Posts by Dirkjan

Dirkjan Vis is the owner of Eurolutions, the company behind websites such as investmentplatforms.eu, crowdfundmarkt.nl, investeerders.nl, and several other titles.

Since 2002, Dirkjan has been active as an independent entrepreneur. Additionally, he is an investor and business angel. He also serves as a board member and secretary at BAN Nederland, the trade association for business angels.

On investmentplatforms.eu, he writes about the steps he has taken as a business angel and provides insights on making investment decisions via online platforms, whether in stocks, cryptocurrencies, real estate, or other investment opportunities.

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Dirkjan in a Dutch video about real estate investing

How to start investing in stocks

By Dirkjan - last updated on 24 April 2025.

Beginner’s guide to European stock markets. Investing in stocks on the AEX, CAC or DAX is easy, and you can do it too. It might feel scary at first, because there is a risk of losing money. But with patience and some diversification, that risk becomes smaller. First tip: start small, and do not wait too long to make your first investment.

eToro vs Trade Republic

By Dirkjan - last updated on 23 April 2025.

eToro and Trade Republic are both popular with young investors. However, we see many differences between the two brokers. eToro is ideal for those who want to learn and try out different things. Trade Republic is simpler and more focused on regular monthly investing. eToro offers more features, while Trade Republic is usually cheaper.

Broker fees

By Dirkjan - last updated on 16 April 2025.

Not all broker fees have the same effect on your returns. Learn what kind of fees brokers charge, which ones can really affect your returns, and how to find the cheapest broker for your investment style. Choose a broker that matches how you invest, and avoid losing returns you could have kept.

Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic

By Dirkjan - last updated on 9 April 2025.

Scalable Capital and Trade Republic are European brokers that mainly focus on passive investors who want an easy-to-use platform and invest a lot in ETFs. For that reason, Investment Platforms.EU recommends both platforms. However, there are some important differences, and Scalable usually comes out best in their tests.

Scalable Capital review

By Dirkjan - last updated on 3 April 2025.

Scalable Capital is a European broker where you can invest in shares, ETFs and crypto. In our latest review, Scalable scored a 7,5. We are positive about how easy it is to use, the range of options and the low fees. The free plan already has low costs, and for 4,99 euro per month, all transactions from 250 euro are free.

Passive investing in ETFs

By Dirkjan - last updated on 22 April 2025.

With passive investing you invest slow but steady, by buying and holding a wide range of assets. For example, by automatically investing money each month in popular options like funds or ETFs. It is simple, low-cost, and you can start right away. Here you will find a step-by-step plan, including the main advantages and disadvantages.

Collin Crowdfund passes 1 billion mark and accelerates growth

By Dirkjan - 25 March 2025.

Collin Crowdfund, a Dutch crowdfunding platform for SMEs, has reached the 1 billion euros mark in SME funding. This milestone is still almost entirely due to Dutch business loans. Meanwhile, it has also launched in Germany, and with that it expects a new growth acceleration. We spoke to the platform about these developments.

Interactive Brokers review

By Dirkjan - last updated on 20 March 2025.

Interactive Brokers offers low transaction costs, access to global markets, and advanced trading platforms. In our review, we rate Interactive Brokers with an 7. It is suitable for beginners but especially popular among experienced investors due to its wide range of products. In addition to stocks and options, it also offers trading in futures, foreign currencies, CfD's, and margin trading. These products can involve significant risks.

Platforms for sustainable crowdfunding

By Dirkjan - last updated on 11 March 2025.

Are you looking for platforms where you can invest in sustainable crowdfunding projects? Europe has many popular platforms that offer opportunities through business loans, or equity investments in startups that have a focus on a better future. We listed some of the best ones for you in our overview.

Saxo review

By Dirkjan - last updated on 19 May 2025.

In our latest review, Saxo scores a 7. Since May 2024, the fees have lowered and are now competitive. The company offers a good selection, along with a user-friendly app and dashboard. Saxo operates worldwide and has more than one million customers.

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