5 Things You Need to Do After Arriving in the Netherlands
Moving to a new country is exciting, but it comes with many things that need to be taken care of, both before and right after you arrive. To make it easier, we’ve put together a list of five things that you need to do upon arrival to ensure a smooth start to your new life here in the Northern Netherlands.
1. Register at the municipality
One of the first things you should do after arriving in the Netherlands is to register at your new home municipality. You’re required to do this within 5 days of your arrival. Registering at the municipality lets the Dutch government know that you are staying in the country legally and grants you the right to a BSN (Burger Service Nummer or Citizen Service Number in English). You need this number when taking care of matters in the Dutch government, authorities and institutions. Most of the time, municipal registrations go through the city hall, but we at the IWCN offer a handy service for highly skilled migrants with a non-EU/EAA background: You can make a same-day appointment for both IND and municipal registration at our office (for people relocating to Groningen city).
You can read more about different registration options and what procedure applies to you on our registrations page.
2. Set up your DigiD
To make it easier to log in to websites and online services that require authentication with your personal details, the Netherlands uses a secure digital identification system called DigiD. You can set up and use DigiD once you have obtained your BSN. You can read more about DigiD on our DigiD page.
3. Sign up for health insurance
Every person living in the Netherlands is obliged by law to have valid health insurance. Once you have obtained your BSN, you can sign up for an option that fits you the best. In the Netherlands, health insurance is chosen based on your specific medical needs. This could include, for example, just the basic health care or extras on top, such as dental services or pregnancy care. The price of your health insurance depends on the extent of your package and how much eigen risico (mandatory deductible or own risk) you are willing to pay. You can read more about the health insurance on our medical insurance page.
While you are looking at health insurance options, it’s also a good idea to think about additional insurances. For example, while it’s not mandatory, it’s good to have aansprakelijkheidsverzekering (personal liability insurance) when living in the Netherlands. This way you’re insured if you cause any accidental damage to others’ belongings.
4. Find your Huisarts
Once your health insurance is in order, the next step is to sign up to a Huisarts (general practitioner) in your neighbourhood. Huisarts is the go-to medical professional in non-emergency healthcare and you often need a referral from Huisarts to proceed with more specialised care. You can read more about the Dutch healthcare system on our healthcare page. Not sure which Huisarts to choose? Check our service providers for trusted and international-friendly healthcare providers.
When you are looking for a Huisarts, it’s also a good idea to sign up with other medical services that you might need, such as the dentist.
5. Arrange a Dutch phone number and bank account
Opening a Dutch bank account and switching to +31 area code makes life in the Netherlands easier. You can read more about switching to a Dutch phone number on our utilities page and about a Dutch bank account on our banking & finance page. Not sure which bank to choose? Check our service providers for trusted and international-friendly banks.
Bonus: Not sure which option to go for? Or perhaps you would like to receive more tailored advice and solutions? We can help you sort things out and point you in the right direction during our Personal Consultation sessions. For a full list of things you should take into consideration when relocating to the North, check our moving to the Netherlands checklist.