One of the original EU members, the Netherlands is home to a vibrant and extremely healthy online Forex trading scene, with quite a few brokers authorized to offer such services to the public. Unlike binary option brokerages, which are sneered at by the Dutch regulatory agency AFM (Autoriteit Financielle Markten), Forex brokers are accepted, provided they abide by the strict set of rules the said agency has instituted.

To begin with, the AFM requires full transparency on the part of the licensed actors, such as Fx brokerages. In this regard, the latter are compelled to send in regular reports to the AFM, concerning their trading volumes as well as the trading data of their clients.

Furthermore, if the operator’s issued capital changes by more than 1% within a quarter, the AFM has to be notified.

Perhaps most importantly though, offshore Forex brokers looking to offer Fx trading services to the Dutch public, need to establish local branches and they need to obtain the required licenses for the said branch before they can get down to business.

Officially, the AFM considers all Fx brokers investment firms, and it treats them as such in all the licensing-linked legal proceedings. For all its requirements, the AFM does not offer brokers broad-based licensing. It has special codes in place in regards to the exact type of activity the licensed entities shall be performing, and the issued licenses shall cover only one specific type of activity.


Broker Features Regulator Platforms Next Step
Number One Broker Blackbull LogoYour capital is at risk Founded: 2014
  • User-friendly platform with great trade-analysis tools
  • Leverage Up To 1:500
  • Spreads as low as 0.00 pips
  • Quality trade execution thanks to high-spec IT infrastructure
  • $0 minimum account opening balance
  • 26,000 tradeable instruments
  • Not available in all jurisdictions
  • Regulatory infrastructure
FSPR MT4
tickmill_logo-173% of retail CFD accounts lose money Founded: 2014
73% of retail C...
  • Well regulated
  • Ultra-fast and high leverage trading
  • Spreads as low as 0.0 pips
  • Comprehensive research tools
  • Relatively limited number of markets
  • Does not accept US traders
FSA SC MT4, MT5
Your capital is at risk Founded: 2006
Europe* CFDs ar...
  • Multi-asset broker offering a wide variety of markets
  • Strong regulatory framework
  • Innovative risk management tools
  • Choice of market-leading platforms
  • Wide spreads on some markets
  • Expiry date on Demo Accounts
ASIC, FSA, FSB, MiFID MetaTrader4, Sirix, AvaOptions, AvaTrader, Mirror Trader
Between 74-89% of CFD traders lose Founded: 2010
Between 74-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs
  • Low trading costs
  • Great market flow
  • Research and analysis which helps spot trades
  • Wide range of Copy and Social Trading options
  • Limited range of non-forex markets
ASIC, FCA MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader
eToro Logo77% of CFD traders lose Founded: 2007
77 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
  • Social and Copy Trading Platform
  • Beginner Friendly
  • Risk-free Demo Account
  • Top-tier regulation
  • Limited means of raising queries
  • Withdrawal process isn’t really ‘client-focused’
ASIC, CySEC, FCA eToro Platform
XM LogoYour capital is at risk Founded: 2009, 2015, 2017
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Super- tight bid-offer spreads
  • Impressive trading platforms
  • Tier-1 regulators
  • Difficult to contact tech support
  • No Crypto
ASIC, CySEC, IFSC MT4 Terminal, MT4 for Mac, Web Trader, iPhone/iPad Trader, Droid Trader, Mobile Trader, MT5
FxPro LogoYour capital is at risk Founded: 2006
  • Very well regulated
  • Comprehensive education section
  • Fantastic customer service
  • No cryptocurrencies
  • Fees could be more competetive
CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSB, SIA MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, cTrader, FxPro Edge (Beta)

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