# Bitcoin for consumers

Practical first steps for people in Friesland who want to get started with Bitcoin. This is educational information, not financial advice. External services are outside Bitcoin Friesland; use them at your own risk.

## First steps

1. **Pick a wallet.** Start with a user-friendly app such as Wallet of Satoshi, BlueWallet or Phoenix. Wallet of Satoshi is the easiest start, and you hold your own keys.
2. **Buy your first bitcoin**, for example via Strike or wave.space. If you already hold bitcoin with another provider, send a small amount to your wallet to practise.
3. **Visit a Bitcoin meetup** from Bitcoin Friesland to learn from others.

## Paying and saving

- Bitcoin Lightning makes everyday payments fast and cheap. The Bitcoin map shows where that works in Friesland.
- For long-term saving it matters to hold your own keys ("not your keys, not your coins"). Custodial wallets are not meant for large amounts; hardware wallets keep the keys offline.

## Converting bitcoin to euros

This works through an exchange such as Bitonic, Strike or wave.space, some Bitcoin ATMs, or peer-to-peer platforms such as Bisq and Hodl Hodl. Keep the Dutch tax rules in mind. These platforms are not covered by the Dutch deposit guarantee; check their reliability first.

- Page: https://bitcoinfriesland.com/en/consumers
- Bitcoin map: https://bitcoinfriesland.com/en/map
- Telegram: https://t.me/bitcoinfriesland