In 2015, a team of entrepreneurs came together in Melbourne, Australia with the conviction that international payments could, and should, be better. They founded Airwallex, a global fintech provider now dual-headquartered in Singapore and San Francisco. In the span of a decade, the company has emerged as an industry leader in building the future of global banking for modern businesses. Today more than 2,000 employees work for Airwallex at 26 locations around the world, servicing 60-plus countries.
That cross-continental vision brought Airwallex to the Netherlands in 2022. The company hit the ground running, with its team in Amsterdam achieving rapid growth in the Dutch and broader European market. The Netherlands’ vibrant fintech ecosystem acts as a launchpad for Airwallex’s platform, which combines proprietary infrastructure, software and AI to reimagine how businesses manage their finances and payments globally. From technological advancements to regulatory approvals, the Dutch ecosystem bolsters Airwallex’s position as a frontrunner in offering the most cost-effective, easy solutions for settling global payments.
Taken as a whole, the strong performance of Airwallex’s Dutch operations is a testament to the Netherlands’ unique strengths as an unparalleled hub for fintech innovation in Europe.
A global business hub powers meteoric momentum
More than 200,000 businesses trust Airwallex worldwide, including leading brands such as BILL, Bolt, Brex, Canva, Deel, Navan and Qantas. The connected, cosmopolitan environment of the Netherlands creates opportunities for Airwallex to meet increased demand for its services and grow its customer base with domestic and international companies active in the country’s attractive business landscape.
“Europe is a global hub for business, and the Netherlands holds an important strategic position as a global fintech hub. It’s a natural fit for Airwallex as we’re on a mission to support businesses who are thinking globally,” says Vivien Cheung, Airwallex’s Head of Financial Partnerships, EMEA.
The results have been remarkable. In the second quarter of 2025, Airwallex recorded a 199% year-on-year revenue increase in the Netherlands. That market growth is fueled by new product launches and a series of impressive client wins, with Airwallex nearly tripling its Dutch customer base in the same period. The platform recently added Creative Fabrica, Aurum Brothers and Vallon to its Dutch clientele alongside existing customers like Bird, Nivoda and WeTravel.
With this continued growth, the company is building stronger local infrastructure and investing in talent. In January 2026, it announced plans for a major European expansion, investing at least €200 million in the Netherlands over the next five years. A large share of the investment will go towards expanding its workforce, with plans to grow its Amsterdam team by 60% by the end of 2026, bringing the total to seventy employees. Hires will include skilled engineers, and all will benefit from a newly opened office in central Amsterdam.
The fastest growing fintech ecosystem in Europe
What makes Airwallex a perfect match for the Dutch fintech ecosystem? As financial systems accelerate from brick-and-mortar buildings to digital instruments, the Netherlands is leading the way. The country is a hub for fast-growing fintech segments like AI solutions and payments, powered by lightning-fast connectivity, world-leading tech innovation, a strong entrepreneurial streak and triple helix collaboration. In other words, it’s the ideal landing spot for Airwallex, recognized by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies in the world.
“The fintech ecosystem in the Netherlands is amongst the strongest and fastest growing in Europe, and Amsterdam in particular acts as a hub for domestic startups and international firms,” notes Cheung. “There is a lot of opportunity for Airwallex and for European and Netherlands-based businesses looking to expand globally.”
Airwallex was built with the vision of creating a world where all businesses can operate across borders and without restrictions in the global digital economy. The Netherlands is at the heart of this transformation, with its widespread digitalization and rapid adoption of new fintech tools by enterprises and consumers alike. At a time when cross-border payments are surging, Airwallex is well-positioned with its base in Amsterdam to offer solutions that businesses need to level-up their operations.
Cheung adds, “There has been sustained expansion of digital and mobile payments in the Netherlands, with greater demand for contactless and seamless transactions, pushing more businesses to require financial infrastructure that is fit for purpose. Equally, the Netherlands is strategically well-placed in Europe and invites innovation, with access to the EU market where integrated digital platforms and payments are vital for businesses.”
A conducive regulatory environment and shared mission
The company received its Electronic Money Institution license from the DNB in 2022 as it officially established a physical presence in the Netherlands. More recently in August 2025, Airwallex earned its MiFID license from the AFM, enabling the platform to offer Money Market Funds to small to medium-sized businesses.
Bolstered by these approvals, Airwallex has launched several new products in the Netherlands. These include Dutch IBANs for local customers; integration with Exact Online, an ERP provider, to help Dutch businesses automate their bookkeeping; and Airwallex Yield, providing businesses with the opportunity to generate competitive returns on idle cash in multi-currency balances.
Last but not least, the company benefits from the ongoing support of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency. Airwallex first connected with NFIA upon its arrival in 2022. Since then, the fintech provider has continued to build a fruitful relationship with NFIA. “We have a shared goal to help companies scale globally,” says Cheung, referring to Airwallex and NFIA.
She concludes, “NFIA periodically provides useful information and contacts in the market to support our growth in the region. This aligns with our values at Airwallex, as we’ve always been on a mission to provide a truly global financial platform that allows businesses to make payments, manage expenses and operate internationally.”
