Dutch law stipulates that all new residents need to register within five days if they will reside in the Netherlands longer than four months. You must register in your city or town of residence (and change this registration if you move to another city or town). The following documents are usually required when registering at the local municipality office:

• Passport (or ID card for EU citizens)

• Proof of Occupancy

The following documents are not required in order to register. Both documents can be presented at a later date:

• A recently-issued original birth certificate

• If you are married or your spouse is accompanying you, a recently-issued original marriage certificate

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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.