoring the AFM register when dealing with intermediaries.
- Waiting too long before asking the municipality for debt help.
Can I get a loan with a negative BKR code?
Licensed lenders rarely approve it, because they must assess responsible lending. Municipal credit banks may help within a debt-assistance process. Once arrears are paid, the code remains for five years, though repayment is noted and improves the overall picture.
What interest should a parent loan carry?
For mortgage deductibility, a rate comparable to what a bank would charge for a similar loan and fixed period. Lower rates can be agreed for non-housing purposes, but the forgone interest may count as a gift within the annual exemption rules.
Does crowdfunding count as a personal loan?
No. Dutch crowdfunding platforms finance companies under the EU regulation, assessed on business plans and accounts. A sole trader may borrow for business purposes, but a private consumer cannot use these platforms to fund personal spending.
Where can over-indebted borrowers get help?
The municipality is the first contact for free debt assistance, and volunteer organisations such as SchuldHulpMaatje support households with paperwork. The national Juridisch Loket offers free legal information about creditors, collection costs and the statutory debt scheme.
Useful organisations and resources
- NVVK – debt assistance and social banking — Position paper from the Dutch association of municipal credit banks and debt services on the revised consumer credit rules and vulnerable borrowers.
- Gemeentelijke kredietbank explained — Dutch banking library entry explaining what a municipal credit bank is and how it lends to residents excluded from commercial credit.
- Geldvoorelkaar — News release on Geldvoorelkaar, a Dutch crowdfunding platform where private investors lend to small and medium-sized businesses.
- Collin Crowdfund — Article on Collin Crowdfund, a Dutch lending platform through which individuals finance business loans to established Dutch companies.
Official and legal references
- AFM – register of crowdfunding platforms — Official AFM register listing crowdfunding platforms authorised in the Netherlands, useful for checking a platform before lending or borrowing.
- Dutch implementation of revised Consumer Credit Directive — Summary of the Dutch consultation on the act implementing the revised EU consumer credit directive, including new rules for lenders.
- Netherlands to regulate buy now pay later in 2026 — Legal news explaining how buy-now-pay-later providers fall under Dutch consumer credit supervision and creditworthiness checks from 2026 onward.