Europe
Netherlands
Payments3
Venmo / PayPal peer-to-peer
Use instead: Tikkie (via iDEAL; requires Dutch bank account)
US P2P services generally don’t operate; locals use Tikkie with iDEAL.
Apple Pay
No direct substitute
Widely accepted contactless; works with US cards if supported.
Google Pay
No direct substitute
Accepted at most contactless terminals alongside Apple Pay.
Messaging1
No direct substitute
WhatsApp is near-universal in the Netherlands — the standard way to reach hosts, hotels and businesses.
Maps & Navigation3
Apple Maps
No direct substitute
Transit and maps generally work but transit card integration limited.
Waze
No direct substitute
Useful for driving but less suited for cycling and local transit.
Google Maps
No direct substitute
Excellent coverage, especially for cycling, walking, transit.
Ride-hailing1
Uber
Use instead: Bolt
Uber has broad coverage; Bolt is often cheaper in major cities.
Internet Access1
Any VPN
No direct substitute
Internet is open; VPNs are legal but reliability varies.
Social Media Access1
Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / WhatsApp
No direct substitute
No access restrictions for these platforms.