Welcome to the Netherlands! We’re happy to have you here.
Now, let’s wrap up the final administrative steps so you can officially start enjoying your new life.
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Key steps before you receive your BSN number
Key steps after you receive your BSN number
The following steps can be performed before you receive your Dutch BSN number
Step 1: Take photos of your meter readings
Your rental agent might have already provided you with photos of your meter readings. If not, take clear photos of all three meters as soon as you receive the keys:
- Water meter
- Gas meter
- Electricity meters (both the normal/high tariff and low/off-peak tariff readings)
You will need these photos to connect your utilities in one of the later steps.
Step 2: Get a Dutch phone number
You starter pack with SIM, SIM ejector tool and step-by-step guide will be waiting for you at your new home or arrive on the day you arrive. Use these items to activate your new SIM card and obtain your Dutch phone number.
If you haven’t received your starter pack, please contact us at info@easyarrival.nl.
Step 3: Get a Dutch bank account
Most Dutch service providers require a Dutch bank account number (Dutch IBAN number). Fortunately, several banks allow you to open an account without a BSN upfront, giving you up to 90 days to provide it.
Best overall: bunq
- Open your account online in just 5 minutes, no paper forms or branch visits
- Offers IDEAL payments, €0–€2.99 monthly fee, and a competitive 2.26% savings interest
- Additional benefits include multiple IBANs, joint accounts, and intuitive budgeting features.
Alternative Digital Bank option: Revolut
- Similar to bunq, with no monthly fees and a 4.5% AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) interest rate. A 4.5% AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) means that if you deposit money into a savings account offering this rate and leave your money untouched for a full year, you would earn 4.5% interest on your balance.
- Not headquartered in the Netherlands and some providers still don’t accept it
Best traditional bank options, with physical branches:
ING
- Monthly fee around €3.20–€3.85 for a current account
- No interest on current accounts; savings interest is modest (~0–1.25%).
ABN AMRO
- Fees slightly higher (~€3.70/month), but often offers the best savings interest among traditional banks (up to ~1.45%).
Transferring money from abroad:
If you are transferring large amounts of money to your new Dutch bank account it is worth comparing rates.
- Traditional Bank Transfers: Bank-to-bank wire transfers via networks like SWIFT offer strong security and regulatory protection. However, they’re usually pricey (7% or more in fees + exchange rate markup) and slower, taking 1 to 5 business days.
- Online Specialist Transfer Services: Platforms like Wise, OFX, and XE offer low fees, transparent pricing, fast transfers and convenient digital interfaces.
Step 4: Get fixed home internet
Most expats don’t have home internet for the first 2–3 weeks while they set up a new subscription and wait for their fiber connection. But you don’t have to wait!
Add the optional 5G mobile modem to your Ready Home Package and get a one-month 5G modem rental, so you can stay connected from the day you arrive
Ready to sign up for a fixed, fiber connection? Keep in mind that installing fixed home internet can take weeks, depending on your location and the provider. To avoid any service gaps, it’s wise to start the setup process as soon as you have a Dutch phone number and bank account. Lastly, note that Internet and TV services are typically bundled together for convenience and value.
There are several providers in the Netherlands, including KPN, Odido, Ziggo, Budget Thuis Not all providers service every location, especially when it comes to fiber (glasvezel).
You can use Internetten.nl to compare providers and packages at your postcode.
Important considerations when choosing a provider/ package:
- Maximum Speed: The maximum upload and download speed vary by postcode
- Package speed: Different packages have different upload and download speeds, from under 100 Mbps to up to 8 Gbps. 100 Mbps download and 10–20 Mbps upload are generally considered as adequate for most households, while the 1GB up and down are usually the most popular packages.
- Connection technology: Fiber optic generally offers the highest speeds and reliability, whereas cable and ADSL/VDSL (DSL) can be slower or more prone to congestion
- Bundled Services: Many Dutch providers offer bundles combining internet, TV, landline, and/or mobile, leading to cost savings and a single monthly bill. The most popular are dual-play (Internet + TV) and triple play (Internet +TV + Mobile)
- Contract Length & Flexibility: Standard contracts are typically 12 months. Some providers offer promotional rates with longer commitments.
- Reliability & Uptime: Look for providers that offer reliability commitments or uptime guarantees.
- Total contract costs: Understand total cost, including setup, equipment rental, and recurring rates beyond any promotional pricing
- Data caps: Beware of data caps or “fair use” policies that could throttle speed or incur charges even when markets tout “unlimited” data
- Customer Support: Choose providers that offer reliable, responsive, English support.
Do you need help finding the best internet provider & package for you? We can help. Just contact us on info@easyarrival.nl
Step 5: Get the most useful apps for Dutch living
Buitenradar: to avoid those pesky rain showers
SocialDeal: For discounts on a wide variety of activities
Tikkie: To send and receive money between friends
DeepL: For accurate translation between English and Dutch
Waste removal.
The Netherlands have different regional waste service providers. To find more info about waste removal provider in your area, search [your gemeente] and “Afvalkalender” or “afvalwijzer”. Some providers have useful apps.
Travel
Google maps: Detailed, door-to-door travel information whether you are driving, taking public transport, cycling or walking
NS app: To get detailed information and updates on the train schedules
Car sharing apps, like Greenwheels or Mywheels. Greenwheels focuses more on urban areas, while Mywheels has coverage in urban and rural areas.
Uber or Bolt: If you need a taxi
Affordable, second hand shopping:
Marktplaats: You can buy almost anything on Marktplaats at very affordable prices.
Vinted: For good quality, second hand clothes
Step 6: Get discounts on public transport
You will likely be using a lot of public transport in the Netherlands. There are several payment options:
- Best option when you just arrive: OV PAY (Contactless Debit/Credit Card, Mobile Phone)
- Fall back when you just arrive: Buying tickets directly at the ticket station. Most expensive option (tickets are full price with a surcharge) and costs valuable time.
- Best option for discounts: Personalised OV-Chipkaart.
OVpay (Contactless Debit/Credit Card, Mobile Phone)
- Pros: No need to pre-register, extremely convenient, avoids the surcharge common with single-use tickets, and can correct missed check-ins/outs in the app.
- Cons: Generally full price with limited discounts and each traveller needs to pay with their own card.
How to start using OVpay:
- No pre-registration required.
- Simply tap your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone to check in.
- Tap the same card to check out at your destination.
- Remember to take the card out of your wallet to ensure the correct card is used.
- At the end of the day, all your trips are charged to your account.
- View your costs and correct missed checkouts in the OVpay app.
Personalized OV-chipkaart
- Pros: Personalized discounts and subscriptions, Automatic top-up and enables rental of the OV-fiets (public transport bike).
- Cons: Initial purchase fee (currently €7.50) and non-transferable.
How to get a personalized OV-chipkaart:
- Register on the OV website
- Your OV-chipkaart will be posted to your address
- Find and subscribe for the best NS (train) discount subscriptions
- Busses, Trams and Metro’s can get a bit more complicated as there are multiple providers per region, but OV Reisadvies can help you determine the best solution for you
The following steps can only be performed once you have attended your gemeente appointment and received your BSN number.
Step 7: Register for DigID
DigiD is your essential digital key for accessing Dutch government services securely and conveniently. With your DigiD, you can manage tasks like filing taxes, applying for benefits, checking healthcare or pension information, and more. The DigiD app makes accessing these services even smoother and faster. To register, visit the DigID website.
Step 8: Sign up for utility services (water, gas, electricity)
Your utilities will be working when you move in, but you’ll need to take a few simple steps if your rental contract doesn’t already include them (which is most often the case). You already took photos of your meter readings in step one.
Water: Regional Provider, No Choice Needed
- The Netherlands has regional water suppliers. You don’t choose your water supplier, they’re assigned based on your address
- To register:
- Find your supplier via the Vewin map (scroll to the water sector map)
- Visit your provider’s “Moving in / New Customer” page and fill out the form
- You might also receive a letter in the post from them to register
Gas & Electricity: Bundle for Savings
- It’s usually cheaper and easier to bundle gas and electricity in one contract
- There are many service providers, so it is a good idea to compare prices.
How to compare & sign up for gas & electricity:
- Visit the English version of a comparison site like EnergieVergelijk
- Enter your postal code and house number (by clicking “change”).
- Fill in or estimate your annual gas (m³) and electricity (kWh) usage. There’s even a helper tool if you’re not sure.
- Pick your preferred bundled deal and sign up online.
Step 9: Get Insurance
Make sure you are covered while living in the Netherlands
Must Have Insurance
1. Health Insurance (Zorgverzekering)
- Mandatory for everyone living or working In the Netherlands.
- You need to take out basic health insurance within 4 months of arriving in the Netherlands.
- You can also opt to add supplementary health insurance for coverage not included in the basic package, such as dental care, physiotherapy, vision services, or extended mental health care.
- Kids are covered for free.
- Find the best plan using a comparison site like Independer: it compares dozens of providers and has an English interface.
- Premiums (2025) hover around €145–€160/month. You can also choose a higher deductible to lower your monthly cost
2. Third-Party Liability Car Insurance (WA-verzekering)
- Required if you have a car, motorbike, scooter, or fast e-bike (> 25 km/h). Not needed for regular bikes or e-bikes under 25 km/h.
- Compare deals via Independer’s auto insurance section
Other Recommended Insurance:
3. Personal Liability Insurance (Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering)
- Protects you in case you accidentally damage someone else’s property, or they’re hurt by your pets or kids!
- Plans are affordable (just a few euros/month) and offer coverage up to around €1.25 million
- Easy to compare via Independer
4. Home Contents Insurance (Inboedelverzekering)
- Great for renters, too! Covers your furniture, electronics, jewellery against damage or theft.
- Also easy to compare via Independer
Step 10: Registering for Health Care
To use health services in the Netherlands, it’s essential to register with:
- A huisarts (general practitioner/doctor): your primary contact for any health-related issue
- A tandarts (dentist)
- An apotheek (pharmacy)
Your general practionioner (GP) will usually be your first port of call and can refer you to specialists when needed. It’s best to register as soon as you receive your BSN and Health Insurance because they will likely first require an intake consultation before you consult them with specific problems.
How to register for healthcare providers
- Find providers: Search for “huisarts”, “tandarts” and “apotheek” on Google Maps or use Dutch platforms like Zorgkaart Nederland, filtering by your postcode or neighbourhood. You can also ask colleagues, neighbours, or your health insurer for recommendations or lists of accepting practices, some providers may have waiting lists
- Check availability: Call, email, or check online whether they’re registering new patients.
- Prepare documents for registration: Typically, a valid ID, passport or residence permit, your BSN number, Health insurance details will be required.
Step 11: Convert your drivers licence to a Dutch Drivers licence
You will most likely be allowed to drive with your foreign drivers licence in the Netherlands for a limited period. Exactly how long depends on the country where you obtained your driver’s licence, but you can find out on the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) website.
To convert your foreign driver’s licence to a Dutch one, you’ll need to follow a process managed by the RDW through your local municipality (gemeente). The specific steps can vary based on your country of origin and your residency status, but you can find tailored advice for your situation on the RDW website.
Congratulations on completing all the steps!
Please contact us on info@easyarrival.nl if anything is unclear or to provide feedback.
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