The Dutch payment landscape is about to change. iDEAL, the beloved payment method used for 73% of Dutch online purchases, is transitioning to Wero—a new pan-European payment system. If you accept payments in the Netherlands, here's everything you need to know about this transition.
What is Wero?
Wero is a unified European payment solution created by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), a consortium of 16 major European banks. Launched in July 2024, Wero aims to create a single payment system that works seamlessly across borders—something that local methods like iDEAL, Giropay, and Paylib couldn't offer.
The goal is European payment independence. Instead of relying on American payment networks like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, Wero provides a homegrown alternative built on European infrastructure and overseen by European regulators.
Currently, over 45 million Europeans already use Wero in Germany, France, and Belgium. The Netherlands joins in 2026.
Why is iDEAL Transitioning to Wero?
iDEAL has been incredibly successful—processing over 1.3 billion transactions annually with near-universal acceptance among Dutch consumers. But it has limitations that Wero addresses.
iDEAL only works for Dutch bank account holders. If you want to sell to Belgian or German customers, you need separate payment methods. Wero enables a single integration for payments across the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
While iDEAL excels at one-time payments, it wasn't designed for modern use cases. Wero is being built with subscriptions, loyalty programs, in-store NFC payments, and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) features from the ground up.
The European banking sector wants alternatives to American payment dominance. Wero represents a strategic investment in European payment infrastructure, keeping transaction data and fees within European control.
The Complete Transition Timeline
The iDEAL to Wero transition happens gradually over 2026-2027. Here's what to expect:
A national media campaign introduces Dutch consumers to Wero. Built around the Dutch concept of "Sowieso" (meaning "of course" or "absolutely"), the campaign addresses concerns about trusting a new version of a familiar service.
The iDEAL logo and name changes to "iDEAL | Wero" across all Dutch merchants. This co-branded period lets consumers become familiar with Wero while maintaining the trusted iDEAL association.
For merchants, nothing changes technically during this phase. Your existing iDEAL integration continues working normally—only the visual branding updates.
Wero's e-commerce systems go live in the Netherlands. The first Dutch webshops begin processing payments through Wero infrastructure instead of iDEAL. This happens gradually, with payment providers migrating their merchant base over time.
iDEAL is expected to be completely phased out by the end of 2027. All merchants will have transitioned to Wero, and the iDEAL brand will retire after 22 years of service.
What Changes for Your Customers?
The good news: your Dutch customers will barely notice the change. Wero is designed to maintain the familiar payment experience.
Customers will continue paying through their regular banking apps (ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, etc.). They select their bank, confirm the payment in their app, and return to your site. The flow mirrors exactly what they know from iDEAL.
Wero uses the same bank-level authentication as iDEAL. Customers authorize payments through their trusted banking environment, with no card details shared with merchants.
Unlike iDEAL, customers can eventually use Wero to pay at German, French, and Belgian shops—not just Dutch ones. This extends the convenience they're accustomed to across borders.
What Changes for Merchants?
For most merchants, the transition is seamless. But understanding the changes helps you prepare.
If you use Mollie, Stripe, or PayRequest to accept iDEAL payments, your provider handles the migration automatically. You don't need to change your integration, update your checkout, or sign new contracts during the co-branding phase.
Your payment provider will communicate specific timelines and any actions needed on your end.
If you've built a direct iDEAL integration (not through a payment provider), you'll need to migrate to Wero's APIs in 2026. Contact your technical team early to plan this work.
This is where attention is required. iDEAL uses a simple flat-fee model—typically €0.29 per transaction regardless of amount.
Wero introduces a percentage-based model with caps. While EPI has promised Wero won't be more expensive than iDEAL for the first two years, the long-term pricing structure differs.
For low-value transactions, the percentage model might be cheaper. For high-value transactions, the caps prevent runaway fees. But the overall cost trajectory after the initial period remains unclear.
With Wero, you can accept payments from customers across five European countries using the same integration. This is particularly valuable for Dutch businesses selling to Belgian, German, or French customers.
Potential Concerns to Watch
While Wero offers benefits, some concerns warrant attention.
iDEAL's major advantage for merchants is no chargebacks. Once customers confirm payment in their banking app, the transaction is final.
Wero may introduce buyer protection features, similar to PayPal's dispute resolution. While this benefits consumers, it could create chargeback-like scenarios for merchants. The exact implementation remains unclear.
EPI's commitment to matching iDEAL pricing only covers the first two years. After that, the percentage-based model gives EPI flexibility to adjust pricing. Merchants should factor potential fee increases into long-term planning.
While payment providers automate most of the transition, some businesses may face complexity—especially those with custom checkout flows, multiple payment providers, or direct banking integrations.
How to Prepare Your Business
Taking these steps now ensures a smooth transition.
Contact Mollie, Stripe, or whoever processes your iDEAL payments. Ask about their Wero migration timeline, whether you need to take any action, and if there are any contract changes.
Most providers will handle everything automatically, but getting confirmation reduces anxiety.
When the iDEAL | Wero co-branding appears, ensure your checkout clearly displays the updated logo. Most payment providers update this automatically, but verify your implementation shows the new branding correctly.
Consider adding a brief note in your checkout or FAQ explaining that iDEAL is becoming Wero. While the national awareness campaign handles most consumer education, proactive communication builds trust.
If you've been wanting to sell to German, French, or Belgian customers but lacked appropriate payment methods, Wero opens that door. Consider whether the transition timing aligns with expansion plans.
Track your payment processing costs through the transition. Compare your iDEAL costs before Wero with your Wero costs after migration. This data helps you make informed decisions when the two-year pricing commitment ends.
PayRequest and the Wero Transition
PayRequest works with Mollie and Stripe, both of which will support Wero. When the transition happens, your PayRequest payment links and invoices will automatically accept Wero payments.
You don't need to change your PayRequest setup. We're monitoring the transition timeline and will communicate any relevant updates. Your existing payment links continue working throughout the transition—and will seamlessly support Wero when it goes live.
If you have questions about how Wero affects your PayRequest billing, contact our support team.
The Bottom Line
The iDEAL to Wero transition represents the biggest change in Dutch payments since iDEAL launched in 2005. For most merchants, it's a non-event—your payment provider handles everything while customers continue paying through their familiar banking apps.
The real opportunity lies in what Wero enables: seamless cross-border payments across Europe, modern features like subscriptions and BNPL, and independence from American payment networks.
Prepare by confirming your payment provider's plans, monitoring fee changes, and considering the cross-border opportunities Wero creates. The transition to a unified European payment future is happening—and the Netherlands is joining in 2026.