Getting settled

Registering with the municipality, BSN, DigiD, health insurance, banking and driving licence.

Anyone staying longer than four months registers with the municipality and receives a citizen service number (BSN). You need that number for almost everything: salary, bank account, health insurance and DigiD, your digital login for government services.

Dutch health insurance is mandatory as soon as you live and work here. With an Indian driving licence you may drive for a limited period after registering; exchanging it for a Dutch licence is only possible in certain cases. In the larger cities, expat centres help with the formalities, often in a single appointment together with the IND.

Useful links

• Government.nl – BSN government.nl
  How to get a citizen service number.
• DigiD digid.nl
  Digital login for government and healthcare.
• RDW rdw.nl
  Driving with or exchanging a foreign driving licence.
• IN Amsterdam iamsterdam.com
  Expat centre for the Amsterdam area.
• The Hague International Centre thehagueinternationalcentre.nl
  Expat centre for The Hague region.