this has been the case in NL for at least the last 4 years.
(i have worked there at least 3 months every year since 2008- i am one of those damn migrant workers...)

In the Netherlands, ATMs abound for cash withdrawals - but some restaurants & bars, most if you are in smaller towns, take cash only or just cards with Chips.

This is also the case with most train ticket machines.*

The ChipKnip card is considered more secure -
There are 2 kinds- one attached to a CC, and one attached to the bank - but it is not attched to the full bank balance.
One moves $$ (ok €€) to one's Chip card and that is all that is accessible if the card is lost stolen
However IF the card is lost/stolen, whatever the balance was on the card is usually considered Gone.

There is a FB page titled something like "How the Effing ChipKnip ruined my life"

SO that is my long way of sayin, when in NL, have cash on hand and do not assume that a CC can be used everywhere.

peace & the ducth
t



* there may be a few in large cities that take a regular CC, but not many.
Even the ticket window at Schiphol is cash or Chip only.
Many Canadian CC, also now contain a chip.