AI checkouts and biometric payment methods
While self-checkout systems in the Netherlands have taken off in recent years, 37% of the surveyed Dutch believe that the next step is already close: AI checkouts. These smart checkouts automatically recognize which products you take and deduct the amount directly from your account as soon as you leave the store. Biometric payments fit into the same category: one in five surveyed Dutch expect that paying with an iris scan will become normal and that no payment card or phone will be needed. This follows a familiar pattern: while we first had to remember a PIN, we now use fingerprints or facial recognition without thinking to unlock our phone or banking app.
AI as a personal shopper
The way we shop is also changing rapidly. Where online shopping used to feel impersonal and unreliable, 30% of the surveyed Dutch believe that shopping via social media will be very common in five years. Additionally, 27% expect that AI will play an increasingly larger role in shopping by automatically managing purchases and orders based on personal preferences. Major brands are heavily investing in these AI-driven shopping experiences, making agentic commerce a significant trend in 2026.
Rise of digital wallets
In technological developments, the digital wallet is also playing an increasingly central role. With initiatives like the European EDI wallet, people will be able to securely store and use identification and other documents digitally for (faster) identification and payments in the future. Almost half of the surveyed Dutch (47%) expect that they will use such a digital wallet someday. At the same time, there are concerns about privacy and data security, for example, in the event of loss or theft of your smartphone (46%).
Divided opinions on crypto
The attitude towards crypto is divided among respondents. 19% expect that paying with crypto will be normal in five years, while 40% cannot imagine paying with crypto at all. This division is reminiscent of the skepticism surrounding online banking and payments, technologies that are now indispensable. Especially stablecoins, cryptocurrencies linked to fiat money, are gaining ground quickly. Thanks to new regulations and integration with payment networks like Visa, stablecoins are increasingly being used for fast, secure, and international payments, especially in emerging markets. Thus, 2026 could very well be the year in which stablecoins break through.
Card payments at record high, but cash remains relevant
Although new payment methods have been rapidly succeeding each other for decades, cash has not yet disappeared from the streets. 29 percent of the Dutch still carry between 20 and 49 euros in cash. With over 9 billion euros in cash circulating worldwide, cash continues to play an important role. However, 2026 marks a turning point: this will likely be the first year in history in which half of all consumer payments worldwide are made by card.
'For many people, paying is more than just a technical action. It is about trust, convenience, and certainty. In a time when AI, digital wallets, and stablecoins are changing the payment landscape, we at Visa look beyond the technology alone. By listening closely to the wishes and needs of Dutch consumers and businesses, we make payment innovations smarter and more personal. Whether people choose cash, a payment card, or the latest digital solution: we want to ensure that everyone can pay in a way that suits their preferences. Because innovation is only valuable if it truly improves the lives of people and organizations,' said Jos van de Kerkhof, Country Manager Visa Netherlands.
