Fintech in the Netherlands: Trends and Startup Ideas [with real-world fintech use case included]
The Netherlands is renowned for being at the forefront of technological innovation, so it’s no surprise that the fintech industry is thriving here. According to Findexable, the Netherlands ranks 8th in the Global Fintech Index, which means it has a lot of privately owned fintech firms and provides high-quality fintech services.
For those looking to start a fintech business, the Dutch region is a perfect place to consider. If you are going to launch your fintech startup, watch out for the latest trends and learn from the experience of the Softensy project.
Continued rise of digital banking
According to the recent study more than 80% of the Dutch regularly use digital banking. Remarkably, a big part of Internet banking users is people of 65+ and 12+ age categories. A high level of technical awareness of the younger generation, mid-aged users, and the elderly creates a favorable environment for technological startups. So, whether you are a traditional bank with a long history or a newly created neobank, users will be happy to use your services through a web interface or a mobile app.
Growth of e-commerce payments
Every year, more Dutch people make purchases in online stores and pay for them during the checkout. The undisputed leader among online payment providers is iDeal. It partners with the majority of Dutch banks and allows direct money transfer from buyer to seller through the online banking environment of the user’s bank.
Additionally, online shoppers in the Netherlands willingly pay with credit cards and gradually refuse after-pay methods. This indicates a growing digitalization of retail and increased users’ trust in advanced financial technologies.
Bigger adoption of data analytics
Fintech companies are harnessing the power of data analytics to provide more insights into customer behavior. This is done with the aim of offering customers more personalized services and recommendations. In addition, data analytics is used to detect and prevent fraud.
Some of the most popular fintech apps in the Netherlands are using data analytics to great effect. For example, Tenner helps reduce payment-related costs by up to 43% by analyzing payment fees and reducing manual work. And Owlin analyzes large amounts of data to provide portfolio managers with intelligence on all events relevant to their business.
Increased use of artificial intelligence
There are a number of ways that AI can be used in fintech, from identifying potential fraud to providing personalized financial advice. Dutch startups are at the forefront of this trend and are already developing various innovative AI-based fintech products.
For example, Friss offers AI-based software that assesses risk during property transactions. Blue Dot identifies and calculates any eligible and qualified VAT spends. And BOTS provides smart assistants for investing in stocks, forex assets, and bonds.
As AI becomes more prevalent, we can expect to see more Dutch fintech startups develop innovative products that use this technology. If you are looking for a promising business niche, the AI+ fintech combination is something you should definitely consider.
Rise of blockchain
Blockchain is a distributed database that allows for secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions. Banks and other financial institutions are exploring blockchain technology as a way to streamline processes and reduce costs. In turn, startups are using it to create innovative products and offset top-level services.
In the Netherlands, both the government and private sector are investing in blockchain. The Dutch Central Bank is working on a project called DNBcoin, which will use blockchain to issue its own digital currency. And ING is experimenting with blockchain-based payments and settlement systems to allow customers to transfer money instantly with no intermediaries and extra costs.
Growth of mobile payments
Mobile payments are one of the key fintech trends to watch out for this year. A recent study by Statista showed that the Dutch are among the most enthusiastic users of mobile payments in Europe, with 66% of customers using mobile banking and payment apps on a regular basis.
What’s driving this growth? A number of factors, including convenience, security, and the increasing popularity of contactless payments. As more and more consumers get used to paying for goods and services with their phones, we can expect to see even more growth in this area in the coming years.
Rise of peer-to-peer lending
Peer-to-peer lending is on the rise and is expected to become even more popular in 2023. It’s a way for borrowers to get affordable loans without having to go through a bank, and it’s a great way for lenders to make some extra money.
Fintech firms are paying close attention to this trend and are starting to develop various peer-to-peer services. So far, the response has been positive, with many people preferring to borrow and lend through peer-to-peer platforms instead of going through a bank.
If you’re interested in launching your fintech startup in the Netherlands, consider P2P lending as a promising and fast-growing niche.
Great government support
The Dutch government has been supportive of fintech initiatives, and this trend will continue to develop in the upcoming years. Some of the policies that the Dutch government has put in place to support fintech growth include the following:
- Allowing startups to operate under a special one-year residence permit with an opportunity to extend it for a longer period
- Setting up a regulatory sandbox that allows an extensive process of knowledge sharing between companies and regulators
- Providing several types of government funding opportunities for startups
- Offering tax breaks to startups
- Investing in innovation hubs and accelerators
Developing software for fintech startup: Softensy expertise
Softency expertise in the fintech industry is determined by multiple projects for startups and mature financial organizations. Since 2016, we have been working with companies around the globe, developing payment apps, investment projects, lending platforms, and more. One of our recent projects is a payment solution for a large Eastern European company engaged in the receipt and processing of utility bills.
At the client’s request, our team has developed a payment gateway KOSHT for accepting and processing online payments. KOSHT offers a convenient API for integrating with third-party interfaces — online stores, service providers, or utilities.
Our client’s initial idea was to develop a payment solution for partner companies that provide utility payments. The client wanted to replace a third-party payment system with their own solution and save on commissions and other regular fees.
Given the project’s success, the client decided to extend the software with more advanced features and create a proprietary full-fledged payment aggregator.
Conclusion
The Dutch fintech scene is starting to heat up, and there are a lot of exciting trends to watch out for in the coming months and years. Blockchain, and artificial intelligence are some new words that have recently entered the Dutch fintech market. Along with digital banking, mobile payments, and peer-to-peer lending they give numerous ideas for those looking to start their business in the fintech field.
Considering that the Dutch government provides ongoing support to novice companies, the Netherlands is a perfect place for beginner entrepreneurs and those who want to expand business abroad. If you are looking for a reliable team to implement your fintech project, get in touch. We will help to translate your idea into a profit-generating app.
This article was originally published at Softensy
