Government services for expats in the Netherlands

Your first stop is to register at your local gemeente (city hall) to obtain a BSN, which stands for Burger Service Nummer (Citizen Service Number). The BSN is a unique personal number that you will use for almost every official purpose , from opening a bank account and getting paid by your employer to signing up for health insurance and even visiting a doctor. Essentially, it's like your social security number in the Netherlands, and life without it is nearly impossible.

If you plan to live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you are required by law to register at the municipality within 5 days of arriving. This is called inschrijven. When you register, you will be added to the BRP (Personal Records Database) and the gemeente will issue your BSN, usually on the spot or mailed to you shortly after. Registration is done in person at the town hall. You'll need to make an appointment (check your city's website for "first time registration" or "inschrijven").

Tip: If you haven't secured a long-term address yet (which can happen given the tight housing market), there are options. You can temporarily register using a friend's address with their permission (via a "permission form" called toestemmingsverklaring) or even use a short-stay accommodation address if allowed. The key is to get registered to generate your BSN. However, avoid renting a place where the landlord doesn't allow registration , this is a red flag and can indicate an illegal sublet.

Once registered, you'll receive proof of registration and your BSN. Keep this number safe. You'll immediately use it for things like starting a job (employers need your BSN to pay you) and applying for benefits or services. If you later move to a new address within the Netherlands, you must update your address with the gemeente, but you won't get a new BSN , it stays with you for life.

After getting your BSN, the next very useful thing to set up is a DigiD. DigiD stands for Digital Identity and it is an online login system that lets you access a wide range of government services securely. Think of it as your one login for taxes, municipality websites, health insurance portals, the education loan system , basically anything official online.

To get a DigiD, you'll need your BSN and an address. You apply online at the official DigiD website (which has an English option). The process goes like this: you fill in your details (BSN, date of birth, etc.) and create a username and password. For security, the system will then send an activation code by mail to your registered address within a few days. Once you receive that letter, you go back online to activate your DigiD account using the code. After activation, you're all set , you can use DigiD to log in to countless services. There's also a DigiD mobile app which you can use for two-factor authentication or easier login once you're registered.

If you are coming from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you will likely have dealings with the IND (Immigratie en Naturalisatie Dienst), which is the Dutch immigration authority. The IND is responsible for residence permits, visas, and immigration matters. Many expats moving to the Netherlands for work (like skilled migrants, researchers, or entrepreneurs) have their employer or a sponsor handle the permit application before arrival. However, one common step after you arrive is to collect your residence permit card and provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo) to the IND.

The IND has offices and Expats Service Centres in various locations. For example, there are IND desks in Amsterdam (often through the IN Amsterdam expat center), in The Hague (Rijswijk), Rotterdam, Utrecht (usually via the expat center), and in Eindhoven (Holland Expat Center South). These expat centers are fantastic one-stop shops: they often allow you to handle both your municipal registration (BSN) and IND permit formalities in one appointment. Highly skilled migrants often use these centers , your employer sets up an appointment, and within a couple of weeks of arrival you visit the center to register with the gemeente and do the IND paperwork together.

Other important services

Once you have your BSN, DigiD, and residence matters sorted, you'll find you can handle most bureaucracy smoothly. Here are a few other government-related items expats often encounter: