ATMs & Credit Cards

Currency

Before departure, you must purchase at least €200 so you will have currency to use when you first arrive in Well. Remember, you have to buy your reading packets during orientation weekend. The castle does not accept checks or credit or debit cards. When changing money always bring your passport. Please do not bring Euro notes larger than €50. Banks will charge you a 5% fee to make change for it.

For currency exchange rates, refer to the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, American Express, or this currency converter.

The currency in the Netherlands is the Euro. The Euro circulates among the following countries: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Vatican City.

If you plan to visit one or more of the following countries, you will need to purchase the local currency, as these countries have opted out of the EURO monetary union or have not yet satisfied the conditions for EURO membership:

• Bulgaria
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Romania
• Liechtenstein
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
  • England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • North Ireland

Emergency Money Transfers

If you need to send cash in a hurry to a student at the castle, money can be sent via Western Union. Depending on the type of service you use, money could be transferred within minutes. To pick up the cash, students should appear in person with the reference number given to the sender and their passport as ID. The closest point to the castle for receiving money transfers is GWK Travelex at the Venlo train station (a 30-minute trip from the castle):

+31-77-351-4086

Tell the person who is wiring the money to send it to GWK-Holland and have them indicate the GWK bank at which you will be picking up your money (e.g., GWK Bank Holland: the GWK Bank office at Venlo train station). The sender (in the United States) receives a money control #. Once she/he fills out the form at the Western Union office, write down the reference number and give it to the student. The student will then take this number and his/her passport to the GWK office (or if abroad to the Money Gram office).

Opening hours of the Money Gramm in Venlo are:

Monday–Thursday:                10:00 am–6:00 pm

Saturday:                                9:00 am–5:00 pm

Sunday:                                  Closed

Debit Cards

Debit and credit cards are not widely used for small purchases in the Netherlands (coffee, groceries, snacks, etc). Most shops and business prefer cash payment for goods. If you need cash, plan to use ATMs.

A debit card with the Cirrus, Plus, VISA, Maestro, or MasterCard logo on the back of the card should allow you to use your card to withdraw cash at most ATMs in Europe. The fee for withdrawing cash will vary from bank to bank. Some ATMs are linked to more than one network, but not all. Your home bank likely charges a foreign ATM access fee. It would be wise to check with your bank to ask which European bank it is affiliated with. This may allow you to withdraw cash from certain affiliated banks for a lower fee. Also, be sure to ask your bank what your daily and weekly withdrawal limits are.

In the village of Well, there are two ATMs: A Rabobank ATM and  an ATM inside the Spar Supermarket. (no bank services are provided). Your card must have a VISA, MASTERCARD, or MAESTRO symbol on the back of the card in order to use this ATM  to make cash withdrawals. You can also use a Visa or MasterCard to make withdrawals, but withdrawing cash from a credit card will incur a fee of €4.50 per withdrawal at this machine.

Be warned: if you try to withdraw cash from the ATM and your card doesn’t work, try once more. IF the same thing happens, STOP!!!  (BECAUSE ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT, THE ATM WILL SWALLOW YOUR CARD).

Contact your bank and your credit card company and let them know that you plan to use both your debit and credit cards while traveling abroad. You should also tell them for how long you will be living abroad. If you don’t, the bank may notice atypical use such as foreign withdrawals using your ATM card or new charges on your credit card in a foreign country. This could trigger a fraud alert and cause the bank or credit card company to block your account.

Credit cards and ATM cards with 4-digit PINS work in most ATMs; however, ATM cards with 6-digit PINS are sometimes difficult to use in Europe (though former participants have reported that they work fine if you use just the first 4 digits). Try to set your pin to a 4-digit number before you leave for Europe!

Before You Leave

• Check with your bank to see if it offers a credit card with the chip and PIN technology.
• Test your cards. Make sure your card works. Try it out in an ATM at home before you leave for Europe.
• Shorten your PIN. If your PIN is longer than four digits, you may need to get a new number. Make your PIN four digits. If you plan to visit ATMs in England you must have a 4 digit code, and  the digits have to be numbers, not letters, as that’s all that shows up on UK ATM keypads.
• Ask about fees. Ask your bank or credit-card company about specific fees that come with using their card overseas.
• Withdrawal limits: Ask your bank what your daily and weekly withdrawal limits are.
• Watch out for weekends. There have been reports that some London banks don't update their databases over the weekend. So if you've withdrawn the maximum amount on Friday, you may not be able to get more money on that card until Monday morning.
• Contact your bank and your credit card company. Let them know that you plan to use both your debit and credit cards while traveling abroad. You should also tell them how long you will be traveling abroad. If you don’t, the bank may notice atypical use such as foreign withdrawals using your ATM card, or new charges on your credit card in a foreign country. This could trigger a fraud alert and cause the bank or credit card company to block your account.
• Take two cards. Bring another (debit or credit) card so that you have a backup.
• Maximize each withdrawal. Making several small withdrawals increases the number of per transaction fees. Get as much as you can at each use and store it in a safe place.

Credit Cards

It is essential to have a credit card handy for emergencies (as well as a backup credit card). If your ATM card is lost, stolen, or destroyed in error, you may have trouble accessing cash. A credit card can provide some measure of relief until you can replace your ATM card. Be sure to check with your credit card company about cash advance policies and be certain to have its international phone number on file in case of problems.

Inform your credit card provider that you will be traveling in Europe and for how long. If you don’t inform it, the credit provider may notice atypical activity and block your card for security reasons.

Alternatives to the Credit or Debit Card

Prepaid or Stored Value Travel Cards

One option that you should investigate is the "Travel or prepaid card." The principle is this: you plan your travel expenses, add some extra for unseen expenses, and put that amount into an account accessible by the travel card you order. You aren't borrowing the bank's money--you're just making your money available through ATMs. A popular card is the VisaTravel MoneyCard. A variation of this card is also available through your local AAA office.