The long-striding Dutch athlete, who shattered the four-decade-old world record at her national championships last month, won at a stroll in 52.19sec and will be a hot favourite for Saturday's final in Istanbul.
The time was almost three seconds slower than her world record of 49.26.
Her Swiss coach Laurent Meuwly told AFP on the eve of the championships that the 23-year-old Dutch athlete, already a world silver medallist and Olympic bronze medallist in the 400m hurdles, had big ambitions.
"She wants to write history, to perhaps become the most bemedalled athlete in Europe, or even more," he said.
"Her world record is faster than Allyson Felix's best time outdoors, so it makes you think because Felix is probably the greatest female athlete in history."
British sprinter Daryll Neita showed she has the 60m gold medal in her sights as she won her heat in 7.14 ahead of the final later on Friday.
The Swiss woman expected to be her closest challenger, Mujinga Kambundji, clocked 7.18 to win her heat.
