Custom Adyen integration
Adyen is the Dutch payment infrastructure behind brands such as KLM, Coolblue and Booking.com. Unlike traditional payment providers, Adyen is a full-stack acquirer: it processes payments entirely on its own infrastructure. We build professional API integrations that unlock the power of Adyen for your webshop, platform, retail chain or mobile app.
Adyen integration options
Adyen is more than a payment provider. It is a complete payments platform covering acquiring, risk management, terminal management and platform payments. We integrate every component your business needs.
Online payments
Checkout API with Drop-in, Components or API-only integration. iDEAL, credit cards, Klarna, Apple Pay, Google Pay and 250+ other payment methods. Tokenisation for returning customers. One-click payments.
POS terminals (in-store)
Adyen smart terminals with cloud-based management. Terminal API for integration with your till system. Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android. The same back end as your online payments.
Unified commerce
One platform for all channels. Combined reporting and reconciliation. Customer recognition across channels: online shoppers are recognised in-store through shared tokenisation.
Platform & marketplace
Adyen for Platforms: split payments, automated seller onboarding with KYC/KYB, separate balance accounts, configurable payouts. Full PSD2 compliance without your own payment licence.
Recurring & subscriptions
Tokenise payment methods at the first payment. Automatic recurring transactions for SaaS, memberships and insurance. Account Updater automatically refreshes expired card details.
Pay by Link
Generate payment links via API or Customer Area. Send by email, SMS or WhatsApp. Configurable amounts, due dates and metadata. Ideal for B2B invoicing and telephone orders.
Adyen vs Mollie vs Stripe: when should you choose Adyen?
Not every payment provider suits every business. This is an honest comparison from an integrator's perspective, so you can make the right choice.
| Aspect | Adyen | Mollie | Stripe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Full-stack acquirer | Payment service provider | Payment infrastructure / PSP |
| Acquiring | ✓ Own licence | ✗ Via third party | ✓ Own licence (EU) |
| Best for | Enterprise, omnichannel, high volume | SMEs, Dutch e-commerce | Start-ups, SaaS, developers |
| Minimum volume | €5M+ per year (indicative) | No minimum | No minimum |
| POS terminals | ✓ Own terminals, unified | ∼ Limited (partners) | ✓ Stripe Terminal (growing) |
| Platform/marketplace | ✓ Adyen for Platforms | ∼ Mollie Connect (basic) | ✓ Stripe Connect (strong) |
| Risk management | ✓ RevenueProtect (advanced) | ∼ Basic | ✓ Stripe Radar (advanced) |
| Unified commerce | ✓ Core strength | ✗ Not available | ∼ Growing |
| Pricing | Interchange++ (negotiable) | Fixed rate per method | Fixed percentage + fee |
Choose Adyen when: you turn over more than €5M a year, sell both online and in-store (unified commerce), run a marketplace or platform with complex payouts, need advanced fraud management, or want better rates through your own acquiring. We also build Mollie and Stripe integrations and will advise you which provider fits your situation.
Technical architecture of an Adyen integration
Adyen offers three integration methods for online payments. The right choice depends on your need for control, PCI scope and development time.
Drop-in
Pre-built checkout UI from Adyen. Automatically shows the right payment methods. Minimal development time, limited visual customisation. Ideal for going live quickly. PCI scope: SAQ A (lowest).
Components
Individual payment method components (iDEAL selector, card fields, Klarna button) that you place in your own checkout UI. A balance between control and convenience. PCI scope: SAQ A.
API-only
A fully custom-built checkout. Maximum flexibility for mobile apps and unique flows. Card data is encrypted client-side. PCI scope: SAQ A-EP (heavier, with more requirements).
Payment flow: from checkout to webhook
Checkout
/payments
Authorisation
If required
AUTHORISATION
| API | Function | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Checkout API | Start payments, retrieve payment methods, create sessions | Any online payment integration |
| Payments API | Capture, cancel and refund payments | Order management, returns |
| Recurring API | Tokenisation, subscriptions, stored payment methods | SaaS, memberships, recurring transactions |
| Terminal API | Control POS terminals, in-store payments | Point-of-sale systems, unified commerce |
| Transfers API | Move money, balance accounts, payouts | Platforms, marketplaces |
| Management API | Manage merchant accounts, terminals and webhooks | Multi-location, franchise |
| Reports API | Settlement, transaction and dispute reporting | ERP integration, reconciliation |
| Webhooks | Real-time notifications (AUTHORISATION, CAPTURE, REFUND, etc.) | Payment status updates, order processing |
PCI DSS compliance and security
PCI DSS is the security standard for organisations that process card payments. Your choice of integration method determines your PCI scope — and therefore your compliance effort.
SAQ A — Drop-in / Components
Card details are processed directly by Adyen’s JavaScript and never touch your servers. This is the simplest PCI category: a short questionnaire, with no external audit required. Recommended for most businesses.
SAQ A-EP — API-only
Card data passes through your servers but is encrypted client-side by Adyen’s CSE library. Heavier PCI requirements: you must demonstrate that your server environment is secure. Needed for fully custom checkout UIs.
3D Secure 2 & PSD2
Adyen handles SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) automatically. Smart authentication determines when 3DS is needed and applies exemptions (TRA, low-value, recurring) to minimise friction. Full PSD2 compliance built in.
Our approach: we recommend Drop-in or Components (SAQ A) by default unless your checkout design doesn’t allow it. We implement HMAC verification on all webhooks, encrypted credential storage, audit logging and GDPR-compliant data processing. We use Adyen’s Data Protection API to handle GDPR erasure requests.
Dutch payment methods via Adyen
The Netherlands has a unique payment landscape, with iDEAL as the dominant online payment method. Adyen supports all relevant methods for the Dutch and European market.
| Payment method | Type | Use in the Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| iDEAL (incl. 2.0) | Bank transfer | ~70% of online payments. Essential for every Dutch webshop |
| Visa / Mastercard | Credit card / debit card | Growing, especially internationally and in business. Maestro is being phased out |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | Wallet | Fastest-growing method, especially on mobile. Frictionless checkout |
| Klarna | Buy Now Pay Later | Popular with consumer electronics and fashion. Pay later and instalments |
| PayPal | Wallet | Trusted by older target groups and for cross-border purchases |
| SEPA Direct Debit | Automatic direct debit | The standard for subscriptions, insurance, SaaS and utilities |
| Bancontact | Bank transfer (BE) | Essential if you also serve Belgian customers |
| Riverty / in3 | Buy Now Pay Later (NL) | Dutch BNPL options, popular with fashion and household goods |
Integration scenarios
Every type of business requires a different Adyen integration. These are the most common scenarios we build.
E-commerce webshop
Integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento or your custom webshop. Checkout with iDEAL, credit cards, Klarna and Apple Pay. Webhook handling for order status updates. Tokenisation for returning customers.
Omnichannel retail
Online webshop and physical stores on one Adyen platform. Terminal API integration with your point-of-sale system. Customer recognition across channels. One reconciliation report for all locations. Click & collect flows.
Marketplace / platform
Adyen for Platforms with automated seller onboarding, split payments and configurable payouts. KYC/KYB verification via the Legal Entity Management API. Full PSD2 compliance. Suitable for food delivery, rental and B2B procurement platforms.
SaaS & subscriptions
Recurring payments with SEPA Direct Debit or card-on-file. Dunning management: automatic retries of failed collections. Account Updater refreshes expired card details. Integration with your SaaS platform and subscription management.
ERP integration
Connecting the Adyen Reports API to Exact Online, Twinfield or SAP. Automatic reconciliation of settlements, VAT processing, general ledger postings and matching. No more manual work in the accounts.
Mobile app
Adyen iOS SDK (Swift) and Android SDK (Kotlin) for in-app payments. Native 3DS2 flow on mobile. Apple Pay and Google Pay integration. Ideal for mobile apps with checkout functionality.
Our approach in 4 steps
From checkout design to live payment flows. We work in Adyen’s test environment so you can test without risk.
Discovery & design
We map out your payment needs, channels, volumes and systems. We choose the right integration method (Drop-in/Components/API-only) and design the architecture.
Development & testing
Build in Adyen’s test environment with test transactions. Webhook configuration, payment method setup, 3DS flow and error handling. You test every payment method in the sandbox.
PCI check & go-live
PCI compliance verification, production configuration in the Adyen Customer Area, production webhook endpoints, live transaction validation.
Monitoring & optimisation
Monitoring transaction success rates, operations optimisation, adjusting authentication settings, adding new payment methods and processing API updates.
Why choose Appfront for your Adyen integration
We build payment integrations as part of larger software projects. That means your Adyen integration does not stand alone, but works seamlessly with your webshop, ERP, CRM and operational systems.
Full-stack payment expertise
We build integrations with Adyen, Mollie, Stripe and MultiSafepay. We know the strengths and weaknesses of each and give you objective advice on which provider suits you.
35+ integration specialisms
Adyen does not stand alone. We connect it to Exact Online, Shopify, Microsoft 365 and dozens of other systems within one coherent architecture.
Dutch, just like Adyen
Adyen is Dutch, and so are we. We know the Dutch payments market: iDEAL, SEPA, Klarna, Dutch tax rules and the PSD2 requirements. We communicate directly in your language.
PCI-aware
We design integrations with PCI scope as the starting point. SAQ A wherever possible, SAQ A-EP only when necessary. HMAC verification, encrypted credentials and audit logging are standard.
From webshop to platform
Whether you run a single webshop or a marketplace with thousands of sellers, our architecture scales with you. From Checkout API to Adyen for Platforms, we build it.
Conversion optimisation
A payment integration is only successful once customers actually complete their purchase. We optimise 3DS settings, payment method ordering and checkout UX for maximum conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about Adyen integrations.
Adyen is a full-stack acquirer: it processes payments entirely on its own infrastructure, including acquiring. Mollie and Stripe are payment service providers that work through external acquirers. Adyen is ideal for higher volumes (5M+ a year), omnichannel (online and in-store) and complex platform payments. Mollie suits smaller businesses with lower volumes, while Stripe suits developer-first SaaS companies and startups.
Adyen supports 250+ payment methods worldwide. For the Netherlands, the most important are iDEAL (including iDEAL 2.0), Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Klarna, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bancontact (for Belgian customers), SEPA Direct Debit for subscriptions, Riverty (formerly AfterPay), in3 and various gift cards.
PCI DSS is the security standard for organisations that handle card data. Adyen is Level 1 PCI DSS certified. By using Adyen Drop-in or Components, card details never touch your servers, which qualifies you for SAQ A, the simplest compliance category. With an API-only integration using client-side encryption, you fall under SAQ A-EP. We advise which level suits your situation.
A standard webshop integration with Drop-in or Components can be live within 2 to 4 weeks. A more complex integration with multiple payment methods, recurring payments, ERP integration and webhook configuration takes 4 to 8 weeks. Unified commerce (online and in-store) or platform and marketplace integrations take 6 to 12 weeks on average.
Yes. We build integrations between Adyen and Exact Online, Twinfield, SAP and other ERP systems. The Adyen Reports API provides detailed settlement and transaction data, which we process automatically into bookings in your accounting system. This includes VAT processing, reconciliation and matching of Adyen payouts.
Adyen for Platforms provides full marketplace functionality: automated seller onboarding with KYC/KYB verification, split payments (automatically dividing funds between platform fee and seller proceeds), separate balance accounts per seller, configurable payout schedules and full PSD2 compliance. You don't need to apply for a payment licence yourself.
Unified commerce means your online webshop, physical stores and mobile app share the same payment infrastructure. Adyen is the only major payment provider that offers this fully on a single platform: one merchant account, combined reporting, cross-channel customer recognition and shared tokenisation. Customers who pay online are recognised in-store and vice versa.
Yes. Every Adyen integration is delivered with webhook monitoring, payment status tracking and error alerting. We monitor transaction success rates, proactively catch API changes and optimise conversion by adjusting authentication settings and payment method configuration. For chargebacks or disputes, we support you with the correct API calls and documentation.
Ready to integrate Adyen?
From webshop checkout to omnichannel retail and platform payments, tell us about your payment needs and we will build the integration. No obligation, no strings attached.
Discussing Adyen integration