Originally Posted by
fischi
Not sure it has been nicely summed up, but I think the answer to the OP that I am reading across posts is: You will generally be ok with a mag swipe card, but carry some cash in case, and possibly ask if non-chip cards are accepted before starting a large purchase.
This.
Originally Posted by
El Cochinito
Just returned from a week in Amsterdam and Flanders (Belgium).
The one and only place which required a chip and PIN card was a Shell service station in Ghent, Belgium. Fortunately I have a chip and PIN card (Diners Club M/C) which worked perfectly in the multilingual card reader in the gas station.
I just returned from a similar trip & had a problem at an automated Shell near Brussels. I had a Diners chip & pin card & it wouldn't work. Even asked a local who s there for help and it still wouldn't work. Didn't have any other problems using the card except for that one Shell station.