Expats Netherlands - New to the Netherlands - Your First Steps in the Netherlands

It may be tempting to focus on sourcing your nearest snackbar, as soon as you set foot in the Netherlands. However, there are a few obligatory first steps you should get out of the way beforehand. The posts in this section contain details on these preliminary tasks, which range from arranging your driving test to securing Child Benefit.
Make sure you have read up on organizing your ‘Dutch Visa and Residence Permit‘ before you come, to ensure that you are able to enter the country. Or, if you are seeking asylum, take a look at this page for ‘Refugees in the Netherlands‘. It offers an explanation of where to go and what to do, in order to get safely settled in. Once you are here, you will need to obtain a ‘Dutch Citizen Service Number‘, and a  ‘Dutch Digital Identity: DigiD‘. Find posts outlining both of these processes below.

Last but not least, discover how to go about ‘opening a Bank Account in the Netherlands’. This is important, especially if you want your new employer to pay you!

Preparing for the Inburgering A1 Ex ...

For many people planning a move to the Netherlands, the Inburgering A1 exam is one of the ...

Internet on all your devices with a ...

Constantly switching SIM cards, relying on slow or sketchy public WiFi, or turning your phone into a ...

Refugees in the Netherlands

If you have come to the Netherland to seek asylum, you will want to get settled, feel ...

Opening a Bank Account in the Nethe ...

Opening a bank account is a crucial first step to take, when you are new to NL ...

Dutch digital identity: DigiD

Having a 'Dutch Digital Identity', or 'DigiD', will equip you to manage many of your practical, financial ...

Dutch Citizen Service Number

A Dutch citizen service number is a type of personal registration code. It is commonly referred to ...

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