Step one: register at the gemeente and get your BSN
Before almost anything else, you register your address and receive your BSN — the number that unlocks everything in the Netherlands.
Your very first task as a newcomer is to register your address at the gemeente (city hall). If you're staying longer than four months, do this within five days of arriving. In return you'll receive your BSN (Burgerservicenummer) — a citizen number you'll need for a job, a bank account, insurance and almost everything else.
What to do
- Book a registration appointment online with your gemeente as early as you can — slots fill up.
- Bring your passport/ID, a rental contract or proof of address, and (if relevant) a legalised birth/marriage certificate.
- If you live with someone, you may need the main tenant's permission to register at the address.
- Your BSN usually arrives by post within a couple of weeks.
Tip: You can't be registered at an address where registration isn't allowed — confirm this before signing a lease.
Rules change. This post was accurate when written; check the official source it links before you act.