Real offices, advice centres and organisations in Amsterdam that help newcomers — with languages, costs and official sources.
49 results
Consumer advice
Consumer information service of the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). It gives practical advice on your rights with energy, phone and internet contracts, subscriptions, cooling-off periods, guarantees and debt…
Health services
Public body that contacts people who live or work in the Netherlands and should have Dutch health insurance but do not. It sends letters, can impose fines and can take out a health insurance policy on your behalf. Its…
Driving licence
Runs theory and practical driving tests and assesses medical fitness to drive. A health declaration (Gezondheidsverklaring), submitted via Mijn CBR, is needed for example before a practical test or when exchanging a…
Registration offices
The municipality registers newcomers in the Personal Records Database (BRP) and issues the citizen service number (BSN) at its City Offices (Stadsloketten). It also handles later changes of address, deregistration,…
Other services
Helpdesk for the national DigiD login: applying, activation letters, the DigiD app, ID check and lost codes. Many questions are answered in the FAQ on the DigiD website; there is also a contact form.
Government agency for student finance (studiefinanciering), student travel products and loan repayments, and the body behind civic integration exams and loans (see inburgeren.nl). Whether you qualify for student finance…
Employment agencies
National agency for employee insurance. It pays unemployment benefit (WW), sickness benefit for people without an employer, occupational-disability benefits and maternity and parental leave benefits, and helps people…
Consumer advice
Free, independent help when you have a complaint about a purchase or trip from a business in another EU country, Norway, Iceland or the United Kingdom, for example a foreign webshop or airline. It explains your rights,…
Transport
Municipal transport company running Amsterdam's trams, buses, metro and ferries. Customer service helps with OVpay, the OV-pas, missed check-outs, season tickets and lost property, Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 19:00,…
Other services
National, independent body that resolves disputes between tenants and landlords about rent levels, annual rent increases, maintenance and service costs, without going to court. Its online Huurprijscheck calculates the…
Recognition of qualifications
Compares a foreign diploma with the Dutch education system and states the comparable Dutch level, which can help when applying for jobs, further study or civic integration. IDW is run jointly by Nuffic (general…
Immigration authorities
One-stop shop of the municipalities of Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Almere, Diemen, Haarlem, Haarlemmermeer, Hilversum and Velsen, with the IND and the Tax Administration. Eligible newcomers, such as highly skilled migrants…
Integration courses
DUO's official site for civic integration (inburgering). It explains who has to integrate under the 2021 and 2013 acts, the broad intake and personal plan with the municipality, the exams, fines, extra time and…
Immigration authorities
Desk of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), which decides on residence permits and naturalisation. Visit by appointment, for example to give biometrics or collect a residence document. The IND's national…
Central government's information line. Call 1400 with general questions about national rules, for example on rent, rent benefit, work or benefits, or to check whether a call that claimed to come from a government body…
Other services
Keeps the Business Register (Handelsregister). Freelancers and business owners usually register within one week before or after starting: you prepare the registration online with DigiD and then, in most cases, verify…
National human rights institute. Among other tasks, it gives non-binding decisions (oordelen) on individual complaints about discrimination at work, in education or as a consumer, for example when you believe you were…
National inspectorate for fair, safe and healthy work. You can report underpayment, excessive working hours, unsafe or unhealthy working conditions, illegal employment and labour exploitation, also anonymously.…
Public library with 31 locations across the city, including the Central Library at Oosterdok (seven floors, open seven days a week). Membership to borrow books, e-books, audiobooks and films is free for everyone under…
Legal advice
Independent ombudsman for residents who have a problem with the City of Amsterdam or an organisation working for it, for example about a permit, a parking fine, a benefit decision or the way you were treated. It…