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Ruta NL

Your first 30 days in the Netherlands

Sources checked on · Launch candidate pending human review · Translated from the Spanish original

The first month goes better in order, because each step unlocks the next: address, registration and BSN; then bank account and health insurance; then DigiD and your first payslip.

Who this is for

Anyone who has just arrived or will soon arrive to work.

What you need

  • A valid identity document.
  • An address where you can register.
  • A copy of your contract or written job offer.
  • Money for the first month, until your first pay.

Steps

  1. Before you travel: get written confirmation of your accommodation and that you can register there. Keep a copy of your contract.
  2. Days 1 to 5: register with the municipality (or the RNI if you stay less than four months). That gives you your BSN.
  3. With your BSN: open a bank account. You will also need it for health insurance.
  4. Health insurance: take it out within four months. You are covered from the day you start working.
  5. DigiD: apply once you have a BSN and a registered address. The letter with the code arrives by post.
  6. First payslip: check the hours, the hourly wage, the deductions and the holiday pay you have built up.
  7. All month: keep contracts, payslips and official letters in one folder.

Relevant exceptions

  • If you stay less than four months, the first step is the RNI, not the municipality.
  • Without a permanent address, you can take out health insurance with an administrative address, a payslip or an SVB statement (WorkinNL).

Common mistakes

  • Leaving health insurance until the deadline: if you do not take it out in time you can be fined.
  • Not opening official letters: many have deadlines.
  • Accepting deductions from your pay without having them in writing.

The deadlines (five days to register, four months for insurance) come from the official sources cited and can change.

Official sources

Deadlines, amounts and requirements change. Always check them with the source.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do everything before I arrive?

Not everything: registration and the BSN require you to be there. You can book appointments, gather documents and prepare your budget.

Where can I get free help?

At the Work in NL information points, which explain questions about pay, contracts, housing, healthcare and taxes free of charge.

Where do I track my progress?

For now, on this page: you can print it or copy it. The personal space, with “My route” to tick it off, is not open yet.

Related

How to register with your municipality

Registering in the Dutch population register (BRP): who must do it, the deadline, what to bring and what happens when you move.

How to get your BSN

What the BSN is, where to get it (municipality or RNI desk), what to bring and the official deadlines when you arrive in the Netherlands.

How health insurance works

Basic health insurance in the Netherlands: who must have it, the four-month deadline, the 2026 excess, healthcare benefit and when you can switch insurer.

Does your case not fit? Read about personal guidance. This is general information, not legal, employment or tax advice.