In the Netherlands, a city hall is the local government building where you arrange official matters.
The city hall is a place where municipal employees help you arrange personal and official matters such matters relating to data kept on you in the Personal Records Database (BRP), for example the birth of a child, a marriage or moving house.
If you are coming to live in the Netherlands and planning to stay longer than four months, you will have to register with the municipality where you live. You do this at the city hall. The municipality writes your details in the Personal Records Database (BRP).
You will then get a citizen service number (BSN). You need this number to work, pay taxes, get health insurance and apply for benefits.
When you register, you need to bring with you:
Only people with a valid right of residence can register as residents of the Netherlands. In other words, you need to have permission to live or work here.
If you will be staying in the Netherlands for less than four months, or you are coming here to work but will continue to live in another country, you can register in the Non-residents Records Database (RNI). It is not compulsory, but it is often necessary if you need a citizen service number (BSN) to work, pay taxes or arrange health insurance. Registration can be done at any of the 19 RNI desks in the Netherlands.
At the city hall, you can also pay taxes, apply for permits or get married. In many cases you can see online which services are available and what you need to bring with you. For some matters you can walk in without an appointment, but usually you need to make an appointment first.
Sometimes it is not immediately clear which municipality you live in. The municipality does not always have the same name as the place where you live. If you do not know which municipality you live in:
search the internet (for example using Google) for the search term "Municipality" and the name of the place where you live. If you know your address, you can also look up your address on the internet. In many cases you can find your municipality this way.
the name of your municipality is also sometimes mentioned on official letters from Belastingdienst, the municipality or your health insurer, for example.
You can find the address and opening hours of your city hall on the municipality's website. You can also call your city hall if you have any questions. The employees who work there often speak English as well as Dutch. Many municipalities have an online form you can use to book an appointment. Always take your identity document with you when you visit.
The city hall is the office of the local government, where you can apply for documents, register as living in the Netherlands or arrange other official matters. Employees from the municipality will help you if you have questions. They speak Dutch and many of them speak English too.
You need to book an appointment for many matters. You usually do this on the municipality's website. You can also call or drop by during opening hours.
Always bring a valid passport or identity card. Sometimes you need to bring additional papers, such as a tenancy agreement or birth certificate. The website of your municipality will tell you exactly what you need for your appointment.
This website uses cookies. Read more about cookies in our cookieverklaring.
These cookies never collect personal data and are necessary for the correct functioning of the website.
These cookies collect data so that we gain insight into the use and can further improve this website.
Deze cookies worden gebruikt om statistieken te meten over het gebruik van de website (bijvoorbeeld via Google Analytics, Siteimprove of Matomo) en voor externe videodiensten zoals YouTube of Vimeo. Hiervoor maken wij gebruik van diensten van derde partijen. Deze cookies worden alleen geplaatst na jouw toestemming.
Jouw keuze aanpassen? Dat kan op elk moment via de cookie-instellingen in de footer.