Exchange rates are generally much more favourable when you withdraw your cash from an ATM in the foreign country than when you purchase from a foreign exchange office in the UK. Your Barclays Bank debit card should work in any Dutch ATM and instructions will be offered to you in English.

For most travelers, it is generally better to avoid physical currency exchange bureaus in both the UK and the Netherlands, as both countries have highly digital economies where cash is increasingly becoming a secondary necessity. If you must have physical currency, the Netherlands is slightly more advantageous if you are coming from the Eurozone, but for those with USD or other non-EU currencies, the fees at "Travelex" or similar airport booths in either country are notoriously high. In the UK, specifically London, you will find that almost every merchant from high-end stores to street food stalls accepts (and often prefers) contactless payments or Apple Pay. In the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam, many places are "pin-only," meaning they only accept debit/credit cards and refuse cash entirely. The most cost-effective "exchange" method in 2026 is to use a fee-free debit card (like Revolut, Wise, or a high-end travel credit card) to withdraw local currency from a bank-affiliated ATM upon arrival. This ensures you get the "interbank" exchange rate without the 5-10% markup charged by street-side exchange shops or kiosks at Heathrow or Schiphol.