Apple Pay Launch in the Netherlands Appears Imminent

Thursday May 16, 2019 8:11 AM PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple Pay will likely launch in the Netherlands in the very near future, as the service has now been elevated to "beta" status internally at Apple ahead of its much-anticipated rollout in the country. The server-side change was first spotted by WolfMeister's Small Tools and confirmed by MacRumors.


Earlier this month, Dutch bank ING revealed that Apple Pay is "coming soon" to the Netherlands. Apple has since confirmed the upcoming launch on its Dutch website, but without providing a specific timeframe.

‌Apple Pay‌ has been gradually expanding across Europe and the Middle East, launching in Poland, Norway, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Austria, and Iceland over the last year. The Netherlands is one of the most populous countries in Europe that is still awaiting ‌Apple Pay‌.

‌Apple Pay‌ is also coming soon to select banks in Hungary and Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

‌Apple Pay‌ can be used anywhere contactless payments are accepted with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch.

(Thanks, LocalITNerd!)

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: The Netherlands
60 comments

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MLVC
27 weeks ago

Can we also get announcements every time a new artist becomes available in iTunes?


How very American of you....
Rating: 4 Votes
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IT Nerd
27 weeks ago
Seems like they testing Apple Pay with Maestro cards for the Netherlands.



Rating: 2 Votes
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PR1985
27 weeks ago

Still I have to get the card out, even if I do it while standing in line, and I have to put it back in the wallet afterwards. I prefer to just pay with it watch, for me that’s way more convenient. But I understand there’s absolutely no reasoning with your ‘flawless’ logic *insert eyeroll*

And the banks, Mastercard/VISA AMEX etc. are happy about all his data.
Rating: 2 Votes
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JepGambardella
27 weeks ago
I've just wet my pants. So happy to know I can almost use Apple Pay in NL.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Aarnt
27 weeks ago
Just made an appointment with ING to open an account... bye bye ABNAMRO
Rating: 2 Votes
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MLVC
27 weeks ago

How do you check the “status” of the service and what do you mean by “server-side change”?


Found this on Dutch site iCulture, apparently this shows it:

https://smp-device-content.apple.com/static/region/v2/config-beta.json
Rating: 2 Votes
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IT Nerd
27 weeks ago

Found this on Dutch site iCulture, apparently this shows it:

https://smp-device-content.apple.com/static/region/v2/config-beta.json


Correct, this is API which used for beta testing.
The website mentioned in the article makes 2 requests to Apple's API. One is countries with roll-outed Apple Pay and the second is countries which are in beta testing. This API is used by Wallet application to determine the possibility of using Apple Pay, also card networks, configuration of gateways and etc.
Rating: 2 Votes
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MisterSavage
27 weeks ago

It's not even that more convenient, it's a fact Apple Pay is not faster than tapping your card.


Option 1 - Get out my wallet. Get out the card. Tap the card. Put the card back in my wallet. Put the wallet back in my pocket.

Option 2 - Double press the button on my watch. Hold watch to reader.

Option 2 is way more convenient for me.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
MLVC
27 weeks ago
Still I have to get the card out, even if I do it while standing in line, and I have to put it back in the wallet afterwards. I prefer to just pay with it watch, for me that’s way more convenient. But I understand there’s absolutely no reasoning with your ‘flawless’ logic *insert eyeroll*
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
19SK91
27 weeks ago
Saw ING and was hoping they'd finally support Apple Pay in Germany. :/
Rating: 2 Votes
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