Originally Posted by
RTW1
That's simply not true.... the merchant needs a contract to also process (foreign) credit cards but the POS machines are identical. And almost all ATM's accept international cards from Visa/Master.
What is unique is the debit cards that are used in the Netherlands, but that's not relevant if you are a tourist. It's just that some places only accept debit cards because transaction fees are so much lower than credit card payments, and 99+% of the population has one. There cash is the only alternative as a tourist.
The ATMs (to get cash) are not an issue for the OP.
There are debit cards in The States (that also use PIN) that will not operate in the Netherlands. That is my point. They are still "called" debit cards; but they will not work with the NL system.
and, yes, I understand the POS machines are the same. Many debit cards in The States work with swipe or PIN but are NOT Chip+PIN. (and many of these are not credit cards, and some [like the OPs] also can act like credit cards, but are really US based debit cards processed on the credit card system)