Civil Registry

Civil Registry (Basisregistratie Personen)

Register your new home address with the civil registry (Basisregistratie Personen or short BRP) of your local municipality. The Dutch civil registry (BRP) serves as a national registry for a number of governmental services and population statistics. 

It is important that you register as soon as you arrive in the Netherlands as a number of services will become available to you only after you register, such as receiving your Dutch tax number (social security number or BSN), needed by your employer and the bank if you want to open a Dutch bank account.

Social security number (BSN)

After you registered your new home address at your local municipality, you receive within two weeks a letter from the Dutch tax office (belastingdienst) at your new home address with your Dutch social security number (BSN).