Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) Brokers 2025

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Christian Harris
Christian is an active trader with over 5 years of experience across stocks, futures, forex, and crypto. A former tech journalist, he shifted to finance to pursue his passion for investing, eventually becoming an eToro Popular Investor. With real-world trading knowledge across multiple asset classes, he brings valuable, hands-on insights to the table.
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James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he has worked on major operational transformation programmes at prominent European banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.
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Michael MacKenzie
Michael is a writer and editor with over a decade in journalism and publishing. His niche lies in editing and fact-checking content in the financial services sector, with a focus on online brokers and trading platforms. Michael previously reported on politics and economics in the Middle East and edits books for established publishers.
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Brokerages under the strict regulation of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets, or Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM), operate within a framework of stringent rules.

This authority is designed to protect Dutch investors and ensure the integrity of the financial markets, making AFM-regulated brokers a reliable choice for your day trading activities.

These rules are based on the Financial Supervision Act, or Wet op het financieel toezicht (Wft), and other relevant EU regulations and directives.

The Netherlands AFM is a ‘green tier’ body in line with DayTrading.com’s Regulation & Trust Rating, reflecting its active oversight of online brokers and robust safeguards for traders.

Explore our selection of the top AFM-regulated trading platforms in the Netherlands. We’ve checked that every provider is on the AFM’s Financial Services Register, and is either directly authorized or registered for passporting through the EU’s cross-border scheme.

Best AFM Brokers

After hands-on tests, these 5 Dutch-regulated trading platforms lead the pack:

This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category in 2025:

  1. Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
  2. RedMars - Launched in 2020, Cyprus-based RedMars offers competitive spreads on more than 300 instruments and leverage up to 1:500. Three accounts are available - Standard, Pro and VIP - serving a range of budgets and experience levels, with a fast and fully digital account opening process.
  3. AvaTrade - Established in 2006, AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker trusted by over 400,000 traders. Operating under regulation in 9 jurisdictions, AvaTrade processes an impressive 2+ million trades each month. Through like MT4, MT5, and its proprietary WebTrader, the broker provides a growing selection of 1,250+ instruments. Whether it’s CFDs, AvaOptions, or the more recent AvaFutures, short-term traders at all levels will find opportunities. With terrific education and 24/5 multilingual customer support, AvaTrade delivers the complete trading experience.
  4. LiteForex Europe - LiteForex Europe is a CFD broker established in 2008 and authorized by the CySEC. The brokerage offers forex, commodities and indices via the MT4 and MT5 platforms. Spreads are ultra tight on ECN accounts and leverage is available up to 1:30 in line with EU regulations. LiteForex also offers a rich education centre for new day traders and social trading capabilities.
  5. Admiral Markets - Admirals is a multi-regulated broker with an excellent range of leveraged instruments, including forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, commodities, cryptos and more. The broker supports the MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingCentral platforms. With both spread betting and CFDs available and thousands of instruments, this broker provides more flexibility than most rivals.

AFM Brokers Comparison

AFM Brokers Comparison
Broker Minimum Deposit Markets Platforms Leverage
Interactive Brokers $0 Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower 1:50
RedMars €250 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos MT5 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
AvaTrade $100 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)
LiteForex Europe $50 CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities MT4, MT5 1:30
Admiral Markets $100 Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, bonds, spread betting MT4, MT5, TradingCentral 1:30 (EU), 1:500 (Global)

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsStocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
RegulatorFCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
PlatformsTrader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade$100
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

  • IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.
  • The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
  • The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for day traders at every level.

Cons

  • IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
  • Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.

RedMars

"RedMars is the best fit for experienced day traders familiar with the MetaTrader 5 platform and based in the EU, where the broker is authorized by the CySEC. However, the threadbare education and research tools make it unsuitable for beginners."

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

RedMars Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos
RegulatorCySEC, AFM
PlatformsMT5
Minimum Deposit€250
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR

Pros

  • The broker is one of a limited number of firms to offer an account specially designed for VIPs with premium support and invites to exclusive events
  • Clients in the EU, in particular, can trade with peace of mind knowing RedMars is authorized by the CySEC with up to €20K compensation available through the ICF in the event of bankruptcy
  • RedMars offers one of the best platforms for day trading, MT5, hosting 21 timeframes, dozens of analytical tools, flexible templates and algo trading

Cons

  • With just 300 instruments, RedMars offers a narrow trading environment, particularly compared to category leaders like BlackBull Markets which offers 26,000 assets
  • The no-frills trading environment offers little beyond the basics, with no Islamic account, PAMM account or copy trading.
  • RedMars falls short for newer traders, with little in the way of education, no beginner-friendly platform, a steep minimum deposit, and inadequate support during testing

AvaTrade

"AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets."

Jemma Grist Jemma Grist, Reviewer

AvaTrade Quick Facts

Bonus Offer20% Welcome Bonus up to $10,000
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures
RegulatorASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM
PlatformsWebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
Minimum Deposit$100
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

Pros

  • AvaTrade continues to enhance its suite of products, recently through AvaFutures, providing an alternative vehicle to speculate on over 35 markets with low day trading margins.
  • Support at AvaTrade performed excellently during testing, with response times of 3 minutes and localized support in major trading jurisdictions, including the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
  • The WebTrader excelled in our hands-on tests, sporting a user-friendly interface for beginners, complete with robust charting tools like 6 chart layouts and 60+ technical indicators.

Cons

  • While signing up is a breeze, AvaTrade lacks an ECN account like Pepperstone or IC Markets, which provides the raw spreads and ultra-fast execution many day traders are looking for.
  • The AvaSocial app is good but not great – the look and feel, plus the navigation between finding strategy providers and account management needs upgrading to rival category leaders like eToro.
  • Although the deposit process itself is smooth, AvaTrade still doesn’t facilitate crypto payments, a feature increasingly offered by brokers like TopFX, which caters to crypto-focused traders.

LiteForex Europe

"LiteForex is a good option for active day traders with variable spreads from 0.0 pips, daily analysis and high-quality training guides. The forex copy system also lets you duplicate the positions of experienced traders."

William Berg William Berg, Reviewer

LiteForex Europe Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities
RegulatorCySEC, AFM
PlatformsMT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit$50
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CHF

Pros

  • The broker offers a VPS server for experience day traders looking to run their auto strategies continuously
  • There's a comprehensive analytics portal by Claws&Horns, which offers video reviews, expert insights and short-term trading signals
  • LiteForex offers a range of proprietary mobile app tools which are ideal for traders who want to analyze the markets on the go

Cons

  • There is no swap-free trading account for Muslim day traders
  • Fees are fairly high, with spreads starting from 2.0 pips in the Classic account and $10 forex commissions in the ECN account
  • There are limited funding methods compared to other brands

Admiral Markets

"Admirals is a good pick for novice-to-intermediate traders that want a trustworthy, regulated broker with access to a wide range of markets with tight spreads and no commission."

William Berg William Berg, Reviewer

Admiral Markets Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, bonds, spread betting
RegulatorFCA, CySEC, ASIC, JSC, CMA, CIRO, AFM
PlatformsMT4, MT5, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$100
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (EU), 1:500 (Global)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, SEK, CHF, CZK

Pros

  • Low minimum deposit from $100
  • MetaTrader 4 platform and app integration
  • Full range of investments including cryptos and spread betting

Cons

  • The demo account expires after 30 days
  • US traders not accepted
  • Monthly inactivity fee

Methodology

To locate the top brokers that are regulated in the Netherlands, we:

  • Examined our records of 224 brokers to identify those self-proclaimed as AFM-authorized.
  • Entered their details into the regulator’s online verification system to confirm their authorization.
  • Combined the insights from our practical testers with over 100 data points to create a ranking of the top AFM-authorized trading platforms.

How Can I Check If A Broker Is Regulated By AFM?

Verifying a broker’s AFM regulation is a straightforward process, which we used to assess the credibility of every recommended platform.

You can do it in three simple steps:

  1. Head to the AFM’s Register page on its website.
  2. Enter the provider’s name in the search bar.
  3. Filter the search results if necessary, or click on a company name to view details like full business trading name(s) and AFM registration date(s).
To show you how this works, below you can see where I verified that Admiral Markets is regulated by the AFM.

With it taking just a couple of minutes and a few clicks, I recommend all Dutch traders check any brokerage they are considering is authorized before depositing Euros.

author image
Christian Harris
Author
Dutch AFM database of licensed brokers showing Admirals
AFM Database – Admirals Europe

What Rules Must AFM-Regulated Brokers Follow?

For an online broker to offer financial services in the Netherlands, they must obtain a regulatory licence from the AFM. This is no small feat, as the application process is demanding and requires meticulous preparation, reflecting the high standards of regulation upheld by the AFM.

Alternatively, providers may serve Dutch traders through the EU’s passporting regulations, which allow firms regulated in their home countries to legally offer trading services in the Netherlands.

To secure an AFM licence, a trading platform must meet the following essential requirements:

Brokers who fail to comply with these rules may face enforcement actions from the AFM, including fines, sanctions, or the revocation of their license.

For example, the AFM has imposed fines. A notable example is the €530,000 administrative fine imposed on BinckBank N.V., operating as Saxo Bank, for failing to implement procedures and measures to protect clients.

The first time the AFM used national product intervention measures was to prohibit binary options and restrict the marketing or sales of CFDs.

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If your Dutch-based broker becomes insolvent, the Investor Compensation Scheme may provide you with up to €20,000 to cover lost funds.

Bottom Line

We strongly encourage Dutch traders to open accounts with AFM-regulated brokers. This not only ensures the brokerage is trustworthy but also maintains a fair and transparent trading environment, providing you with peace of mind.

You can verify this in just a few minutes on the AMF website. Alternatively, use our list of the best day trading platforms regulated in the Netherlands.

 

It’s important to remember that online trading remains risky, regardless of the broker’s regulatory status, and you could lose all the money you invest.

Article Sources

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