Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets
The AFM supervises conduct in Dutch financial markets. It is a strong EU regulator for authorized Dutch investment firms and related financial-service providers.
Trust tier
Strong regulator
Strict supervision, mature enforcement, and stronger client-money or compensation frameworks.
Investment firm, adviser, asset manager, market operator, payment/e-money, or other financial-service permissions.
Protection depends on product, client eligibility, and Dutch/EU scheme rules.
Europe
What it means
How to read AFM regulation
- AFM authorization is a strong signal for the Dutch-regulated entity.
- Users can use AFM registers to verify entity, permission, and status.
- EU protections usually depend on being onboarded under the EU entity.
Limits
What this license does not guarantee
- It does not guarantee trading results or broker fit.
- It does not automatically cover non-Dutch affiliates.
- It does not remove the need to verify product and client eligibility.
Verify
How to check this license
Search the AFM registers for the legal entity.
Confirm the exact license/registration category.
Check whether your client agreement names that entity.
Red flags
When to be careful
- The broker uses an EU trust claim without appearing in AFM or relevant EU registers.
- The entity listed on the website differs from the register entry.
- The account is opened under an offshore entity despite Dutch/EU marketing.
Compare regulators
Other license guides
Important disclosure
Broker research, not investment advice
Availability, fees, investor protection, and regulation can vary by country and legal entity. Verify the broker and regulator details directly before opening an account.