> and, if I want to go to a bar, there's a risk I won't be allowed to pay.

Are there situations where paying without a smartphone is not practically possible? In the Netherlands people sometimes pay with smartphones, but these use the same infrastructure as the ubiquitous debit cards, so it is not an issue here. (Cash on the other hand…)

In Norway, some businesses use Corona as a pretext and say that credit cards are dirty too. What's the cash situation in the Netherlands? Aren't businesses legally bound to accept cash?

Supermarkets, sure, but plenty of small businesses require one of the so-called contactless payment methods these days — a trend that started pre-corona. This means either a debit card or a smartphone with a virtual debit card on it. It is a point of concern that this excludes people without a bank account, but as this doesn't impact essential services it is tolerated. I don't think we have a law that mandates cash, but of course supermarkets would face criticism if they closed the last cash register (there is always one that accepts both kinds of payment).

These payment terminals and the Dutch debit cards are by now all suitable for this type of contactless payment: you either lay the card on top of the terminal or hover it there, or hold it near the side (depending on the model); it can be done completely without terminal and card touching, and of course only the card carrier touches the card (i.e., you don't hand it over as is sometimes done with credit cards).

Credit cards are rarely used for payments in shops here, and are often frowned upon by merchants (and often refused). It's all debit cards (either as a physical card or virtual in a smartphone) and some cash — although covid may well proof to put cash that much closer to the grave.