Living in Netherlands

The Netherlands is an EU member state with 12 provinces, each made up of municipalities (gemeenten). For newcomers the municipality and a handful of national organisations matter far more than the province.

Who handles what

• Your municipality registers you in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen, BRP) and gives you a citizen service number (burgerservicenummer, BSN). Later moves are reported to the municipality, which passes them on to other government bodies, including the Tax Administration.
• The IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) decides on residence permits and naturalisation and runs desks across the country, including one in Amsterdam.
• The Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) handles income tax and the expat tax scheme; its Benefits Service (Dienst Toeslagen) pays healthcare and rent benefit.
• DigiD is the national login for government and healthcare websites; you can apply once you have a BSN.
• Health insurers sell the compulsory basic health insurance; the CAK follows up with people who should be insured but are not.

What most newcomers deal with first

1. Residence status. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no residence permit and do not register with the IND. Most other nationals need a residence permit for stays over 90 days, often with an MVV entry visa, and usually through a sponsor such as an employer.
2. Registration. If you will live in the Netherlands for more than four months, register in person with your municipality within five days of arrival. Shorter stays can use the Non-residents Records Database (RNI).
3. Health insurance within four months of arrival, for most people who live or work in the country.
4. Bank account and DigiD, which unlock salary payments, benefits and most online services.
5. Housing, which in the big cities often takes longest.

Getting help

• Emergencies: 112. Police (non-urgent): 0900 8844.
• Het Juridisch Loket gives free legal advice to people on a low income on 0800 8020.
• SKGZ answers questions about Dutch health insurance in English.
• In the Amsterdam Area, IN Amsterdam helps international newcomers with permits and registration.

HomiStart guides are general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change, often on 1 January, so confirm details with the official sources linked in each guide.