How to get a BSN

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The BSN in the Netherlands is closely linked with the national register (BRP). Registering with the BRP is key to getting your Citizen Service Number in the Netherlands. Once you have registered with the BRP, you will be issued with a Dutch BSN which will be needed for any interactions with the Dutch government or public services, from receiving social security or healthcare to enrolling for study or paying tax.

If you are applying for a Dutch BSN from abroad, you should make your Dutch BSN application through the Dutch Social Insurance Bank (Sociale Verzekeringsbank – SVB). https://www.svb.nl/nl/

Hi all.

Just to clarify something.  As phipiemar has correctly stated you have to be registered with the Gemeente (BRP), one of the consequences of doing this, is you will be issued with your BSN number.  However, you cannot register from abroad, this can only be done within the Netherlands.  The SVB is a Dutch Government organisation that deals with the benefits you may receive once you pay social taxes in the Netherlands.  BSN is your unique identity in the Dutch Government administration system; these days (and once registered), it is mostly done online with your DigiD (which is issued to you once you register).

To answer the OP; you have 5 working days from arriving in the Netherlands to register with the Gemeente; this may extend because of COVID and the shortage of staff.  The contact details for you to make an appointment for the Den Haag area can be found at this link; phone them first to make an appointment.

It is possible to register from hotel accommodation or Airbnb, the only criteria is that the owner of the property must consent to the address being used for registration purposes; so make sure you ask before you rent something.  People have told us they registered from a hotel room, my daughter registered from an Airbnb address when she moved back.

Long-distance job searching is always problematic the moment they realise you can't start work tomorrow and don't speak Dutch.  The Dutch are big on qualifications, if your job is regulated, make sure your qualifications are accepted before you go.  You don't need to have a BSN number in order to apply for a job, or even start work - this process can take a couple of weeks and employers are aware of this.  In the meantime, start learning Dutch.

BSN plays no part in qualifying to rent a house.  Rental accommodation is always in short supply in the Netherlands, especially in the University towns, so it may well be worthwhile in looking in the outside towns and commuting, the Netherlands has excellent public transport.

The bottom line here is to do your research before you go; your profile tells me that you may be looking for work in Procurement, so reach out on LinkedIn, find your peers already in the Netherlands and find out who is recruiting and what skills they are looking for and make sure you have them and your CV reflects this.

If you have any further specific questions, please come back to us.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team