Formalities

Formalities in Rotterdam: A guide for new residents

Are you planning to move to Rotterdam? During your first weeks in the Netherlands, there are several important things you may need to arrange: finding an address, registering with the municipality, obtaining your BSN number, applying for DigiD, arranging health insurance and dealing with practical matters such as housing, healthcare and work.

At first, the process can seem complicated because many of these formalities are connected. In this guide you will find the main formalities for living in Rotterdam, the order in which it makes sense to arrange them and links to our detailed guides for each subject.

Important: requirements can vary depending on your nationality, length of stay, employment and personal situation. Use this guide as a starting point and always check the latest requirements with official sources such as Gemeente Rotterdam, DigiD, the Dutch Government or the IND.

First formalities after arriving in Rotterdam

1. Find an address in Rotterdam

Finding accommodation can be one of the most difficult parts of moving to Rotterdam. Demand for housing is high, so it is worth starting your search early and carefully checking the conditions before signing a rental agreement or making payments.

Your address is also connected to other administrative procedures. If you are going to live in the Netherlands for more than four months, you will normally need to register in the BRP at the municipality where you live.

If you do not yet have a permanent residential address, there are certain situations in which a correspondence address may be possible. Always check with Gemeente Rotterdam which option applies to your individual circumstances.

See our guide to finding a home in Rotterdam.

2. Register with Gemeente Rotterdam

If you are moving from abroad and plan to live in the Netherlands for more than four months, you must register as a resident in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) in the municipality where you will live.

In general, registration should take place within five days of arriving in the Netherlands. If you are going to live in Rotterdam, you will need to arrange this with Gemeente Rotterdam.

For your first registration, you will need to make an appointment and bring the documents required for your particular situation. Always check the current document requirements before attending your appointment.

ℹ️ Official information: Gemeente Rotterdam – First registration in the Netherlands.

Staying for less than 4 months? RNI registration

If you are going to work or study in the Netherlands for less than four months and need a BSN, you may be able to register as a non-resident in the Registratie Niet-Ingezetenen (RNI).

After registering in the RNI, you will receive a BSN number. This means that you do not necessarily have to become a long-term resident in the BRP in order to receive a BSN.

This option can be particularly useful for people who come to Rotterdam temporarily for work or study.

ℹ️ Official information: Gemeente Rotterdam – Registration for non-residents.

BSN number: One of the most important things to arrange

Your BSN (Burgerservicenummer) is your personal citizen service number within the Dutch administration. You will use it for many aspects of everyday and administrative life in the Netherlands.

When you register as a resident in the BRP, you receive a BSN. You can also receive one when registering as a non-resident in the RNI if you are coming to the Netherlands temporarily and meet the relevant conditions.

The BSN is used for matters related to employment, taxes, healthcare and communication with public authorities, among many other things.

See our complete guide to getting a BSN number in the Netherlands.

DigiD: Your digital identification

DigiD is the digital identification system used to access and manage many online services in the Netherlands.

For a standard application, you will need your BSN, an address registered with a Dutch municipality and a telephone. After applying, you will receive the information needed to activate your DigiD.

Once activated, DigiD can be used to identify yourself with numerous public authorities and organisations dealing with matters such as administration, healthcare, education and pensions.

Do not confuse BSN and DigiD: your BSN is your personal number, while DigiD is the system you use to identify yourself digitally.

See our guide explaining how DigiD works.

ℹ️ Official information: DigiD – Apply for a DigiD.

Health insurance and healthcare

Health insurance in the Netherlands

If you come to live or work in the Netherlands and you are subject to the Dutch health insurance system, you must take out Dutch health insurance as soon as possible and, as a general rule, no later than the applicable four-month deadline.

Not everyone has exactly the same situation. Specific rules may apply to certain students, people working for a foreign employer, people waiting for particular residence decisions and other special circumstances.

It is therefore important to check which rules apply to you rather than assuming that all newcomers have exactly the same health insurance obligations.

See our guide to health insurance in the Netherlands.

ℹ️ Official information: Government.nl – Health insurance when moving to the Netherlands.

General practitioner: Huisarts

The huisarts, or general practitioner (GP), plays an important role in the Dutch healthcare system.

Your GP is normally the first healthcare professional you contact when you have a health problem that is not an emergency. When necessary, your GP can refer you to a specialist.

Once you have settled in Rotterdam, it is a good idea to find a huisarts close to your home and check whether the practice is accepting new patients.

See our guide to doctors in the Netherlands.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland do not need a Dutch residence permit to live in the Netherlands. In normal circumstances, they also do not need to register with the IND simply in order to reside in the country.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can also work in the Netherlands without their employer having to obtain a Dutch TWV work permit for them.

This does not mean that other administrative requirements disappear. If you are going to live in the Netherlands for more than four months, you still need to register with the appropriate municipality.

ℹ️ Official information: IND – EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.

If you come from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland

If you have another nationality, the requirements for living and working in the Netherlands depend on factors such as the purpose and duration of your stay, employment, studies or family situation.

Depending on your circumstances, you may need a visa, residence permit, work-related authorisation or a combination of different procedures.

There is no single rule that applies to everyone from outside the EU. Always check directly with the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) which procedure applies to you before moving or starting work.

ℹ️ Official information: Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

Working in Rotterdam

If you are moving to Rotterdam and looking for employment, we have separated the main employment topics into individual guides so that you can go directly to the information you need.

Finding a job

If you are starting from scratch, see our guide to finding a job in Rotterdam. It will help you get started and understand the local employment market.

Work agencies

Employment and temporary work agencies are another way to look for opportunities, particularly if you have recently arrived in the Netherlands.

See our selection of work agencies in Rotterdam.

Employment contract

Before accepting a job, it is important to understand the conditions in your contract, including matters such as salary, working hours, holidays and the duration of the agreement.

See our guide to understanding an employment contract in the Netherlands.

Job interviews

Preparing well and adapting the way you present your experience to the Dutch employment market can help you during your job search.

See our job interview tips for the Netherlands.

Learning Dutch and settling into Rotterdam

It is possible to manage many situations in Rotterdam using English, but learning Dutch can make everyday life, work and integration considerably easier.

You do not need to speak Dutch perfectly from your first day. Even learning a few useful words and expressions can help with shopping, transport, work and everyday situations.

Where to learn Dutch

If you want to study the language more systematically, see our guide to learning Dutch in Rotterdam.

Basic dutch phrases

If you have just arrived and want to start with useful everyday words and expressions, see our guide to basic Dutch phrases.

Tips for arranging formalities in Rotterdam

Always check official information: administrative requirements can change and not everyone has the same personal circumstances.
Make appointments early: some procedures require an appointment and availability may not always be immediate.
Check which documents you need: before attending an appointment, review the official list of documents required for your particular situation.
Keep digital copies: save copies of contracts, letters, registrations and other important documents.
Do not confuse BSN and DigiD: your BSN is your personal citizen service number; DigiD is your digital identification system
You do not need to arrange everything on your first day: start with housing and registration, continue with BSN and DigiD, and then organise healthcare, work and other practical matters according to your circumstances.

Moving to Rotterdam: Where to start

Moving to another country involves paperwork, but the process becomes much easier once you understand which steps depend on each other.

If you are going to stay for more than four months, start by organising your housing and checking how to register in Rotterdam. Registration will allow you to obtain your BSN and then arrange other important matters such as DigiD, health insurance, healthcare and employment.

If your stay will be shorter than four months, check whether RNI registration is the appropriate option for you.

Use the guides linked from this page to explore each subject in more detail, and always consult official sources when the requirements depend on your nationality, residence status, studies or employment.