DUTCH CITIZEN SERVICE NUMBER

A Dutch citizen service number is a type of personal registration code. It is commonly referred to as a ‘BSN’ in Holland. Everyone who lives in the Netherlands, including expats, is obligated to register for his or her own BSN. Without one, you will not be able to get by in the Netherlands! You need your BSN for work, for insurance, for taxes and for many more essential matters. On this page we will briefly outline the process of registering for your citizen service number. Read on to find out about the procedure, and to learn more about the function of your BSN in NL.

Who needs a Citizen Service Number?

In Dutch, a citizen service number is called a ‘burgerservicenummer‘. This is often shortened to ‘BSN’.

All expats who come to the Netherlands need to have their own Dutch Citizen Service Number. You must arrange your BSN if you:

• Are going to reside in the Netherlands for at least four months
• Are legally employed in the Netherlands!
• Have a family member who legally works in the Netherlands, and you live here with them as an expat
• Are registered with a temporary job agency in Holland
• Have come to Holland to study as an international student, even if it is for under a year
• Reside in NL and you need, in any way, to deal with a Dutch government organization

If any of the above apply to you, you are legally obligated to register at your local municipality. Here are the bullet points:

• You will be listed on your municipality’s ‘Basis Registratie Personen‘
• This is the Dutch ‘Personal records Database’
• It is often referred to as the ‘BRP’ in Holland
• You need to register within five days of your arrival in NL
• Once you have registered, you should receive your personal Citizen Service Number
• Depending on which municipality you have registered with, you might receive your BSN number straight away. Or, it could be sent to you within a few days by mail

Using your BSN in NL

When will you use your Dutch Citizen Service Number?

You will frequently be asked for your BSN number in NL. For example, you will need  it in order to: 

• Pay the correct taxes
• Receive your wages 
• Arrange to receive benefits from the Dutch government
• Receive a rent subsidy
• Pursue a higher education in NL
• Arrange health insurance

Registration for Non-Residents in NL

If you are not a resident of the Netherlands, or you will be staying in Holland for fewer than four months, you need not register with the BRP. However, you can opt to do so voluntarily:

• If you do this, you will be issued your own Dutch citizen service number
• You will, however, be registered with the ‘RNI’
• This stands for ‘Registratie Niet Ingezetenen‘, and translates as ‘Register for Non-Residents’

Using your RNI Registration in NL

This is an advisable measure to take, if you need to arrange any tax-related matters during your time in NL. These might include affairs related to your:

• Pension
• Benefits
• General Old Age Pension (AOW)

If your stay here ends up being extended beyond the initially-intended four months, you will be de-registered with the RNI. You will be officially registered as a resident of Holland, but will keep the Dutch citizen service number you were initially given.

In principle, anyone who is given a Dutch citizen service number will keep it for the rest of his or her life! Even if they move to another country.