Im german but I learned that Netherlands skipped its own national payment system for MAESTRO long time ago as some other countries too. So all brick and mortar stores take MAESTRO by default, if they are not cash-only, which is not common in NL. Other payment cards like Mastercard debit, credit, Visa etc.... are still not that often accepted than MAESTRO. I guess it gets better day by day but for now MAESTRO will cover in NL perfectly.

Some shops don't accept mastercards, I've never gotten a mastercard to work at an Albert Heijn for example.

Some merchants don't accept credit cards, because they have to pay a higher fee than when using Maestro.

Other than that, both cards are debit, so when using them, there is no big difference for you.

Hi Wiebe!

Maestro cards can be accepted internationally, however the shops that accept them can vary. Hopefully you also have a MasterCard - as it is more likely to be accepted outside of Holland and Germany. Holland and Germany ordinarily accept Maestro in preference of MasterCard - as has already been commented.

If you have access to data you may also want to check if you have enabled the card to be used in Indonesia?

If you tick on the failed payment then you can quickly see if the country is enabled.

Regarding your second question, about having different combinations of cards - it was because of questions like yours that we introduced WildCards. Check out our knowledge topic for more information on WildCards. This gives you the maximum flexibility to have the combination of cards that suit you👍

Personally I have a Maestro Card and MasterCard exactly for that reason. I am not tied to a specific account with my card as I was at other banks (I can even access 2 with dual pin), and I have a spare card should I need it in the future.

Thanks Wiebe - it would be worth a quick chat with support - I have asked them to reach out to you through the app. We prefer to keep transaction conversations private.

So I can say that there is almost no difference between debit MasterCard en Maestro, only that MaaterCard has a card number?

The only complication is the fact that Maestro is more accepted than MasterCard in The Netherlands, richt?

Yup. For instance in Albert Heijn (a common grocery store) you cannot pay with MasterCards.

In my humble opinion the whole card scheme is unnecessary complicated, a relic of the past, and a source of confusion and hassle that can easily be avoided. We tried to solve it at bunq as best as we could by giving you full freedom on what mix of cards you choose, but still, it's annoying to have to carry both.

Thank you for your response, Ali.

I think it would be a step forward if bunq can realise a debit MasterCard that is accepted throughout the whole Netherlands. In that case, you have the debit advantage of Maestro and the card number (just like a credit card) for online shopping without iDEAL or an equivalent.

That's literally impossible, given the above.

It's not us that controls the terminals, the payment infrastructure, etc...

Honestly I have never had problems in Netherlands with Mastercard and VISA, even using Apple Pay. However I don’t live there and I have mainly been in big cities...

Isn't it possible for bunq to offer a MasterCard and a Maestro card all in one? I've seen it sometimes that when people make a payment at a pin terminal, they van first choose Maestro by pressing 1, and MasterCard by pressing 2.

I‘m traveling to the Netherlands every week: most of the time, my boon (MasterCard) Apple Pay is accepted, I have the feeling more than my VISA NFC card. Even in Albert Heijn. But there are some stores (small independent stores, bakeries, kebab places), where I still have to use my (non NFC) V Pay card.

From next week, I’ll have the bunq maestro, so I guess I won’t have any issues anymore 🙂

On some terminals, I have to choose between VPay and VPay on my VPay card 😂 Never know which option to take

Where do you get a V Pay Card?

Hi René 🙋

Our two card options are our Maestro (useful in the NL) and our debit Mastercard (useful for traveling).

Cheers!

Sorry René if I made you believe I had a bunq V Pay.. it’s from my other (German) bank account

I believe that master cards are accepted in AH to GO stores 🤔

Yo dawg we heard you like VPay so we put VPay and VPay on your VPay so you can choose between VPay and VPay whenever you VPay.

Albert Heijn does not accept MasterCard/VISA Credit or debit. Only Maestro debit or V-Pay debit.