If you would rather hand over Bitcoin and leave with euros in your pocket, a cash trade in Amsterdam is the most direct way to do it. You agree a fair rate in a message, meet somewhere busy like Amsterdam Centraal, count the notes, and swap.
Where to meet in Amsterdam
- Amsterdam CentraalThe busiest station in the country, cafes inside and out, staffed all day.
- OBA Oosterdok (central public library)A short walk from Centraal, lots of seating, a cafe on the top floor.
- Dam SquareThe main central square, always crowded, cafes and department stores around it.
- Magna PlazaA covered shopping arcade behind Dam Square, easy to find and sheltered.
Amsterdam Centraal is the end point of metro lines 51, 52, 53 and 54 and of most tram lines, and NS trains from Schiphol take about 15 to 20 minutes.
Who trades cash here
People come in from De Pijp, Amsterdam-Noord, Zuidas, Amstelveen, Haarlem and Zaandam. Amsterdam has a large expat and tourist population, a long running Bitcoin scene dating back to 2013, and a banking system where cash is used less and less. There is a regular local meetup, Bitcoin Wednesday Amsterdam, so the city has an active Bitcoin crowd and most people trading cash here have done it before.
Cash in Amsterdam
Dutch shoppers pay mostly by debit card. Cash was about one in five shop payments in 2024 (DNB). A law banning cash payments of 3,000 euros or more to traders in goods was published in October 2025. It does not cover private people paying each other.
Bitcoin ATMs in Amsterdam. Very few: about 20 machines were counted in Amsterdam back in 2020 and the number has only fallen since, so do not count on finding one. A cash meetup gives you the same banknotes without the machine fee, and you pick the place.
How a cash sale works
- 1. Tell us what you need. Use the form above with the coin, the amount and your Telegram username, or message @primebaseMBot on Telegram.
- 2. Agree the rate. We quote one clear price for the amount, against the live market. No account, no ID.
- 3. Meet at Amsterdam Centraal or another busy public spot in Amsterdam. We agree a time that suits both sides, in daylight when possible.
- 4. Swap. You send the crypto, the cash is counted out in front of you, both confirmed on the spot.
Staying safe
Buying rather than selling, or comparing with a machine? See the Bitcoin ATM alternative in Amsterdam.
Thinking about tax or a bank payout instead? Read how to cash out Bitcoin in the Netherlands, or sell by SEPA transfer with on-chain escrow.
Questions people in Amsterdam ask
Can we meet at Amsterdam Centraal?
Yes, it is the most common choice. The main hall and the IJ side are busy all day and there are several cafes to sit in. Agree on a named cafe rather than just the station.
I am coming from Schiphol. How long does it take?
NS trains run from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal every few minutes and take about 15 to 20 minutes. There is no need to take a taxi.
Is there a limit on how much cash I can hand over in the Netherlands?
A new Dutch law bans cash payments of 3,000 euros or more to traders in goods. It does not cover private people paying each other. Banks also set their own daily ATM limits.
Do I need ID to sell Bitcoin for cash in Amsterdam?
No. A cash sale in person is you selling coins you already own. There is no account and no ID step. You agree a price, meet, and swap euros for crypto.
Which coins can I sell for cash in Amsterdam?
Bitcoin first, and USDT, Litecoin and Monero on request. You are paid in euros, counted out in front of you.