Losing a card, or realising you have been scammed, is a stomach-drop moment in any language. In the Netherlands the action is simple and fast once you know the word: blokkeren (to block). Here is exactly what to do and say.
First: block it yourself in the app
For most banks, the quickest fix is in your own banking app or online banking. As the Consumentenbond explains, you can blokkeren the card yourself in seconds:
- ING: in the ING App or Mijn ING.
- ABN AMRO: in the app, tap Passen, pick the card, block it.
- Most other banks: a pas blokkeren option in the app menu.
From the same screen you can usually order a replacement (een nieuwe pas aanvragen) right away.
If you cannot reach the app: call
No app access? Two routes:
- Call your own bank directly (save the number now, before you need it).
- Call the central Bankpassen Meldcentrale on 0800-0313, which blocks debit cards for most banks. Note: this number does not cover ING, whose customers use the ING App or ING’s own line.
These lines run around the clock, because cards do not get lost at convenient hours.
You are protected, if you act promptly
Reassuring news: under the EU’s PSD2 rules, you generally carry no personal liability for transactions made after you report a card lost or stolen, provided you blocked it promptly and were not grossly negligent (for example, writing your PIN on the card). So the priority is speed: block first, sort out details after. The police advise the same order of actions.
If it was stolen or it is fraud
For theft or a scam, also:
- File a police report (aangifte doen), which you may need for the bank.
- Report fraud to your bank’s fraud desk and, if a scam, be alert to follow-up phishing and fake-Tikkie messages, which often come in waves.
Banks publish fraud guidance via Veilig Bankieren, the sector’s safety-information site.
The phrases that help
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Ik wil mijn pas blokkeren. | I want to block my card. |
| Mijn pas is kwijt / gestolen. | My card is lost / stolen. |
| Ik wil een nieuwe pas aanvragen. | I want to order a new card. |
| Er zijn vreemde afschrijvingen. | There are strange charges. |
| Ik wil aangifte doen. | I want to file a police report. |
Where it connects
Blocking a card sits with the rest of money and safety admin: reading the iDEAL and Maestro payment world, spotting fake Tikkie and PostNL scam texts, and the everyday paying you do around shop opening hours.
The bottom line
Lost, stolen, or scammed? Blokkeren the card immediately, fastest in your banking app, or by phone, or via the Bankpassen Meldcentrale on 0800-0313 (not ING). Thanks to PSD2 you are not liable once you have blocked promptly, so act first and tidy up after. Order a new card in the app, and for theft or fraud, aangifte doen. Save your bank’s emergency number today, so future-you does not have to search for it.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the emergency banking words you hope never to need, blokkeren, pas kwijt, een nieuwe pas aanvragen, aangifte doen, in five-minute lessons, so you can act fast and calmly when a card goes missing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I block a lost or stolen bank card in the Netherlands?
The fastest way is in your banking app or online banking, where you can block (blokkeren) the card yourself in seconds, with ING in the ING App, with ABN AMRO under Passen in the app. If you cannot reach the app, call your bank directly, or call the central Bankpassen Meldcentrale on 0800-0313 for debit cards (this number does not cover ING). Then order a new card, usually from the same app.
Am I liable if someone uses my stolen Dutch card?
Since the EU PSD2 rules, you generally have no personal liability for transactions made after you have reported the card lost or stolen, as long as you blocked it promptly and did not act with gross negligence (such as writing your PIN on the card). Block it as fast as you can, then contact your bank about any fraudulent transactions. For theft, also file a police report (aangifte).
What number do I call to block my Dutch debit card?
For most Dutch debit cards (but not ING), you can call the central Bankpassen Meldcentrale on 0800-0313 to block the card, available around the clock. ING customers block their card in the ING App or via ING’s own number. The very fastest route for any bank is your own app, so set it up before you ever need it, and keep your bank’s emergency number saved.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for banking and emergencies?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the practical banking and emergency phrases you may suddenly need, blokkeren, mijn pas is kwijt, een nieuwe pas aanvragen, aangifte doen, in five-minute situation-based lessons, so you can act quickly and clearly when something goes wrong.
