BSN = Burgerservicenummer (Citizen Service Number)
You need a BSN when dealing with the government, your doctor, tax offices, and more. You also need it to start a job, open a bank account, and apply for basic health insurance.
Gemeente (Municipality) = The local government organization responsible for you.
Legally, you are required to register with the municipality you are living in within 5 days of arrival in the Netherlands if you plan on staying for 4 months or more.
Realistically, many municipalities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Den Haag do not have enough appointment slots available and you often have to wait several weeks or months to register. We advise you to make an appointment with this in mind. If you cannot register within 5 days of arrival, donāt worry. Just make sure youāve made an appointment asap.
At which municipality do I have to register?
You have to register at the municipality where you live, not study. You can find out which municipality you live in by checking the Wikipedia article about the town you plan on moving to. Most of the time, this is quite clear.
How do I make an appointment?
Some universities will make arrangements for you, which you should get an email about. Otherwise, you can find this information on the municipality’s website. Usually, you can make an appointment online.Ā
All registration appointments are always in-person at an office of the municipality.
Helpful links:
Utrecht – https://www.utrecht.nl/city-of-utrecht/registration/registering-from-abroad
Amsterdam
Due to the number of students moving to Amsterdam and the lack of time, Amsterdam makes use of a unique system using online pre-registration. More information on this is available here: https://www.amsterdam.nl/en/civil-affairs/pre-registration-students/
What do I need to register?
The documents you are required to bring to the appointment at the municipality are usually listed on the website or in your email confirming the appointment. These usually include:
- Valid ID card (EU/EEA citizens) or passport
- Birth certificate (English version or officially translated)
- Rental contract or a form signed by the landlord that you are allowed to register
- For non-EU/EEA citizens, the V-nummer from your visa application approval letter
When do I get my BSN?
Some municipalities will issue you a BSN during the appointment. This is quite common around the start of the academic year to make it easier for students to arrive. Otherwise, you will receive it by mail within a few weeks.
I have my BSN, what now? / What is DigiD?
Almost over are the days of paper forms. When dealing with government institutions such as DUO, the tax office, or even your health insurance, you can authenticate yourself online using DigiD. This is a secure two-factor authentication app using your BSN and ID card/passport. Once you have a BSN, the attached letter will instruct you on how to set up your DigiD.Ā
You can also find more information on DigiD and how to activate it here: https://www.digid.nl/en
I am leaving The Netherlands
Done with studying? Congrats! If you are planning on leaving the Netherlands for 8 months or more, you are required to deregister with the municipality you are living in. There are heavy fines if you fail to do so.
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