Apps you need for living in the Netherlands
A practical shortlist of Dutch apps for trains, groceries, government login, shopping, and money, with store links that match your phone.
2026-05-09
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A practical shortlist of Dutch apps for trains, groceries, government login, shopping, and money, with store links that match your phone.
Moving to the Netherlands comes with a pile of practical errands. These are the apps on my home screen after a few years here.
Official Dutch Railways app for planning trips across the country, live departures, crowding hints, and buying train tickets. It also folds in the extra legs you already plan with an OV chipkaart for buses, trams, and metro where that applies.
Ride hail and light mobility in most Dutch cities with upfront pricing and short wait times. Many people here open Bolt first because coverage is strong and the flow feels familiar if you have used similar apps in other countries.
Hourly and daily car sharing with vehicles parked around town. You book in the app, unlock with your phone, and follow the zone rules the map spells out so you avoid surprise fees.
Groceries arrive on a predictable route from small electric trucks. The recipe section is genuinely useful because it builds a basket around a meal and lets you tweak quantities before you confirm.
The Bonus discounts live inside the app, so the lowered prices show up at checkout. In store self scan expects a logged in session on your phone, and you can run a full delivery order when you cannot get to a branch.
DigiD is the standard way to prove it is really you when a Dutch government site, insurer, or municipality asks for a strong login. You activate the app with steps by letter, SMS, or ID check depending on what you already have on file.
Huge catalog of electronics, home goods, books, and everyday supplies with delivery tuned to the Netherlands. Tracking and returns are handled inside the same account you use on the website.
HEMA pairs affordable clothes and kitchen basics with a strong house brand identity. The app carries loyalty perks and supports click and collect or delivery when you want to skip the store floor.
Second hand marketplace for bikes, furniture, baby gear, cars, and odd jobs. Keep chats inside the app, read the safety guidance, and meet buyers or sellers in public places you already trust.
Send a payment link after a shared dinner and friends pay you from their own bank app. The habit is everywhere here because iDEAL style transfers pair cleanly with a short link you drop in chat.
You can open bunq from your phone with a passport check and a selfie and get a Dutch IBAN quickly. Banking rules still require you to add a BSN on the timeline your profile describes, so read the latest terms in the app while you finish municipal registration.
If you are still building your move list, pair this with Town Comparison for a data-driven look at where you might like to live.