iDEAL Will Be Phased Out and Replaced by European Payment System Wero

The Netherlands' beloved iDEAL payment system is being phased out and replaced by Wero, a new pan-European payment solution, with the transition beginning in January 2026 and completing by the end of 2027. While the change promises expanded functionality and cross-border capabilities, Dutch consumers and businesses will need to adapt to the biggest shift in online payments since iDEAL's launch 20 years ago.

Wero is a new European digital payment solution designed for simplicity and convenience. It enables users to send money and make payments, online or in-store, directly from their bank accounts. It's already live across Belgium, Germany and France, with more countries coming soon.

Wero is backed by 16 of Europe's major banks, including the Dutch banks behind iDEAL: ABN AMRO, ING, and Rabobank. The system is built on SEPA Instant Credit Transfers, allowing for instant account-to-account payments across Europe.

Since its launch in 2005, iDEAL has become the standard for online payments in the Netherlands, supported by over 350,000 businesses. With nearly 100% reach among Dutch consumers, iDEAL facilitates more than 1.5 billion transactions annually, accounting for approximately 72% of all e-commerce transactions.

However, iDEAL only works within the Netherlands. In an increasingly integrated European market, this limitation creates fragmentation. European customers shopping on Dutch websites can't use iDEAL, and Dutch shoppers can't use it on foreign European sites. Each country has developed its own payment system, creating unnecessary complexity for cross-border commerce.

ABN AMRO, ING, and Rabobank view the switch to Wero as the logical next step. Through their commitment to Wero, they are ensuring that the Netherlands remains at the forefront of innovation. Their customers and businesses will benefit from a strong, secure, and unified European payment network.

The migration from iDEAL to Wero will happen in carefully planned phases:

January 2026: The first visible change arrives as the familiar iDEAL logo is replaced by a new combined "iDEAL | Wero" logo in webshops, banking apps, and on payment pages. From 31 January 2026, merchants should replace the iDEAL logo on payment pages, apps and email with the iDEAL-Wero logo so customers can get used to the new logo.

March 31, 2026: Payments through Wero will begin on 31 March 2026. The user experience for clients will remain unchanged. The technical infrastructure starts shifting to Wero while maintaining the familiar payment flow.

Late 2026: Wero will gradually roll out advanced features like subscriptions, event-based payments, Buy Now Pay Later, refunds, and peer-to-peer payments. The Wero logo will also begin replacing the co-branded transition logo.

End of 2027: Once the transition to Wero has been completed in late 2027, iDEAL will no longer be available and all payments will be made through Wero. The iDEAL brand will be phased out completely.

For everyday users, the payment experience will remain familiar. Like iDEAL, Wero will offer fast and secure payments directly from a user's own bank account, but with added features like purchase protection. The familiar steps of selecting a bank and approving the payment will remain the same. However, Wero brings significant new capabilities:

Cross-border payments: While iDEAL only works in the Netherlands, Wero allows you to buy items from European online shops using your own familiar bank. It provides a single payment solution for the whole of Europe.

New payment features: Wero offers a range of other payment options, such as recurring payments for subscriptions, and payment on delivery of an order. Additional features will include in-store payments, Buy Now Pay Later options, and loyalty programs.

Purchase protection: Similar to credit card protections, if anything goes wrong, Wero's purchase protection will help you get a refund or find a solution.

Peer-to-peer payments: Wero will enable instant person-to-person transfers, competing with services like PayPal and Tikkie.

Importantly, Wero is free for consumers, just like iDEAL.

For merchants, the transition requires some preparation but promises expanded opportunities. During the co-branding phase, your iDEAL integration remains active, with no major operational changes expected. When the full rollout happens, your iDEAL provider will support the integration and contractual updates needed to go live with Wero.

The migration will take around 6 to 9 months. During this period, both names will appear side by side. Payment service providers like Buckaroo, CM.com, and Worldline are supporting merchants through the technical transition.

The benefits for businesses include:

Wero is secure and reliable. It was developed in line with the strictest security standards, ensuring that transactions are safe and protected. The Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank) has oversight of both iDEAL and Wero to ensure stability and reliability.

Your personal data handling remains unchanged. ABN AMRO always treats your personal data with the greatest care, and the same goes for Wero. Wero provides the same level of convenience and security as you're used to from iDEAL.

Security experts are warning consumers to be vigilant during the transition period. Criminals often exploit major changes like this to launch phishing attacks, sending fake emails or messages that appear to come from banks requesting personal information or login credentials.

Banks and payment providers emphasise they will never ask for your login details, passwords, or security codes via email or text message. If you receive suspicious communications about the iDEAL-to-Wero transition, contact your bank directly using official contact information.

The Consumentenbond (Dutch Consumer Association) has described the transition as promising, particularly as a European alternative to US-based payment providers. European banks argue that Wero strengthens financial independence at a time of growing geopolitical tension.

Rather than relying on American companies for digital payments, which could be vulnerable to political decisions or sanctions, Europe is building its own sovereign payment infrastructure. This mirrors how iDEAL gave the Netherlands independence from credit card networks, but now extends that independence across the continent