ID and Cash Limits for Buying Gold in the Netherlands

Since 1 January 2026, Dutch traders may not accept or pay €3,000 or more in cash for goods, including gold, whether they're selling to you or buying from you. Because of the ban, the old ID checks for cash payments of €10,000 or more have lapsed for goods traders, but gold buyers still record every purchase in the police-linked Digital Buyers Register.

Facts checked 31 October 2026 · Not financial, legal or tax advice

At a glance

Situation	Rule	Notes
Buying	No legal ID threshold for goods traders since 2026.	AML checks for goods traders lapsed when the cash ban started.
Paying cash	Cash must stay under €3,000.	In force since 1 January 2026; private sales between individuals are exempt.
Selling	The buyer registers the purchase (item, seller, price) in the DOR.	Cash payouts also under €3,000.
Reported	Goods traders' FIU reporting duty ended in 2026.	Pawnshops and intermediaries in precious metals stay under the AML act.

The rules in detail

The Wet plan van aanpak witwassen, passed by the Senate on 10 June 2025, bans professional traders in goods from making or accepting cash payments of €3,000 or more. It took effect on 1 January 2026, applies to buying as well as selling, and covers pawnshops; it doesn't cover sales between private individuals.
Before 2026, traders had to identify customers paying €10,000 or more in cash and report cash deals in precious metals and jewellery to FIU-Nederland. With the ban, the AML obligations for buyers and sellers of goods lapsed from 1 January 2026.
Intermediaries in precious metals, jewellery and similar goods still have due diligence and reporting duties for non-cash transactions of €10,000 or more.
From 10 July 2027 the EU AML Regulation makes precious-metals traders obliged entities again, regardless of payment method, with full checks from €10,000. The Dutch €3,000 ban stays, because lower national limits are allowed.

When you sell

Shops buying second-hand (precious) metals and watches must register with their municipality as an opkoper and log each purchase (the item, the seller and the price) in the Digitaal Opkopers Register.
A trader can't pay you €3,000 or more in cash; larger amounts go by bank transfer.

Silver and travel

The cash ban covers all goods, so silver is treated the same.
Carrying €10,000 or more in cash, gold coins (at least 90% gold) or bars (at least 99.5%) into or out of the EU must be declared.

The Digital Buyers Register is run by municipalities and is used by the police to trace stolen goods; local rules set exactly what the buyer records, and in practice you should expect to show ID when you sell.

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Gold ID and Cash Limits in The Netherlands: FAQ

How much cash can I pay for gold in the Netherlands?

Less than €3,000. Since 1 January 2026, traders may not accept or pay €3,000 or more in cash for goods, including gold.

Is the Dutch €3,000 cash ban in force?

Yes. The law was passed in June 2025 and the ban has applied since 1 January 2026. Sales between private individuals are exempt.

Do I need ID to sell gold in the Netherlands?

Gold buyers must log every purchase, including the seller's details, in the Digital Buyers Register, so expect to be asked for ID.

Sources (5)

General information for individuals buying or selling gold, checked October 2026. Rules change and dealers may ask for more than the legal minimum; check with the dealer or the regulator. Not legal advice.