Starting a job in the Netherlands without a Dutch registered address

Hello everyone,

I am about to sign an employment contract with a company in the Netherlands, but I am facing an issue regarding my address situation.

I am French and currently still have my official address in France. My girlfriend lives in the Netherlands, and my plan was to temporarily stay at her place while I look for my own accommodation. I would not be paying rent and would simply be staying there as a guest.

However, my future employer seems to have misunderstood my situation. They asked me to provide proof that I am registered at my girlfriend’s address, but this is not possible. I cannot register at her address, and I will not be able to do so in the future either.

From my research, I understood that when moving to the Netherlands, you generally need to register with the municipality within four months after arrival. My understanding is that it should therefore be possible to start working with my French address and then register at my own Dutch address once I find accommodation. Also, I already have a BSN number, which I thought was enough to sign the contract as I am European.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

1. Is it actually possible to sign an employment contract in the Netherlands while still having a foreign address?
2. Why would an employer require a Dutch registered address before I have moved?
3. Are there any administrative or legal issues I might be missing?
4. What solutions exist if the company cannot proceed with my French address?

I would really appreciate any advice or experiences from people who have gone through a similar situation.

Thank you!