EPI sets Dutch timetable for iDEAL migration to Wero

The European Payments Initiative has agreed a new Dutch roadmap for shifting iDEAL payments onto Wero, setting October 2026 as the point by which all Dutch issuing banks are expected to be connected to the European platform. The participating parties aim to complete the migration from iDEAL to Wero in the Netherlands by 31 December 2027, EPI said.

The agreement covers EPI, Dutch banks including ABN Amro, ING and Rabobank, and payment service providers including Adyen, Buckaroo, CM.com, Mollie, Online Payment Platform, PAY.nl, MultiSafepay and PPRO. EPI said the plan follows the first stage of the transition, which introduced iDEAL and Wero co-branding earlier this year.

Wero is designed to carry account-to-account payments, including person-to-person transfers and e-commerce transactions. Under the Dutch migration plan, consumers will continue to initiate online payments through their own bank, while the processing infrastructure behind those payments is gradually moved from iDEAL to Wero.

Phased switch to new infrastructure

EPI said a rising volume of consumer-to-consumer and online retail payments is already being processed on Wero’s platform. The group said this showed the system was operating smoothly and could support the existing iDEAL user experience while expanding Wero’s role.

From October 2026, once Dutch issuing banks are connected, iDEAL payments will begin moving in stages to Wero infrastructure. The phased approach is intended to give banks, payment service providers and merchants time to adjust operational processes without changing the front-end experience for consumers, according to EPI.

EPI said it has worked in recent weeks with Dutch banks and payment providers to finalise the operational framework for the next phase. The group also plans to widen consultation to consumer bodies and merchant associations, including Thuiswinkel.org, Ecommerce Europe and the Dutch Payments Association.

Martina Weimert, EPI’s chief executive, said the first phase showed the migration was proceeding as planned and that cooperation between banks and payment providers had been central to reaching the current stage. She said EPI would extend that approach to consumer organisations and merchant groups as the project moves into its next phase.

Purchase protection and pricing

Dutch banks and payment service providers plan to introduce Wero Purchase Protection collectively, with a stated objective of full coverage by 1 January 2028. EPI said the staged implementation would allow the sector to put the necessary operational processes in place in a controlled way.

Pricing is also set to remain stable during the changeover. EPI said Wero scheme pricing will stay broadly aligned with the current iDEAL | Wero pricing level until 31 December 2028, giving payment providers more certainty over scheme costs during the migration period.

Marlene ten Ham, chief executive of Thuiswinkel.org, said continued dialogue with EPI and other stakeholders would be needed to reflect the interests of Dutch online retailers and consumers. Arjan Bol, managing director of the Dutch Payments Association, said the migration would benefit from consultation among EPI, merchants, consumers, payment providers and regulators.

Several payment providers framed the timetable as a way to limit disruption. Iryna Agieieva, director of product management at Mollie, said workshops with EPI and other providers had shaped the Dutch migration plan. Tamás Fogl, chief executive of Buckaroo, said the phased schedule gives market participants time and clarity while preserving the payment experience Dutch consumers associate with iDEAL.

Olaf Kok, founder of PAY.nl, linked the project to Europe’s digital payments sovereignty, saying European payment services should remain under European control while competing with global technology groups.

This story draws on original reporting from Finextra Research.