Daily life
How-tos about daily life in the Netherlands.
How to settle in after arriving as an international student in NL
Arrival is the start of a system, not a single moment. Sort the student-specific parts from the ones every newcomer faces: municipal registration, a BSN, DigiD, insurance and banking, and know which questions belong to your university.
How to change your address after moving in NL
Report a move inside the Netherlands to your municipality so the Personal Records Database (BRP) is correct, any time from 4 weeks before your moving date to 5 days after it. Moving abroad is deregistration and follows different rules.
How to enrol your child in school in NL
How to enrol a child in a Dutch primary or secondary school, from compulsory education (leerplicht) to newcomer language classes. You register with the school itself, but in some municipalities the schools allocate places centrally.
How to exchange your driving licence in NL
How to swap a foreign driving licence for a Dutch one through your municipality. The rules split sharply between EU/EFTA licences and licences from everywhere else, so check which applies before you drive.
How to find housing in NL
Prepare for a private rental search in the Netherlands, compare listings, check the tenancy terms and know the basic rules before you pay.
How to plan your first 90 days in NL
Plan your first 90 days in the Netherlands: registration, BSN, DigiD, health insurance and banking, with the deadlines and order that actually apply.
How to get a BSN in NL
Get your Burgerservicenummer (citizen service number), the unique number you need to work, study, open a bank account and use Dutch government services.
How to get a DigiD in NL
Apply for and activate DigiD, the login for Dutch government, tax and healthcare services. The route differs depending on whether you are registered with a municipality (BRP) or in the RNI.
How to get a VOG (Certificate of Conduct) in NL
How to obtain a Certificate of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) from Justis: the digital route an employer starts, the free route for volunteers, the paper and non-resident routes, and what to do if refusal is proposed.
How to move your household goods in NL
Moving your belongings to the Netherlands from inside the EU needs no customs declaration. From outside it, you cannot file the declaration yourself: a removal or transport company does it, and the relief has conditions.
How to register at the municipality in NL
Register as a resident in the BRP with the municipality where you live if you will stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months.
How to register with a dentist in NL
Find a dental practice that is accepting new patients, check the individual dentist's BIG registration, arrange your registration and records, and know what to check about cover, costs and urgent dental care.
How to register with a GP (huisarts) in NL
How to find a huisarts (GP) practice that will take you, register each family member individually, and use the GP as your route to specialist care. A practice may refuse you if you live too far away or if it is full.
How to get urgent medical help in NL
If you need medical help now in the Netherlands, use 112 for life-threatening emergencies, your GP when it is open, and the local huisartsen-spoedpost when it is closed. This guide also explains where hospital emergency care fits.
How to check a Dutch rental contract before signing in NL
Review the contract type, rent and point score, service costs, deposit and fees, key clauses and move-in evidence before you sign a Dutch tenancy agreement or transfer money.
How to handle rental problems with your landlord in NL
Document the problem, contact your landlord in writing, then choose the right route through the Huurcommissie, your municipality or legal help without assuming one body can solve every rental dispute.
How to set up electricity, gas, water and internet in NL
Check what your Dutch home already includes, then start each service through the right route: an energy supplier you choose, a network operator and water company fixed by your address, and fixed internet that depends on what reaches the building.
How to find and arrange childcare in NL
Work out which type of Dutch childcare fits your child, search the Landelijk Register Kinderopvang for registered places, read the GGD inspection report, and reach a confirmed place with the details the funding route needs.
How to deregister and close things out in NL
Work out whether you have to deregister from the BRP, arrange the deregistration in the final five days before you leave the Netherlands, keep DigiD usable abroad, and settle insurance, allowances, your home and the migration-year tax return.
How to get prescription medicines in NL
Choose and use a Dutch pharmacy, keep your medication information complete, understand prescriptions and repeats, check cover, and find the local out-of-hours pharmacy route.
How to use MijnOverheid and Berichtenbox in NL
Activate MijnOverheid, set Berichtenbox preferences and notifications, check how each sender delivers government post, and handle messages without relying on email reminders.
How to use public transport in NL
Plan journeys, choose between OVpay, OV-pas and an existing OV-chipkaart, check in and out correctly, change operators, compare subscriptions and fix a missed check-out.
How to learn Dutch and find a course in NL
Work out which Dutch-learning route applies, find courses and local practice, compare providers, and use the right official route if you need inburgering or B1/B2 proof.
How to move out and get your rental deposit back in NL
End a Dutch tenancy cleanly: confirm notice, document inspections and handover, check deposit deductions, and recover your borg if it is not repaid.
How to import your car in NL
Register a foreign car in the Netherlands: check whether import is required, choose the Customs/BPM route, complete RDW registration, then arrange insurance, plates, MRB and APK.
How to move with your pet in NL
Bring an existing pet to the Netherlands: choose the right species and origin route, prepare the veterinary documents, enter through the correct EU route and complete any Dutch registration after arrival.