iDEAL | Wero: how the Dutch payment method works for merchants outside the Netherlands

What is iDEAL?

This page explains iDEAL payment for merchants in Germany and other EU countries who sell to Dutch customers: how it works, what it costs, how refunds work and what the migration to Wero means for your checkout.

iDEAL is a widely used online payment method in the Netherlands, run since 2023 by Currence iDEAL B.V., which is owned by EPI Company, the company behind Wero (source: Currence iDEAL public documentation). In German, "iDEAL Zahlung" or "iDEAL Zahlungsmethode" describes a Dutch bank payment method: the money moves directly from the shopper's Dutch bank account to the merchant via the merchant's provider.

• Bank-based. No card, no wallet balance; the shopper approves a transfer in their banking app.
• Final once confirmed. Once the bank confirms, the payment cannot be reversed by the shopper like a card chargeback (merchants can still issue refunds).
• Euro only.
• Co-branded. Since the end of January 2026 the logo is "iDEAL | Wero" (source: Currence iDEAL).

How does an iDEAL payment work?

An iDEAL payment is approved by the shopper in their own banking app, and the merchant gets confirmation in real time. The steps:

1. Select iDEAL | Wero Select iDEAL | Wero at checkout. Your provider creates a payment with amount and reference.
2. Choose the bank or scan On mobile the shopper is sent to the banking app; on desktop a QR code is shown to scan with the phone.
3. Log in and review The shopper sees the merchant name, amount and reference in the app.
4. Approve The shopper confirms with PIN or biometrics (strong customer authentication).
5. Confirmation The bank confirms, and your provider notifies your system by webhook.
6. Return The shopper returns to your order confirmation page.

Which banks support iDEAL?

All major Dutch retail banks support iDEAL, including ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, ASN Bank, Triodos, Knab, bunq and others. The current list of participating banks is published on ideal.nl. According to the Dutch Payments Association, all Dutch banks are to be connected to Wero by October 2026 (betaalvereniging.nl, 16 July 2026).

Can Germans and shoppers outside the Netherlands pay with iDEAL?

Generally no. iDEAL requires an account at a participating Dutch bank, so a shopper with only a German bank account cannot pay with iDEAL ("iDEAL bezahlen" is not possible from a German account). Shoppers in Germany use Wero, cards, PayPal or SEPA Direct Debit instead.

For merchants the answer is different: a merchant based in Germany or any EU country can offer iDEAL to Dutch customers through a payment provider that supports it.

What to check before you add iDEAL as a merchant outside the Netherlands:

Most of these answers sit in your provider's documentation rather than in the iDEAL scheme rules, so ask the provider directly.

• Provider coverage. Does your provider offer iDEAL | Wero to merchants in your country, and has it published its Wero migration plan?
• Pricing. Is the fee fixed or a percentage, and does it change when you move to a Wero contract?
• Settlement. When are iDEAL funds paid out, and in which report do they appear?
• Refunds. Which time limits and partial refund options apply?
• Checkout language. Dutch shoppers expect the iDEAL | Wero logo and a Dutch-language checkout; show the method first for Dutch visitors.
• Mobile flow. Test the switch from browser to banking app and back on iOS and Android.

How much does iDEAL cost for merchants?

iDEAL is usually priced as a fixed fee per transaction, set by your payment provider. A published example, checked 23 October 2026:

Other providers publish their own prices or quote them on request. A fixed fee makes iDEAL cheaper than cards for larger baskets. See alternative payment methods.

How do iDEAL refunds and disputes work?

Refunds are made by the merchant through the provider, usually by SEPA credit transfer back to the shopper's account. Most providers support full and partial refunds; check your provider's time limits.

There are no chargebacks: an approved iDEAL payment is final for the merchant. Disputes about goods or delivery are settled between shopper and merchant, typically with a refund. With the move to native Wero, buyer protection features are being introduced; check your provider and the EPI rules for when they apply to your payments.

iDEAL vs cards, Pay by Bank and SEPA Direct Debit: how does it compare?

See Pay by Bank, SEPA Direct Debit and Bancontact, the Belgian counterpart.

What does the iDEAL to Wero migration mean in 2026 and 2027?

iDEAL is being moved onto Wero between 2026 and the end of 2027, and merchants will move from iDEAL contracts to Wero contracts through their provider. The timeline published by Currence iDEAL:

What to do as a merchant: follow your provider's migration plan, update logos, and expect technical changes such as new APIs and payment pages when you move to native Wero. See the Wero page.

• End of January 2026: co-branding to "iDEAL | Wero".
• From 7 April 2026: part of iDEAL | Wero transactions processed via EPI's systems, still under iDEAL rules.
• From end of October 2026: Dutch banks ready to process native Wero transactions under EPI rules; acquirers and collecting PSPs start moving merchants to Wero contracts.
• By 31 December 2027: migration complete (also stated by betaalvereniging.nl, 16 July 2026). After that the iDEAL brand is phased out (ideal.nl).

What about iDEAL in3 and recurring payments?

iDEAL in3 is a buy-now-pay-later service from in3 that lets Dutch shoppers pay in three instalments, with the first paid via iDEAL. It is a separate product with its own pricing; Mollie, for example, publishes in3 at 3.99% + €0.95 (mollie.com/pricing, checked 23 October 2026). See buy now, pay later.

Recurring payments. Classic iDEAL is for single payments. Merchants often use a first iDEAL payment to verify the account and then collect later payments by SEPA Direct Debit, if the provider supports it. Wero plans to add subscriptions during the migration (wero-wallet.eu).

How do you add iDEAL through OrsunPay?

iDEAL is available via OrsunPay: you connect a provider that supports iDEAL | Wero, and iDEAL appears in hosted checkout for Dutch shoppers next to your other methods. OrsunPay is a payment orchestration platform that connects you to licensed PSPs; it does not process or hold funds itself.

Fees, settlement and refunds stay with the provider you connect.

• Show iDEAL only to shoppers in the Netherlands, or by currency.
• Refunds and webhooks follow the same flow as other methods.
• When your provider moves you to a Wero contract, the routing setup stays.
• You can connect a second provider for iDEAL as a fallback, if your contracts allow it.