Register at the BRP and get a BSN
If you live in the Netherlands for four months or longer you ought to register at the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen). The BRP is a database which contains personal data of all residents of the Netherlands [...]
Make an appointment at the municipality
To register at the BRP and receive your BSN, you need to make an appointment at your resident municipality in the Netherlands. Most municipalities allow making an appointment online: e.g. Amsterdam, Delft, Den Haag, Eindhoven, Groningen, Nijmegen, [...]
Open a Dutch bank account
If you live in the Netherlands, you will find that paying with a maestro card and cashless payment is very popular. Credit cards are rarely used and not accepted at Albert Heijn, the biggest supermarket [...]
Where to get food?
After your arrival in the Netherlands, make sure you get enough fuel to start the bureaucratic battle of the coming days. The most common supermarket in the Netherlands is the Albert Heijn. Once you [...]
Buy a bike
For once a cliché is 150% true: the Dutchies bike! And most of them have more than one bike at home. And let's be honest, it's just the easiest way to get around if you [...]
Get a public transport card
With the OV Chipkaart, you can travel on all public transport in the Netherlands. You top it up with money, check-in and -out for every journey (check-in at the station of your departure and out [...]
Where to get your everyday commodities?
If you live in the Netherlands, in addition to food, you will likely need a few commodities. Here are some common retailers in the Netherlands: Etos and Kruidvat sell care products and toiletries but also [...]
Practical apps to find your way
If you live in the Netherlands, the following websites (also available as apps) will help you get around. 9292.nl lets you plan your travels within the Netherlands. Whether this is from or to an address [...]
Medical assistance and emergencies
We hope your stay in the Netherlands will be emergency free. However, should you need any medical assistance or emergency services while living in the Netherlands you might want to have the most important numbers [...]
First Monday of the month
Every first Monday of the month, exactly at 12 o' clock, the sirens go off in the Netherlands. This is a test and no reason to panic. Was this post useful to you? Feel free [...]