What do you do if using your debit card, the internet, or mobile payments suddenly stops working? In the Netherlands, we are highly dependent on digital payment traffic. Usually, you don't notice it, but during a power outage, internet outage, bank system failure, or other technical incident, one payment method may temporarily fail. During a major disruption, multiple systems may be less available simultaneously.
De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) and the Maatschappelijk Overleg Betalingsverkeer (MOB) therefore advise households to be prepared for a situation where electronic payments do not function normally for up to 72 hours. The solution is not one specific payment method, but rather several options used alongside each other: cash, a physical debit card, and a charged phone with a banking app.
What can fail during a payment disruption?
A digital payment depends on multiple systems. Depending on the cause, a disruption may remain limited to one bank or one payment method, but it could also be more widespread.
- Debit card payments in stores may temporarily fail if payment terminals or connections go down.
- ATMs may be out of order during technical or power issues.
- Online banking and banking apps may be unreachable during a bank or digital service outage.
- Mobile payments may be less usable if your phone is dead or certain network services are unavailable.
- Payment requests depend on a working phone, banking app, and connection.
Not every disruption takes down all these systems at once. That is why it is sensible not to be entirely dependent on a single payment method.
Can you still pay by card if the internet goes down?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on where the disruption is located and what emergency measures a store and payment service provider support.
In 2026, the Maatschappelijk Overleg Betalingsverkeer is encouraging the introduction of deferred debit card payments. With this emergency measure, a payment terminal can temporarily store transactions when the online connection fails and process them later as soon as the connection is restored.
That does not mean you can assume every store can simply accept card payments during every internet outage. The feature must be supported by the specific store, bank, and payment service provider. A physical debit card therefore remains useful, but is no guarantee that every payment will go through.
What happens if mobile internet goes down?
If mobile internet fails, services on your phone may work less effectively or not at all. Think of banking apps, payment requests, navigation, messaging apps, and websites providing current information.
A physical bank card may still be usable in some situations, as an in-store payment does not use the same route as a payment request via your phone. But here, too, it depends on the nature and scale of the disruption.
Therefore, ensure you are not only able to pay with your phone. DNB advises people who usually pay with a phone or smartwatch to also keep a physical debit card available.
What if the power goes out?
A power outage can have more consequences than just a dark house. Payment terminals, routers, phone chargers, and ATMs require electricity. Telecom and other infrastructure also have emergency measures, but these are not intended as an unlimited guarantee that all services will always remain available.
At home, you can easily reduce some of your own dependence:
- keep your phone sufficiently charged;
- ensure you have a charged power bank;
- keep a physical debit card in a known location;
- keep a limited amount of cash available;
- ensure you can retrieve important phone numbers offline as well.
For broader preparation, also read 72 hours without power: how to prepare.
How do you pay if card payments do not work at all?
The most direct backup is cash. The current Dutch advice is €70 per adult and €30 per child for the first 72 hours. That amount is intended for essential expenses when normal electronic payment is temporarily impossible.
It does not need to be withdrawn all at once. DNB advises building up the supply gradually and keeping a mix of bills and coins.
For the precise calculation per household, read our separate guide Cash in your emergency kit: how much do you need for 72 hours?.
Why are multiple payment methods important?
The best payment method varies per disruption. During an outage at one bank, another bank may still work. If mobile internet goes down, a physical bank card may still be usable. If electronic payments fail more broadly, cash may be the most important backup.
| Situation | Possible backup |
|---|---|
| Outage at one bank | Payment method or account at another bank, if you already have one |
| Phone battery dead | Physical debit card, cash, power bank |
| Mobile internet down | Physical debit card or cash, depending on the disruption |
| Card payment unavailable | Cash or another available payment method |
| Widespread power outage | Cash and pre-charged devices |
DNB also notes that a household with payment accounts at more than one bank may be less vulnerable to a disruption that only affects one bank. It is not advice to open extra bank accounts specifically for this purpose, but it is an example of the principle: do not place all your reliance on one system.
Can you keep paying with a power bank?
A power bank does not solve a disruption in the payment network. However, it can prevent your own phone from dying while the rest of the infrastructure is still working.
That is relevant for:
- banking apps and payment requests;
- contacting family or emergency services;
- NL-Alert and other warnings;
- information from grid operators, banks, and the government;
- navigation and other practical apps.
A power bank is therefore primarily an energy backup. For larger devices or longer outages, a power station may be more useful, depending on what you actually want to power.
How do you get information if the internet doesn't work?
If mobile and fixed internet are limited, you do not want to rely solely on websites and social media for important information. The national government therefore advises including a battery-operated or hand-crank radio as part of an emergency kit.
An emergency radio can be an extra information channel when digital communication is less reliable. Additionally, use NL-Alert as long as your phone and the network are functioning, and follow instructions from the safety region and local government.
Why is digital resilience extra relevant in 2026?
Since August 15, 2026, the Cyber Security Act and the Resilience of Critical Entities Act have been in effect in the Netherlands. These laws impose stricter requirements on organizations in sectors including energy, drinking water, digital infrastructure, transport, healthcare, and banking.
That does not mean the government expects all these services to fail. It does show that the continuity of essential services and protection against cyber incidents, sabotage, extreme weather, and other disruptions are receiving structural attention.
For households, the practical lesson remains simpler: ensure you are not completely dependent on one digital system for the first few days.
What should you arrange at home for 72 hours?
For payments, you can maintain this baseline:
- Cash: according to current guidelines, €70 per adult and €30 per child.
- Physical debit card: even if you normally almost always pay with your phone.
- Charged phone: for communication, banking apps, and current information.
- Power bank: charged and with the correct cable for your phone.
- Important data: record phone numbers and relevant information offline as well.
- Broader emergency kit: water, food, lighting, medicine, first aid, and other 72-hour essentials.
Use the personal emergency kit selection tool to check what you already have and what is still missing for each function.
What should you specifically NOT do?
Being prepared does not mean you should immediately withdraw large amounts of money, empty your bank account, or buy expensive equipment every time there is a report of a disruption.
A few simple backups provide a lot of resilience: a little cash, a physical bank card, a charged phone and power bank, and enough basic supplies to stay at home for a few days.
Check these items at a quiet moment. That way, you only need to take action when there is an actual disruption or warning.
Conclusion: ensure one disruption doesn't disable all your payment options
Using your debit card, mobile payments, and online banking are reliable, but they are not all independent of electricity, connections, and digital infrastructure. Therefore, DNB advises keeping multiple payment methods available and preparing for a scenario in which electronic payments may be disrupted for up to 72 hours.
The practical basis is small: cash, a physical debit card, a charged phone, and a power backup. Combine that with the other components of your 72-hour supply, and you are significantly less dependent on a single system.
Do you want to check power, communication, and information at the same time? Take a look at our During a power outage collection or use the emergency kit selection tool.
