Travelling soon and looking for best ATMs in Belgium that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
I was in Belgium for two weeks in April and noticed that bank-branded ATMs are becoming rare. I couldn’t find a KBC or BNP Paribas ATM like I used to on past trips. I ended up using the Cash Point ATMs which are now in shared locations. My Monzo card worked at all of them. The only time I had trouble was at a train station where a private ATM tried to force a conversion to GBP with a terrible rate. I hit cancel and walked five minutes to a Cash Point ATM which was way better. If you’re traveling now, stick to the Bancontact network and try to withdraw during the day when branches are open just in case you need help. I could get 2000 euros out in one transaction.
I had a few issues with my Capital One debit card being rejected at older bank ATMs in smaller towns but had no problem with the Bancontact Cash Point ones in bigger cities. They’re popping up everywhere and work with most foreign cards if they’re Visa or Mastercard. I used one near Brussels Central station and another just outside a Delhaize supermarket in Ghent. Both worked and didn’t charge me any outrageous fees. I made sure to take out larger amounts to minimize any flat charges from my own bank back home.
Just got back from a trip to Belgium and can confirm that most of the traditional bank ATMs are disappearing. I was using a Wise debit Mastercard and had the best results with ING and Belfius locations that had already been converted into Cash Point ATMs. These machines worked without issues, and the menus were clear and easy even in Dutch. I used a machine near Leuven station and another in Bruges city center, both part of the new network. The fee was minimal and the rate was close to what Wise showed in the app. Avoid any standalone ATM that doesn’t show Bancontact branding.
I spent three weeks traveling across Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp this spring and had the best luck with the new Bancontact Cash Point ATMs. They’re part of that joint network now shared by BNP Paribas, ING, Belfius, and KBC. My Revolut Visa card worked smoothly at these machines and the fees were clearly shown before confirming the transaction. Just remember to decline conversion when it asks whether to charge in your home currency. The rate was decent and I didn’t see any hidden markups. Euronet machines are still around but I avoided them completely since they charge way more.
My German debit card worked fine at KBC, and I wasnt charged any fees. Great option!
No problems withdrawing €500 from KBC using my European debit card. Good experience.
KBC ATM let me withdraw the full amount without any problems. Did exactly what its supposed to.
Used my Revolut card at KBC and withdrew €100 with zero fees. You can take out more, too.