There is certainly a lot to discover when you embark on life in The Netherlands. Yet, it also comes with a few initial formalities that set the stage for your adventure. Begin by checking off these essential tasks below.

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Registration

After three months, it's mandatory to register with your local municipality. Learn more about student registration and book an appointment with your nearest Gemeente for the process. Upon registration, you'll receive your BSN number, a vital citizen service identifier.

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Banking

You'll probably need a bank account too. To open one, you'll need to have a BSN number and home address. However, if you're still awaiting your BSN, ABN Amro Bank allows account opening without it. Once registered and armed with your BSN, head to Dutch banks like ING, Rabo Bank, or Triodos to set up your student account. Local banking matters, as the Netherlands relies on IDEAL for online payments and V-Pay or Maestro cards for in-store purchases. Note that VISA and MasterCard might not be accepted in regular supermarkets.

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Insurance, GP, pharmacy

By legal mandate, all international students must have appropriate health insurance throughout their stay in the Netherlands. This means, that from the moment you are registered in the municipality you are obliged to pay Dutch health insurance.

• There is a useful website that compares all the insurance companies, you can calculate your monthly fee there.

• You can request a subsidy from the government to cover up your costs of Dutch insurance. More information about the subsidy can be found here.

General Practitioner

​Once you have your Dutch insurance sorted you need to find the general practitioner (GP). We recommend finding one that is situated near your residence. Your GP will always be the first contact person in case of any health problems. He/she will refer you to the specialist if needed and prescribe medications.

Pharmacy

Also, ensure you find a pharmacy in close proximity for easy accessibility. Your prescribed medications will be delivered to this pharmacy, from which you can conveniently collect and take them. 

Medical service without Dutch insurance

If you haven't arranged your Dutch insurance yet, you have the option to get in touch with expat clinics. Amsterdam has two such clinics available. It's important to be aware that these clinics operate privately and do require a fee for their services.

• centraldoctors.nl

• amsterdamtouristdoctors.nl

Emergency/accidents

In case of emergency or any accident, the hospitals OLVG East and OLVG West have the Emergency room. Find contact and more information about the hospitals here.

Penalty Warning

Failure to obtain health insurance could lead to penalties, including paying approximately 130% of the standard premium for each uninsured month, along with a fine of roughly €400 for late payment.

Questions

If have questions about your health insurance situation, please contact the Zorgverzekeringslijn.nl

AFA's Housing Assistance

Remember, housing search responsibility lies with you, and we're here to aid but can't guarantee outcomes. We collaborate with housing partners The Social Hub and Student Experience. Priority is given to 1st-year students, though rooms are limited. While we strive to assist, room availability can't be guaranteed for all. Should accommodation pose challenges, connect with student support for guidance, tips, and self-search links.

 

​Bicycles

You may have heard or realised that commuting around Amsterdam is the easiest by bike, and yes Dutch people often measure the distances with the bike speed. There are a couple of places where you can buy cheap second hand bikes:

• Nearby market Waterlooplein

• Marktplaats (online platform for all type of second hand items)

• Numerous Facebook groups. 

• Bike shops

If you don’t feel like making a big bike investment you can also jump into monthly abandonment and rent out one of the Swapfiets bikes, prices starting from €16/per month.

Remember, always lock your bike to something if you don’t want it to be stolen!​

 

Public Transport

Given its size, Amsterdam offers convenient mobility through trams, buses, metros, and even ferries, especially if you live in the northern part of the city. Opt for an OV chipkaart, offering various public transport cards. This card also extends to nationwide rail tickets. Check the 9292 tool for public transport schedules.

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Study financing

If you're currently a student at a university, higher vocational education, or secondary vocational education institution, you're eligible to seek student finance. This applies to Dutch nationals or those with equivalent rights, meaning that even non-Dutch individuals can also make an application for student finance. More information here.