Dutch bureaucracy glossary
The Dutch words on your letters, payslips and contracts, explained in plain English
Each term below gets its own page: what it means, the deadline that comes with it, what to do next, and the law or official source behind every rule. They are the words expats most often have to look up after opening a letter from the Belastingdienst, a landlord or an employer.
Looking for an acronym such as IND, WOZ or CAO instead? Those are in our Dutch abbreviations cheat sheet. For the full process behind a letter, start with the Dutch tax return guide or employee rights in the Netherlands.
The deadlines that catch expats out
| Letter or step | Deadline |
|---|---|
| BezwaarBezwaar against any government decision | 6 weeks from the date on the decision |
| DwangbevelDwangbevel (enforcement order) | 2 days to pay |
| AanmaningAanmaning from the Belastingdienst | 2 weeks to pay |
| CAK boete onverzekerdCAK letter about being uninsured | 3 months before a €529.74 fine |
| VaststellingsovereenkomstVaststellingsovereenkomst (settlement agreement) | 14 days to change your mind |
| Borg (waarborgsom)Borg refund after moving out | 14 days, or 30 with deductions |
| HuurverhogingHuurverhoging proposal | At least 2 months' notice; object before it starts |
Tax and government mail
Berichtenbox
Government digital mailbox
The mailbox in MijnOverheid where government bodies can send official letters. Turn on email alerts or you will miss deadlines.
Blauwe envelop
Blue tax envelope
Post from the Belastingdienst or Dienst Toeslagen. Open it the day it arrives: most letters inside carry a deadline.
Definitieve aanslag
Final tax assessment
The Belastingdienst's final decision on your tax return. You have 6 weeks to object if something is wrong.
Jaaropgaaf
Annual salary statement
Your employer's annual summary of what you earned and the wage tax withheld. You need it for your tax return.
Machtiging
Authorisation to act for you
A formal authorisation that lets someone else handle government matters for you, such as your tax return, without your DigiD.
Voorlopige aanslag
Provisional tax assessment
A provisional tax bill or refund, based on an estimate. You can change it online, and a final assessment follows later.
Benefits and health insurance
CAK boete onverzekerd
Uninsured health insurance fine
A fine from the CAK when you live or work in the Netherlands without Dutch health insurance. The first letter gives you 3 months.
Definitieve berekening
Final benefits calculation
The final calculation of your zorgtoeslag, huurtoeslag or other allowance, made once your real income for the year is known.
Terugvordering
Repayment demand for an allowance
A demand from Dienst Toeslagen to pay back allowance you received but were not entitled to. A 24-month payment plan is standard.
Decisions, objections and debt
Aanmaning
Payment demand
A formal demand to pay an overdue amount. It is the last step before enforcement or collection costs.
Beschikking
Formal government decision
A formal decision by a government body about your specific case. It always comes with a right to object within 6 weeks.
Bezwaar
Objection
A formal objection to a government decision. You have 6 weeks, it costs nothing, and you file it with the body that decided.
Dwangbevel
Enforcement order
An enforcement order for unpaid tax or government debt. You get 2 days to pay before your wages or bank account can be seized.
Housing and utilities
Borg (waarborgsom)
Rental deposit
The deposit you pay at the start of a tenancy. It is capped at two months' bare rent and must be refunded within 14 days.
Huurverhoging
Rent increase
The yearly rent increase. It must be proposed in writing at least 2 months ahead and stay within the legal cap for your sector.
Jaarafrekening
Annual energy bill
Your energy supplier's yearly settlement of monthly advances against actual use. The eindafrekening is the same after a move or switch.
Servicekosten
Service charges
Extra monthly charges on top of bare rent, such as cleaning or energy. You are owed a yearly statement of what was actually spent.
WOZ-beschikking
Property value decision
The gemeente's yearly decision on your home's official value. It feeds several taxes and rents, and objecting is free.
Work and pay
Loonstrook
Payslip
Your payslip. It explains how your gross salary turns into net pay, line by line.
Opzegtermijn
Notice period
The notice period for ending a contract. For jobs it is 1 month for employees by default; for rentals, 1 to 3 months.
Proeftijd
Probation period
A trial period at the start of a job when either side can end the contract at once. It is capped at 1 or 2 months.
Transitievergoeding
Statutory severance payment
Statutory severance when your employer ends your contract: one third of a month's salary per year of service.
Vakantiegeld
Holiday allowance
A holiday allowance of at least 8% of your gross salary, paid out once a year, usually in May or June.
Vaststellingsovereenkomst
Settlement agreement
An agreement to end your job by mutual consent. You get a 14-day cooling-off period after signing.
Ziekmelding
Reporting sick
Reporting sick to your employer. You then keep at least 70% of your pay for up to 2 years.
Need the full picture?
The glossary explains the word. Our guides walk you through the whole process.