Bureaucracy
BSN, municipal registration, Belastingdienst, and the 30% ruling for eligible expats.
Netherlands
The complete guide for international students and young people in the Netherlands
Updated on: Apr 21, 2026
Housing and rent
Funda/Pararius/Kamernet, regulated vs liberalised rent, Huurcommissie, deposit, BSN, huurtoeslag basics, and scams.
Daily survival
OV-chipkaart, Albert Heijn vs Lidl, iDEAL, and cycling culture.
Health and medical insurance
Mandatory basic insurance (basisverzekering), huisarts gatekeeping, and pharmacies.
Work and taxes
Permanent and fixed-term contracts, UWV, and the Dutch minimum wage.
Finance
ING, ABN AMRO, iDEAL, Tikkie, and typical student budgets.