Register at city hall

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If you are staying, or planning to stay, in the Netherlands for 4 months or more, you need to register at the city hall in the municipality (gemeente) where you are living. This usually has to be done within 5 days after arrival. However, if you are doing it via TU/e, you simply wait for the registration day which they will email you about.

When you are registered, you are provided a BSN number, which is your citizenship number that is needed for all administrative actions in the Netherlands. This includes opening a bank account, visiting a doctor and getting health insurance (see Dutch Health Care), applying for benefits (Zorgtoeslag, Huistoeslag, and more) and for receiving salary if you are working.

Documents needed

TU/e should inform you about the papers needed, but here is the list of documents you typically need to provide:

  • Birth Certificate
    • Some birth certificates will need to undergo a legalization process, such as an apostille, before they can be properly accepted within the Netherlands. Please visit the IND website to see if your country is listed and if legalization is required.
  • Rental Agreement or other Proof of Address
  • Valid ID or Passport
  • Proof of deregistration if you come from Belgium, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius or St. Maarten
  • Residence permit (if applicable, either a sticker on the passport, a plastic ID card or a letter from IND)

City halls only accept official documents in certain languages, such as Dutch, English, French or German. Please check this before getting official translations.

More information can be found here

Of course, these requirements may change depending on your moving situation or the requirements of the government. Please check your email and trust the government as your primary source for information regarding the documents you will require.

BSN Number

When you are registered, you are provided a BSN number, which is your citizenship number that is needed for all administrative actions in the Netherlands. This includes opening a bank account, visiting a doctor and getting health insurance (see Dutch Health Care), applying for benefits (Zorgtoeslag, Huistoeslag, and more) and for receiving salary if you are working. As a BSN can be needed in some simple situations, such as telling your GP reception that you have arrived for the appointment, it is handy to have it saved somewhere with easy access (such as your phone). Eindhoven BSN page in English can be found here.