Municipality

In the Netherlands, the local government that provides services and sets rules in the place where you live is called a municipality. 

What is a municipality? 

The Netherlands consists of more than 300 municipalities. Most municipalities consist of several villages and towns. The municipality arranges many things that are important when you live in the Netherlands, such as collecting waste, issuing driver's licences and maintaining roads. Each municipality has its own city hall.Many big cities also have city desks or city offices you can go to. 

What the municipality does for you 

The municipality will help you with official matters, such as: 

• registering as a resident, 
• changing your address after moving house, 
• arranging assistance or care, 
• applying for a parking permit. 

The municipality knows who lives in the municipality and can provide appropriate help and information. 

Applying for a passport, identity card and driver's licence 

In the Netherlands, you can also apply to the municipality for a passport, identity card or driver's licence. You can only apply for a Dutch passport or identity card if you are a Dutch citizen.  

• If you are from an EU country, you may use your own passport or identity card as long as it is valid. You do not need to apply for a Dutch passport. 
• If you are from outside the EU and living here with a residence permit, then in some cases you can apply to the municipality for an alien's passport. You can only do that if you cannot get a passport from your own country. 

You can apply for or exchange a Dutch driver's licence at the municipality if you are registered here and have a BSN. 

Registering with the municipality 

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. 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: 

• a valid passport or identity card, 
• a tenancy agreement or an address where you live, 
• and in some cases an employment contract. 

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. 

Registering at an RNI desk 

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 desksin the Netherlands. 

Knowing which municipality you live in 

Sometimes it is not immediately clear which municipality you live in. The municipality does not always have the same name as your hometown. If you do not know which municipality you live in: 

1. 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.  

2. the name of your municipality is also sometimes mentioned on official letters from Belastingdienst, the municipality or your health insurer, for example. 

Municipal executive and municipal council 

The municipality is governed by the municipal executive. The municipal council makes the main rules for the residents of that municipality. These rules cover matters such as housing, care and safety.  

The municipal council is elected by residents of the municipality. Anyone aged 18 or over and living in the Netherlands can vote in municipal elections. If you are from an EU country, you can vote and also be elected as a councillor. If you are from a country outside the EU, you can vote if you have lived legally in the Netherlands for at least five years. 

Contact with the municipality 

You can go to the municipality to report that you have moved house or to register a birth, for example. You can often book an appointment online on the municipality's website. You can also call or visit the city hall for many matters.