Service Providers.

Service Providers

Most of service providers ask for: passport, Dutch bank account, Dutch telepphone number, BSN (Burgerservicenummer) and address in the Nederland, only for insurance, registered address in City Hall. To get till providers we need to start with:

• BSN: Is personal public service number, which is needed for all administrations in the Netherlands also permit for work. And it’s obligate for everyone. There are two kind of BSN numbers, short term and long term. For the students school will take care of it.

                                                                                        Amfibi cars in Amtel canal.

1. Short term: is for people hoe will stay less than 4 month. Call to       14020 to make appointment. Find out first in witch city side you live, for this you can make appointment with the closes municipality. In two week they will schedule appointment. Take with you passport, residence permit, Dutch phone number.

2. Long term: is for people hoe will stay longer than 4 month. You need to do all the same like for short term only to your documents you need to add signed agreement with landlord.

• Registration: You need to register your address at City hall, it will give you protection from landlord or agency and also you will be able to apply for benefits. Make appointment at city hall (14020) Download and feel out this form. http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/expatcenter/employers/expatcenter-forms

Chose: Address Registration-Permission Form.

Take with you passport and also Birth certificate, notarized translation in English. In two week they will send you approval letter of official registration.

• House doctor: You can choose your own doctor, but it has to be 15min from your house in case of emergency. There you can find house doctor close to your home. In right corner write your post code. https://www.zorgkaartnederland.nl/huisarts

• Health insurance: Everyone in the Netherlands is legally obligated to take health insurance, EU Health Insurance Card is eligible only for student who are not working or doing paid internship in the Netherlands. All insurance companies offers basic packet around 90EUR, which covers common medical care. You can apply for insurance online. I can’t suggest which is the best , there are too many companies and most in Dutch. I used CZ insurance and I don’t have complain, plus they provide information and form in English. https://www.cz.nl/english/health-insurance. For dentist you need separate package and before you go to dentist, sign up in one of the dentist branch, if you plane to do more than one visit. Otherwise you can choose your dentist, make appointment, if you need to fix hole in the tooth, they will make x-ray which is pricey around 90EUR. Bet the rest is reasonable. You better choose one dentist because all dentists want to do x-ray and then you will be force to pay each time, when you have one, he know already your mouth.

• Bank account: Almost all companies will request Dutch bank account. Easiest one is ING, there you need only ID, address in the Netherland, Dutch phone number, BSN. In the same day you will get temporary bank card in case you need to transfer money. In two weeks they will send you your card home with letter to pick up pin code. This letter you need to take with you. ING card has disadvantage, you can’t shop online only in the Netherlands and some other countries where they have ING affiliates. PayPal is option, but I found it difficult to connect both accounts, still don’t understand how it works. ABN-AMRO or Rabobnak work the same, but they will ask more question and also will request proof of registration in City Hall or work contract.

• Mobile telephone providers: Contract or prepaid card? If you will call abroad it’s better to take prepaid card, the best one is Lycamobile, 1-9 ct/min. They have different tariff plans, you can check it out http://www.lycamobile.nl/en/  and also this card you can buy only in small telephone shops. If you stay in the Netherlands for one, two or more years you can take contract. Use this page to find your best provider (Dutch, easy to use) https://www.bellen.com/ Overall all provider are similar, some are better for internet (KPN), some better for calls (Telfort), some offers more often good deals (Tele2), but in the end they all find way to make your bill bigger, especially Vodafon. Note if you signed contract you need to finish it, if you want to stop you will pay the amount that they had planned to charge. All providers has different roles but in the end it’s about paying, fee will be large enough to not to stop contract

                                                  Your bill will grow like this baby swan :)

• Home internet, TV provider: Use this page to compare and find best provider for you enter your postcode. https://www.bellen.com/  It could take some time in order to connect your provider, about two weeks, of course with additional coast.

Good to know: If you have automatic payments, for example contract with Vodafone, check every month if payment is made. It happens a lot that providers for some reason could not get transfer from your account. In three month they will send you official letter that you have not made a payment. This bill will be 10% bigger than monthly payment, depends on your company.

Photo gallery