Relocation and Immigration Tips

UnOfficial Relocation and Immigration Tips from Expats moving to Holland

Last update: January 19, 2002

PLEASE NOTE: This information is provided for your information and does not make anyone
other than YOURSELF legally responsible for actions that resulted in immigration
not being accepted. It is provided to help you in your information gathering process
upon relocating to the Netherlands. Laws change often, so always double check on important topics.
Hopefully this information will get you thinking about something's you might not have considered.

1. Where is the US Embassy located in the Netherlands?

Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 70 310-9209 Fax: +31 70 361-4688
URL: http://www.usemb.nl

2. Where is the US Consulate located?

Museumplein 19, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
Phone: 020-575 5309 Fax: 020-575 5310

The Consulate General provides a variety of services for American citizens and citizens of other countries: American Citizen's Services assists people with passport renewal, registration, Reports of Birth for children born in the Netherlands to American citizens, voter registration, income tax forms, notarial services and emergency services to American citizens. You can also get a free booklet designed for Americans relocating to the Netherlands as well as register with the Consulate as an American citizen living abroad which will facilitate family members contacting you in case of an emergency.

3. What is required to immigrate to the Netherlands?

There are a couple of mandatory documents that everyone needs to bring with them if coming from the US. Rules are a bit different if you are a European Union resident. Check with your appropriate embassy and remember information can change depending on who you ask. If you are uncomfortable with the response you received check back again and ask for a different person or a supervisor.

Recent birth certificate (make sure it is the "long form" that includes your parents information) with an Apostille stamp. Every state has an office that provides the Apostille Stamp service. Check with your local government officials.
Valid Passport
Credit Cards or proof of financial stability (i.e.. Cash and/or bank statements)
Medical insurance. Travel insurance is only acceptable to get into the country. You will need to apply for coverage with a medical insurance company such as ANNOVA once you have arrived. If you are single and residing with a Dutch partner you can usually be added to his/her policy as the Netherlands recognizes living together as a modern relationship and thus adding you is a legal and acceptable method. You will most likely need to provide the insurance company with a color copy of your passport and your SoFi number.
Proof that you are single if you are planning on residing with a Dutch resident as their partner. If you are divorced you must have original paperwork with an Apostille stamp. No exceptions. If you have not been married prior to moving to the Netherlands, I have heard you can write a letter stating such and have it notarized and "Apostilled" and that is accepted. Please always remember to check with your authorities locally.
A return trip airplane ticket. You are not allowed to enter the country without a return ticket to your point of origin unless you already have Dutch Citizenship or Dutch Residency.
Everyone’s situation may vary please check with the Royal Netherlands Embassy to verify changes have not been made regarding immigration status of US citizen

4. What do I do when I get to the Netherlands?

Go to the Stadkantoor (city hall) in the town you will reside in and register with the city as a new resident. This process will get you into the computer for all the other agencies within your region. It takes approximately 3 weeks for the process to be complete. Contact the local Alien Immigration office and inquire what they want you do to next. Each province and town varies a bit on this policy. You will be required to make an appointment with the Alien Immigration office and at the initial appointment provide the following: 2 color passport photos, a statement from your employer (if you found a job before moving here) proving you have work or a statement from your Dutch partner proving he/she has a permanent contract and is able to support you. You will also need to provide a copy of the completed official registration from your local Stadkantoor, your birth certificate and your passport. They will inform you of the additional paperwork you will need to provide once you have completed your initial registration with their office. The complete process can take many months to complete so budget your financial situation accordingly, as you can not work until you receive a Residence Permit and Social Security Number.

5. How do I get a SoFi number?

Go to the local Tax office (Belastingdienst) and register to receive your Social Security Number. This allows you to work and pay taxes! If you have waited until you are in the computer system with the Stadkantoor this process is quite simple. They type in your name and print out a paper with your information on it. Once you have the paper with your SoFi number you can go to the Arbeidsbureua for your region, show them your Original SoFi number document and your passport along with your Residents permit. They will put you into the system which is basically a job bank for the province you live in.

6. Are there agencies available to help me?

Yes, there are a variety of agencies and clubs here to help assist you in your transition. The AWCA is one of the support groups that may be able to help you. The local Stadkantoor in each city has programs for immigrants including Dutch language assistance programs and work assistance programs. ACCESS is also available to assist English-speaking people with a variety of concerns. Many of the major universities have programs designed specifically for foreigners. For example the University of Utrecht has the International Neighbor Group. There are also American Women's Clubs in Rotterdam and The Hague. My favorite group is the International Women's Contact of Utrecht or as we call it the IWCU. They are a FANTASTIC group of ladies from all over the world. I have a blast at the activities. The IWC has clubs in other locations of the Netherlands as well and around the world.

7. What if I want to ship property?

You might want to check with local shipping companies. Make sure you get an estimate in writing. You will want to know exactly what costs they cover and the location of where your property will arrive. Some companies will handle the customs/Douane paperwork for you. It would be wise to type out a list of all things you are shipping for your records and the customs officers here in the Netherlands. Some things have time limits as to shipping. Double check, I have heard you must own a car in the US for 6 months before shipping it here to NOT incur duty tax. Rules change often, so check to make sure you don't pay twice for a car you already purchased. If you submit your list to the Douane in your local area they can approve it for personal goods use and you avoid customs/duty tax. I handled all of this through the mail. I had to provide them with some information about becoming a resident. Once I received the signed, stamped letter back I then submitted it to my "receiving/shipping company" to use for clearing my boxes with the Douane offices in Rotterdam. Joe Quinn with SEFCO will give you an online estimate. He seems really nice. Update: I used Joe Quinn's service to move my exercise bike over in April, 1999 and I was a mess as I was attending my father's funeral at the time. Joe was fantastic, helped me with everything and I highly recommend his services!

8. Learn the basics as soon as you arrive!

Emergency number (112)
Fire Department (Brandweer)
Police Department (Politie)
Collect calls to you are automated message in Dutch, first you press zero at the beep and then 1 to accept the charges. You will not here a persons name like you do in the states, for example will you accept a collect call from, pause (actual persons voice saying their name). The Dutch version just says you have a call and take it basically. I found this out the hard way and since I didn't understand, the recording informed the caller that we did not respond.
Write down your doctor (huisarts), dentist (tandarts) and pharmacy (apotheek) so you don't forget it when the time comes. Remember the phone book is in Dutch and it can be quite confusing to look things up for the first few times. I kept these important numbers close to my phone and put them into my cell phone and my diary/agenda so I always had them with me.

9. Postal Concerns?

Receiving items from catalog companies in the US can be quite costly as you will be charged duty tax. You can get around it by having things shipped to family and friends and have them mail them to you here putting the cost of the enclosed item around $20.00 and marking it as a gift. However it may cost just as much with double postage since the package was mailed twice. You can mail things stateside with a value of $100 per day I believe without them be charged a customs fee. Some of us have had terrible problems with the mail service. If you have something important to mail, INSURE IT and use a company or method that allows you to track the package. I am still waiting on a $70 International Express Envelope through the US Postal service for an Apostille Document mailed in June 1998. My parents received a very small Christmas package in mid January and it was mailed the first week in December with a guarantee of 12 days maximum delivery time.

10. Money matters?

Cashing checks here is also quite costly. Using your pin card (ATM card) is much more common at stores. Also, you usually pay your bills by automatic payment through the bank or through little bank drafts that you can drop off at the bank. Check writing is rare and not needed here. However, the Dutch banking system is bizarre and doesn't always allow for transfers from US banks. Go to bigger branches as the smaller branches might just have employees who don't know and won't make an effort to find out that they can do the banking transactions you required. I get around this by maintaining an account in the US and using my US ATM card to make withdrawals here. It is the system I have for the time being. It allows me to have certain things deposited state side without paying the high interest rate of trying to cash an American check here. I am sure there are other approaches but I mainly thought people moving should think about this and look into what is best before they move and the options are no longer available.

11. Insurance matters?

Life insurance is quite cheap here and if the unfortunate happens remember to consider how and who will bury you. Funeral expenses are VERY EXPENSIVE here and shipping home a body is also very costly. Plan on checking into policies when you arrive. Also there is insurance for legal purposes as the legal system here is a bit backwards (as in opposite the US). In the states, lawyers take your case more on the knowledge they will receive a portion of the awarded settlement. Here you pay up front or you don't get the lawyer. Of course they do provide gratis lawyers but it is my understanding they are not even at the same level as public defenders in the states. Just another thing to consider. I personally don't have that insurance. I know some Americans who do carry it. Really check into your medical and dental insurance to see what they cover and where. My medical insurance covers me in other countries however I have to pay for the costs myself while I am there and then be reimbursed upon return. That could be very costly. Update: Personal liability insurance is normally carried by all Dutch people. Your responsible for yourself so don't expect others to have insurance to cover you if you fall at their party, get hurt on their business property or attend an event and get mugged. I have learned more about this and it is probably a very wise idea to purchase this as this is what all the Dutch people do.

12. Mailing lists/Support Groups

There are lots of resources on the web. I removed some of the old groups because I have found they have changed or no longer offer the services they did when I joined in 1998. As a starting point go to Elynx or Expatica and go to their groups sections to see what is active now. In addition, I started 2 groups, The International Mixer Utrecht and the Expats with Dutch Partners Dinner Group. These groups provide an additional resource to increase your circle of friends in the Netherlands.

13. Public Transportation?

Most areas have good access to bus, tram and train transportation. For the bus and tram you purchase strippenkaarts that are sold at the Postkantoor and many magazine and tobacco type establishments as well as offices at the main public transportation buildings and stations. The cost of your travel is computed by the zones you travel to/through and when you get on the bus you tell the driver where you want to go and he stamps your card. On the tram you are usually required to insert your cardboard paper (strippenkaart) into the automatic stamping box at the number on the card that will cover the correct amount of zones. There is usually a zone chart somewhere on the tram to check. Short distances are usually only 2 strips. From IJsselstein to Utrecht which is about a 20 minute bus ride, it is 5 strips each way. You need to purchase special tickets for the train and there are machines but I have found it easier to go to a counter with an actual person and get help. At the Openbaar Vervoer Reisinformatie (which is all in Dutch) you can download a trip planner or look up the information directly on the internet. You can do a door to door search and it will tell you what bus stop you need to walk to along with departure and arrival times.

14. Having a baby here?

The current medical system utilizes mid-wives for pregnancy and delivery. Of course if there are complications, doctors and other services are available. Many women still have their children in their own home. One really cool service is that for 10 days after the baby is born (regardless if in a hospital or at your home) a Nurse comes to the house to help with cooking, cleaning, questions regarding the baby etc. If you are American or the child qualifies for American citizenship, it is important to read up on information regarding registering your baby with the proper US Authorities if you want to ensure the child will have US citizenship as well as Dutch citizenship. This is NOT automatically completed. You must do the paperwork yourself. I know other countries process their citizens from birth differently so check with your own countries embassy or consulate to find out the procedure. Some countries have time limits from the date of birth in regards to applying and then after that time limit expires your child may no longer qualify. The key is to do your homework before you have the baby so you can have all the paperwork in order and don't regret it later. (You may think you are never returning to your home country but if your child can carry dual citizenship think of the opportunties such as University education etc. and provide them that choice)

15. Starting your own business?

Starting your own business (eenmanzak) is really easy and quite affordable. I started a Life Coaching Services business in Feb. 2000 and paid less than E125 ($100) to get it registered and started. Once you have gone to the local Kamer van Koophandel (KvK - means Chamber of Commerce but here they do small business start up as well), you will need to contact the Tax Office that handles business accounts to get a tax number. You will need to pay the BTW taxes but you also charge that to your clients. Once registered you receive your KvK number and you can start working! Certain businesses like bars or restaurants do require additional licensing. UPDATE: I have been told you now have to have 5 clients lined up to start a business here - check with your local KvK to see what their policies list.

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