Payments in motion: the payment trends of 2025 and what to expect in 2026
The first month of 2026 is nearly behind us. Time to look back at the developments of 2025 and ahead to the future. Which developments stand out, and where are the opportunities for you as a business owner?
More online orders, lower spending
In both the Netherlands and Belgium, the number of online purchases rose in most sectors over the past year, while spending itself was lower. This is according to reports from the Thuiswinkel Markt Monitor 2025. In the Netherlands, the amount spent on leisure and experiences declined. There were increases too. The toy sector performed well online, with +11% growth in the number of purchases in 2025. The DIY/Garden sector also showed strong figures, with +18% growth in online purchases. Shoes and personal lifestyle saw a +12% rise in online purchases compared to 2024. In clothing, the number of online purchases dipped slightly by –2%, but the average amount spent per order rose by +8%. Finally, the number of purchases in household electronics grew by 22% between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025.
Wero is coming
Of course, no overview would be complete without the transition from iDEAL to Wero. In the Netherlands, the focus at the start of this year is mainly on building brand awareness for Wero. The combined logo with iDEAL was recently introduced. As a business owner, you are required to use this logo from March 31, 2026. We wrote an article about this earlier. In Belgium, Wero is currently available for peer-to-peer (person-to-person) payments. E-commerce payments are expected to follow in spring 2026.
More payments with Klarna, iDEAL leads in the Netherlands
iDEAL remained the most used payment method for online transactions in the Netherlands in 2025. This is expected to stay that way for now, despite the upcoming transition to Wero, which we cover below.
Use of iDEAL remains stable in terms of the number of purchases. The amount spent with iDEAL rose slightly. Klarna shows a +17% increase in the number of purchases, and online spending grew by +9%. More payments were also made with PayPal (an increase of >13.7% YTD). In the Belgian market, Bancontact is still the most chosen payment method, according to the Becom e-commerce barometer 2025.
Omnichannel payments become standard in customer-focused payment strategies
In 2026, an omnichannel payment strategy becomes even more important. Customers move more and more flexibly between physical stores, online stores and mobile apps, and they expect one consistent, smooth payment experience. Whether a purchase is made in store, ordered online or paid through a QR payment request, the payment process has to make sense and fit the channel being used.
For businesses, this means payment solutions need to be better integrated. By linking payments from different channels to a single customer profile, you gain more overview and control over the customer journey. It also gives you valuable insights into payment behavior and preferences that you can use to improve your service further. In a competitive market, a smart payment strategy across all sales channels makes the difference: higher customer satisfaction, higher conversion and stronger loyalty. Want to know how to set this up for your business? Request our free e-book on the topic.
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Cash payments above €3,000 no longer allowed
Not so much a trend, but still important to mention, is the legislation on accepting cash amounts above €3,000. Since January 1, 2026, business owners are no longer allowed to accept cash payments above €3,000. Paying by debit card or online is still allowed. Read more about it here.
Agentic commerce is the trend
A new generation of AI is on its way: systems that don't just advise but also act on their own. Instead of clicking, searching and comparing, customers will soon simply state their intent and an agent handles the rest. What does this shift to agentic AI mean for the way we shop and pay online? In our upcoming blog, you'll read what this development demands of merchants, payment platforms and digital infrastructure. The blog will be published soon on our website, our social channels and, of course, in our newsletter.
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