Registering at your municipality after you move to the Netherlands

Your first stop at a Dutch town hall, and the way to your BSN

Anyone who moves to the Netherlands for a longer stay registers in the population register, the BRP, at the municipality where they will live. It is usually done in person by appointment, with family members who move along. Students, EU citizens, residence permit holders and returning residents all follow this step, and it gives you the citizen service number (BSN) that employers, health insurers and the tax office ask for.

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How it works

Register your address after moving from abroad

Find where to register your new home address after arriving from another country.

Most countries expect you to register your address soon after you move in, often within a few days or weeks. You usually book an appointment at the town hall or citizens’ office and bring your passport or ID card, your rental contract or a confirmation from your landlord, and birth or marriage certificates for family members moving with you. Registering often unlocks other steps, such as getting a local identification number, opening a bank account or seeing a doctor. If you are not an EU citizen, you may also need a residence permit, which is a separate application.

Also searched as

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Offices: 99 offices in 79 cities
Book online: At 49 of 99 offices
Apply online: At 6 of 99 offices
Offices for specific groups: For returning residents: 15 offices
For international students: 3 offices
For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: 1 office
For residence permit holders: 1 office

Appointment rules differ from one municipality to the next

Where newcomers register in the Netherlands

Some town halls take new arrivals only by appointment, others also run walk-in hours, and many ask you to bring everyone who is moving with you. Open an office, for example in Amsterdam or Utrecht, to see how it handles registration. If you are still waiting for a residence permit, ask whether you can register yet.