Debt assistance

If you have debts in the Netherlands, there is debt assistance. Your municipality can give you free, confidential help. 

What is debt assistance? 

A debt support worker from your municipality helps you with your money matters. Together, you look at your income and your spending and make a plan for paying your debts. You might not have to pay anything for a while or you might be allowed to take longer to repay your debt. Some of your debt might even be forgiven. If necessary, someone can temporarily manage your money. 

Who can ask for help? 

You can get debt assistance if you are legally resident in the Netherlands. That means you have permission to live here and are registered with the municipality. No minimum amount of debt applies. The sooner you seek help, the easier the solution will be. The support workers are caring and do not judge. 

How it works 

1. You apply 

• Call or go to your municipality and ask for debt assistance.  
• Your first appointment will be scheduled within four weeks. 
• If your situation is urgent (for example, if you are being evicted, your water or energy supply is about to be cut off, or your health insurance is being stopped), an appointment will usually be scheduled within three working days. 

2. The municipality contacts you 

If you fail to pay your rent or your health insurance, energy bill or water bill, your landlord or the supplier can report this to the municipality. You will then be invited to talk to the municipality about your money worries. 

3. Start of ‘debt composition process' 

If you satisfy the conditions, you will get help from a debt support worker who will help you make arrangements with the people or companies you owe money to. If you have large debts, some of your debt might be forgiven. 

Possible additional step: breathing room 

• If you are facing eviction, being cut off or the ending of healthcare, ask for breathing room for up to six months. 
• During that time, you will not be evicted and your water supply, energy supply and health insurance will continue. 
• Apply for this with your debt support worker. 

4. Types of assistance 

1. Debt mediation 

a. The support worker creates a payment plan. 

b. Your fixed costs are paid first and a weekly living allowance is given to you. 

c. After about eighteen months, some of the debt will have been repaid. The remaining debt will then be forgiven by your creditors and you will not have to make any more payments. 

2. Compulsory composition through the court 

a. Is one of your creditors refusing to cooperate and does it not have a good reason? 

b. A court can force it to accept your plan. 

c. The debt support worker will apply for this. 

3. Debt rescheduling (loan) 

a. The municipal money-lending and debt counselling institution pays all your creditors. 

b. You repay the loan with interest over a period of 18 months. 

c. In this way you can avoid additional fines or eviction. 

5. If this is unsuccessful 

If the debt composition process does not help, for example because your creditors keep refusing to agree to it, you can go to court and apply for debt restructuring under the Debt Rescheduling (Natural Persons) Act (Wsnp). Your debt support worker will help you apply.