Understand the Dutch acronyms that shape everyday administration

Find out whether the letters name a number, login, authority, benefit, permit, record or procedure.

Dutch forms and portals rely heavily on acronyms such as BSN, BRP, RNI, IND, UWV and SVB, alongside local words that do not map neatly to another country. Search the exact wording or browse by practical subject, then check the explanation before treating a login as a record, a card as a status, or an allowance as automatic.

Browse guides All glossary terms

Find out whether it names a login, number, authority, benefit or permit

Search a Dutch acronym, native word or plain-English question

Enter BSN, DigiD, IND, a term from a letter, or the everyday concept you are looking for. Results keep Dutch acronyms tied to their real function, which helps prevent a portal, personal record and legal status from being treated as the same thing.

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Start with widely useful identity, immigration, healthcare and work vocabulary

Explore Dutch terms that unlock other paperwork and services

Browse selected Dutch numbers, portals, benefits, permits, payroll terms and agreements. The collection is designed for discovery rather than ranking, with each card answering a different recognition or meaning question.

Document

Citizen Service Number in the Netherlands

Identity and registration in the Netherlands

The unique personal number assigned to everyone registered in the Dutch Personal Records Database.

Identity and registration · Digital government

Citizen Service Number explained

Government

Personal Records in the Netherlands

Identity and registration in the Netherlands

The official database containing personal data for residents and registered non-residents.

Identity and registration · Digital government

Personal Records explained

Government

Non-resident Register in the Netherlands

Identity and registration in the Netherlands

The BRP section used for people who live abroad or stay in the Netherlands for less than four months.

Identity and registration · Digital government

Non-resident Register explained

Municipal

Municipality in the Netherlands

Local government and services in the Netherlands

The local authority responsible for address registration, civil records, permits, and many resident services.

Local government and services · Identity and registration

Municipality explained

Document

DigiD in the Netherlands

Digital government in the Netherlands

The personal login used to access many Dutch government, healthcare, pension, and education services.

Digital government · Identity and registration

DigiD explained

Government

Government Portal in the Netherlands

Digital government in the Netherlands

The secure portal where residents can view selected personal records and messages from public organisations.

Digital government · Identity and registration

Government Portal explained

Government

Digital Mailbox in the Netherlands

Digital government in the Netherlands

The digital mailbox within MijnOverheid for official messages from participating public bodies.

Digital government · Identity and registration

Digital Mailbox explained

Document

Business Digital ID in the Netherlands

Digital government in the Netherlands

A regulated login system used by businesses and organisations to access online government services.

Digital government · Business and self-employment

Business Digital ID explained

Government

Immigration Service in the Netherlands

Immigration and residence in the Netherlands

The authority that decides many residence, asylum, and naturalisation applications.

Immigration and residence · Citizenship and civil status

Immigration Service explained

Immigration

Entry Visa in the Netherlands

Immigration and residence in the Netherlands

An entry visa for long stays that certain non-EU nationals must obtain before travelling to the Netherlands.

Immigration and residence · Identity and registration

Entry Visa explained

Document

Residence Permit in the Netherlands

Immigration and residence in the Netherlands

Official evidence that a non-Dutch national may reside in the Netherlands under stated conditions.

Immigration and residence · Identity and registration

Residence Permit explained

Immigration

Single Permit in the Netherlands

Immigration and residence in the Netherlands

A combined residence and work permit used for specified non-EU employment situations.

Immigration and residence · Employment and workplace

Single Permit explained

Move from registration and residence to health, benefits, work or housing

Browse Dutch terminology through the task behind the acronym

Choose the practical area you are dealing with when the official letters are still unfamiliar. Subject browsing shows the surrounding vocabulary while keeping separate the documents, authorities, payments and statuses within it.

Identity and registration15 termsPersonal numbers, identity cards, population registers, address records, and the certificates that prove who you are and where you officially live.

Employment and workplace14 termsEmployment contracts, collective agreements, pay statements, deductions, leave, probation, notice, dismissal, workplace representation, and end-of-employment documents.

Digital government11 termsOfficial login systems, electronic signatures, digital mailboxes, government portals, and mobile credentials used to complete public procedures online.

Social security and benefits10 termsSocial-insurance contributions, unemployment support, family payments, income assistance, disability benefits, and the public institutions that administer them.

Immigration and residence8 termsVisas, entry permissions, residence authorisations, physical residence cards, work rights, immigration offices, renewals, and long-term statuses.

Taxes8 termsPersonal and business tax identifiers, tax offices, online filing systems, annual returns, payroll withholding, value added tax, property charges, and the forms used to register taxable activity.

Healthcare4 termsPrimary-care doctors, health centres, patient portals, public coverage, electronic prescriptions, referrals, and cost-sharing arrangements.

Insurance4 termsCompulsory and optional health, care, home, vehicle, liability, and social-insurance arrangements, including the organisations that collect contributions or reimburse costs.

Citizenship and civil status3 termsCitizenship, nationality, births, marriages, partnerships, deaths, family relationships, and the official records or certificates used to prove those events.

Housing and renting2 termsResidential leases, deposits, condition reports, rent components, housing benefits, property registers, energy certificates, and recurring charges.

Local government and services9 termsMunicipalities, district offices, resident service desks, local certificates, population records, permits, planning, waste services, and locally administered charges.

Business and self-employment3 termsSole-trader and company registration, self-employed status, tax enrolment, VAT, public business registers, professional permissions, and social-insurance obligations.

Definitions help you recognise the term; guides address the larger question

Go beyond Dutch acronyms with practical guides

Open a guide when you need more than the meaning of a Dutch number, benefit, permit or contract. Guides offer task-focused context without claiming that every page defines or depends on the glossary terms above.

Netherlands

Housing

Buying a Home in the Netherlands

Budget, due diligence and notarial transfer

Build a safe budget, verify the property, protect your offer, secure finance and complete the purchase through the notary.

buying a home NetherlandsDutch mortgage

11 min readRead guide

Netherlands

Residence permits

Dutch Residence Permit Guide

Routes, MVV, and IND steps

Learn how to navigate the Dutch residence permit process, from selecting your IND purpose and checking MVV requirements to preparing legalised documents and tracking decision timelines.

netherlandsresidence permit

17 min readRead guide

Netherlands

Pensions

Dutch AOW Pension Planning

State Pension & Insurance History

Understand the 2% annual accrual rule, verify your SVB insurance record, and prepare your Dutch state pension application.

AOWpension

17 min readRead guide

Netherlands

Universities

Working While Studying in the Netherlands

Student Work Rules & Permits

Learn about the TWV work permit, the 16-hour weekly limit, summer work options, and how student employment affects your Dutch health insurance.

student jobsnetherlands

17 min readRead guide

Netherlands

Residence permits

Post-Graduation Work Guide

Netherlands Post-Study

Understand the transition from a Dutch student permit to an orientation year or highly skilled migrant status with clear timelines and IND requirements.

NetherlandsGraduation

20 min readRead guide

Netherlands

Benefits

Dutch Unemployment Benefit Guide

Applying for WW benefits through UWV

Understand the application timeline, eligibility criteria, and ongoing job-search obligations required to secure and maintain Dutch unemployment benefits.

WWunemployment

15 min readRead guide

Netherlands

Work

Getting Permission to Work in the Netherlands

Work-permit routes, exemptions, and employer duties

Check your right to work in the Netherlands, read residence-card endorsements, and determine whether an employer needs a TWV or GVVA.

NetherlandsWork Permit

19 min readRead guide

Netherlands

Universities

Netherlands International Student Guide

Admissions, visas, and housing

Prepare to study in the Netherlands by comparing higher-education options, checking accreditation, meeting visa rules, budgeting, and finding housing.

NetherlandsHigher Education

19 min readRead guide

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