If you’re moving to the Netherlands, your first and most important quest is to get a BSN (Burgerservicnummer). Think of it as your single, unique ID number for everything. You need it for work, taxes, healthcare, and opening a bank account.
How Do I Get This Magic Number?
You get your BSN by registering with the municipality (gemeente).
- Staying 4+ months? You’ll register in the Personal Records Database (BRP) at your local city hall or an Expat Center. You must book this appointment in advance!
- Staying less than 4 months? You can get a BSN by registering as a non-resident (RNI) at one of the designated “RNI desks” in certain cities.
What to Bring to Your Appointment:
- Your passport (this is non-negotiable).
- Your proof of address (usually your rental contract).
- Your residence permit (or the confirmation letter from the IND).
- An apostilled and translated birth certificate (and marriage certificate, if you have one). Dutch requirements state that foreign documents not in Dutch, English, French, or German must be translated.
Once registered, you’ll either be given your BSN on a printout right there (that’s rare) or receive it by mail a few weeks later. This number is yours for life!
Why You Need Your BSN Yesterday
1. Getting Paid (This is the big one!) You must give your BSN to your employer on your first day.
- No BSN? You get hit with the dreaded “anonymous tariff” — a 52% tax rate on your entire salary.
- Don’t panic! This is temporary. Once you give your BSN, your employer will fix it on the next payroll, and you’ll be reimbursed for the overpaid tax.
2. Opening a Bank Account Almost every “traditional” Dutch bank requires a BSN to open an account.
- Pro-Tip: Some banks may offer a “newcomer” account, allowing you to open it without a BSN as long as you provide it within 90 days. Try BUNQ, that was my first choice.
3. Healthcare & Education
- Health: You can’t sign up for mandatory Dutch health insurance without a BSN.
- Education: When you enroll a child in school, they’ll ask for their BSN. In the education system, this same number is often called a PGN (persoonsgebonden nummer).
“I Got My BSN… Now Where Is It?”
You won’t get a “BSN card.” The number is just… a number. You can find it printed on:
- Your Dutch driver’s license
- Your health insurance card
- Any letter from the Dutch Tax Office (Belastingdienst)
- Your personal
Mijn Overheid(government) portal (once you have DigiD)