I have just arrived in the Netherlands. What are the formalities I need to complete?

Documents from certain countries must be legalised or have an Apostille. An Apostille Certificate is an official certificate issued to documents so they will be recognised in member states without further Legalisation. It must be done in the country where the documents were issued and cannot be done in the Netherlands.

Authenticity stamp and the bureaucratic procedures linked to it will no longer be required when presenting public documents issued in one EU country to the authorities of another EU country. Under the new rules, citizens are also no longer required to provide a sworn/ official translation of their public document in many cases.

Find further information on the website of the government.

DigiD (short for Digital Identification) is a form of online ID that allows you access to many services and government websites in the Netherlands. This includes doing your taxes, applying for a government benefit, checking your Dutch pension or health insurance, and any other actions. The DigiD consists of a username and password that are linked to your personal public service number (BSN). Most information about the DigiD can be found at: www.digid.nl/en/about-digid.

You can find a more dynamic and simple explanation about DigiD on the following link (available in English, French, Arabic and Dutch): digid.uabc.nl/en.

Do you have a driving licence that was issued in one of the countries of the European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and do you live in the Netherlands? If so, you can continue to drive on this licence in the Netherlands for 15 years (from the date of issue of the foreign driving licence). This applies to the categories AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE. The driving licence must be valid for this to apply.

 

The RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) has up-to-date information about the rules for use of a foreign driving licence.

Please note that when exchanging a driving licence, you will be asked to hand in your old licence. A counter clerk will collect your foreign driving licence and give you a certified copy and a receipt. You will not receive your old driving licence back after the exchange. Instead, the RDW will return your driving licence to the issuing authority in your country of origin.

Persons with diplomatic status or working at certain international organisations (privileged card holders) may drive in the Netherlands without the need to exchange their foreign licence for a Dutch one. You will, however, need a valid foreign driving licence and an identity pass for privileged persons from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Anyone who is entitled to benefit from the ’30 percent tax ruling’ can simply exchange their licence, no matter where they are from. This applies to your partner and children registered at the same address too. Ask for an exchange form for the foreign driving licence at the municipality where you are registered. Please note that applications sent directly to RDW (Dutch Road Transport Directorate) will not be processed. You can find further information on the documentation that you need for the exchange here.

A Verklaring van Geschiktheid – VvG (certificate of fitness) may be required by the Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen – CBR (Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing) (Dutch only), when applying for a driving licence in the following cases:

• when a Dutch licence is first issued
• when a driving licence is exchanged and the country of issue do not belong to the European Union/European Free Trade Association (EU/EFTA)
• if you have a medical restriction
• if you are older than 75 years

You can find more details about when a VvG is required and how to proceed on the CBR’s website (Dutch only)

All new residents, including foreign student, who will be staying in the Netherlands longer than four months are required to register with the gemeente (municipality). The following documents are usually required when registering:

• Passport (or ID card for EU citizens)
• Proof of address (i.e. rental contract or permission from the main occupant)
• For students who need to apply for a residence permit it is necessary to present the receipt sent by the immigration authorities (IND)  to the school. The school should provide you with this document

Some schools participate in the centralised registration days, meaning that international students will be able to register at the basisregistratie persoonsgegevens – BRP (municipal personal records database) at their school of higher education.

International students can also get the student card. Once you have applied for the card, you will be able to get special student discounts in particular shops or places to eat. Check out the website studentenkorting.nl (Dutch only).

Visit the ACCESS FAQ’s of Higher Education in the Netherlands for further details.

Dutch health insurance
International students studying in the Netherlands are usually not required to take out a Dutch health insurance. For more information you can visit the section Dutch medical insurance for students on the ACCESS FAQ’s.

Inboedelverzekering (home insurance)
This insurance can be used against loss, theft or damage of the contents of your residence. If you rent a room/apartment, you should check if your landlord has contents insurance and whether or not your contents are covered by the landlord’s policy. Valuable items may need to be covered by a special separate policy.

Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering (liability insurance)
In the Netherlands, it is very normal to have liability insurance; more than 90% of all Dutch citizens have this insurance. With this liability insurance, you are covered against any damage you unintentionally cause to another person or person’s property.

Useful numbers

Counselling

ACCESS Counselling Service Network

(also see Counsellor on Call)

0900 222 2377

Parnassia The Hague

070 – 391 6391

PsyQ International (8.30 until 17.30 and on Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30 until 20.00)

088 357 3478

(Netherlands Association for Outpatients’ Mental Health Care)

Sexual Abuse

Amsterdam

020 – 611 6022

Centre for Domestic Violence Amsterdam

020 626 3800 (8.00 – 23.00)

Emergency 06 10599458

The Hague

070 – 362 0496

Other locations

0900 899 8411

(Weekdays 09:00 – 23:00

Weekends 15:00 – 23:00)

SOS Distress

Amsterdam (24hr)

020 – 675 7575

The Hague (24hr)

070 – 345 4500

Rotterdam (24hr)

010 – 436 2323

Zoetermeer (20:00 – 02:00)

079 – 352 3737

Utrecht

030 – 294 3344

Some of these organisations are run by Dutch volunteers. If the volunteer cannot speak English, one will be found who can help. If the answer is a tape in Dutch, listen carefully – how to reach someone in person will be explained.

Helplines

AIDS infoline

0900 204 2040

(in English, Monday to Wednesday : 09.30 – 15.30, thursday and Friday: 13.30 to 15.30)

Alcoholics Anonymous (24hr)

020 – 625 6057

www.aa-netherlands.org

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Amsterdam (drugs, alcohol)

Jellinek Drug and alcohol help center

088 505 1220

The Hague

Triora 088 358 3741

Rotterdam (drugs, alcohol & clinic)

IGHD verslavingzorg 010 423 2711

Domestic Violence

Centre for Domestic Violence Amsterdam

020 626 3800 (8.00 – 23.00)

Emergency – 06 10599458

The Hague (24hr, everyday)

070 – 392 5774

Rotterdam (24hr, everyday)

010 – 476 1680

Child Line (02:00 – 20:00 everyday)
0800 0432

Drugs Advice Clinic

Amsterdam

020 – 570 2355

The Hague Parnassia

070 – 391 7800

Lost and Found

Lost Something?
Go to www.verlorenofgevonden.nl, register what you lost and see if it is found. Always do a theft online declaration via www.politie.nl in case of theft or visit the policiebureau.

Found Something?
Report an object you found at: www.verlorenofgevonden.nl, and keep it at home. If no one comes to collect the object after one year, you can keep it. Handing in at the police station is no longer possible from January 2013.

For more information visit www.verlorenofgevonden.nl or thehague.com.

Credit Cards
Europass/Eurocheques

0800 – 0313

Eurocard       (Mastercard)

030 – 283 5555

Giro Pass/Giros (24hr)    (ING MAstercard)

058 – 212 6000

Visa Card issued inside NL  (ABN AMRO)

020 – 660 0611

Visa Card issued outside NL

0800 022 4176

Amex

020 – 504 8000

Amex (after 20:00 and weekends)

020 – 504 8666

In a taxi
Amsterdam – 020 – 677 7777

The Hague – 070 – 555 5555

Rotterdam – 010 – 462 6060

In public transport or places
0900 9292

Embassies and Consulates

Find your Embassy or Consulate in the Netherlands: www.government.nl/issues/embassies-consulates-and-other-representations

 

 

In the Netherlands there is no 24 hours medical service. During office hours you can contact your GP. After office hours and in the weekend, every municipality has a so called huisartsenpost that can be contacted for medical problems that can’t wait until your own GP is available again. The service operates at night and around the clock during weekends and public holidays. If you are looking for out of hours doctors in your area, search online by typing in ‘huisartsenpost’ with the place name. The same goes for dentists.  In most cities there are several vets who offer after hours service and some even offer 24 hour service. They are all commercial.  The common rule for huisartsen and  dentists is also for vets. In general you call your own vet if your pet has problems. If he/she is not available, you can call an emergency service.  This is also often listed on the website of your vet.

You can find all emergency numbers here.

Every first Monday of the month you at 12 (noon) you will hear the sirens. Iit is just a test and it takes 1 minute and 26 seconds. YThe alarm has nothing to do with attacks from an enemy anymore. Nowadays, it is a warning in case of a huge fire or an environmental disaster.

If you hear the sirens on any other day or time other than the first Monday of any month, do the following:

 

• Go inside. If you are outside, working or shopping, go inside as soon as possible, for example enter a shop or any other building.
• If you are in a car, leave your car and go into a building. In case this is not possible (e.g. you are on a highway), stay inside the car and close all windows and ventilation/air conditioning.
• Leave your children at school.
• Offer others the opportunity to hide with you.
• Close the windows and the doors. Also close other openings in your house and if possible turn the air conditioning off.
• Do not make phone calls unless absolutely necessary.
• Listen to the regional radio. The government will inform you via this channel what is going on and what you need to do. If you don’t understand Dutch, ask your neighbours or other people near you what you need to to.

In case of a national emergency, listen to NPO Radio 1 (see www.radio-frequentie.nl/radio-1/ for a frequency list) or watch  TV on channel NPO 1 (also known as Nederland 1). The frequency of channel NPO 1 depends on your location and your television provider.

You can find additional information on what to do in case of emergency and how you can prepare for one at this website www.crisis.nl (Dutch only)

In addition NL-alert is used to inform you about disasters. It tells you what’s going on, what you should do and where you can find more information.
You receive NL-Alert on your mobile phone. NL-Alert can also be seen on an increasing number of digital advertising displays and digital signage at train, bus, tram and metro stops. A handy factsheet about NL-alert can be found on the website of the government