Advice: always have at least 70 euros in cash at home

In the event that digital payment transactions suddenly come to a complete standstill, Dutch citizens are strongly advised to keep €70 in cash per adult and €30 per child.

That should be enough to bridge three days. This is advised by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), consumer organisations, banks and the Ministry of Finance, united in the Social Consultation on Payment Transactions (MOB).

The advice is prompted by increased geopolitical tensions and cyber threats. Consumers must be prepared for emergency situations in which payment transactions are disrupted for 72 hours. "This may be the case if electronic payments cannot be made at the checkout, if ATMs are not working or if online banking is not possible," warns the MOB.

According to the organizations, part of the cash should consist of banknotes and part of coins. "If you have banknotes, give preference to low-value banknotes. And as for coins: try to have about 50 coins of different values ​​at home," is the advice.

By the way , you are allowed to have this amount at home if it is cash.

If you want to keep 70 euros in cash, you can do so with a 20 euro note, a 10 euro note and a 5 euro note, for example. The remaining 35 euros is supplemented with the 50 coins.

The proposed amounts, calculated by the Nibud, can be used for necessary expenses for water, food, medicines and transport for a period of three days. "Consumers can of course judge for themselves whether they can handle this advice, or whether they want to adjust the amount to their own expenses and budget."

Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said last year that the Netherlands should prepare for all possible war scenarios due to the Russian threat. He also advised to always have cash at home.

According to the MOB, many consumers already have cash at home for emergencies. "If the cash supply at home is not yet up to par, it can be gradually built up over a few months by occasionally putting aside change."

In December last year, Dutch people already went to the ATMs to withdraw extra money, after it became known that banks would advise consumers about this. According to a spokeswoman for Geldmaat, the company that manages and maintains the ATMs for the major banks in the Netherlands, it was then about "an average of a few tens of euros extra per transaction".

Want to know how dependent the Netherlands is on cash? Read this Metro article .

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ANP