What ETFs do you recommend for a small portfolio?

I don't really know much about finance because I'm more into coffee and photography than markets, but I can tell you what I've picked up over the years talking to clients who deal with investments. For a beginner with 5000 euros, ETFs are actually a solid foundation because you diversify your risk without having to worry about individual stocks. What they always tell me is to look at ETFs on global indices like MSCI World or the S&P 500, which track the general market and have low fees. If you really want something stable, you can go for bond ETFs or mixed ones, which combine stocks and bonds, so you can sleep at night without stress.

What I'd do, since you've never started before, is pick one instrument and leave your money there without anything complicated. You don't need to tinker with your portfolio every day - I've seen plenty of clients wreck themselves with frequent trading. With 5000 euros maybe you can spread it across 2-3 different ETFs to feel more comfortable, one more aggressive and one more conservative, so you have balance. Then the trick is putting money in regularly over time if you can, even if it's just a little. Oh, and read the fees carefully because over the years they make a difference, like photos that improve bit by bit when you get the focus right.

One important thing: this isn't something to decide at the bar after an espresso. Do your homework, check out the websites of the platforms you want to use (Degiro, Directa, Fineco are names I hear a lot), and maybe read some decent articles before you put the money in. Also because the market luckily isn't like a photo exposure that snaps in a fraction of a second - you have time to learn as you go.

For a beginner 5000 euros is a solid start and etfs are really the right choice because you diversify right away without having to study individual companies. I'd start with two or three etfs max so you don't overcomplicate things. a classic move is one that tracks the msci world index or s&p 500, like vanguard or ishares, which gives you solid global exposure already. then maybe I'd add an etf on emerging markets like msci em, so you've got a bit of spice in your portfolio. if you want something even more laid-back you can go for a bond etf, like one tracking european government bonds, which is less volatile but obviously less profitable.

my advice is don't panic if the market dips, it always happens. after a rough day at work I go kayaking and stop checking the charts, it helps keep things in perspective. set it and forget it, time in the market beats timing the market, meaning it's more important to be in the market than to try to enter at the perfect moment. do everything online from your bank or a platform like degiro or interactive brokers that have low fees, and don't look back at it every day, at least not for the first year.