First 30 Days To-Do

The administrative marathon. Knock these out in order.

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Step 1Register with the Municipality (Gemeente)

Must be done within 5 days of arrival if staying longer than 4 months.

Step 2Obtain your BSN (Citizen Service Number)

Automatically issued upon municipal registration. Essential for almost everything.

Step 3Activate DigiD

Your digital identity for accessing government and healthcare services online.

Step 4Open a Dutch Bank Account

Requires your BSN. Look into traditional banks (ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank) or digital ones (bunq).

Step 5Arrange Dutch Health Insurance (Zorgverzekering)

Mandatory within 4 months of arrival. Retroactively charged to your arrival date.

Step 6Get a Public Transport Card (OV-chipkaart)

Get a personal card for discounts and subscriptions.

Step 7Get a Dutch Mobile SIM

Necessary for banking and two-factor authentication.

Step 8Register with a local General Practitioner (Huisarts)

Do this before you get sick. Many GPs are full, so register early.