Moving to the Netherlands: What You’ll Need to Prepare

Welcome back to our “Customs With Katy!” International Edition blog feature, where we focus on International customs-related topics for various countries abroad, brought to you by none other than Phillips’ very own Move Manager, Katy Duncan! Germany was fun, but now, we’re going to take you up to a country located in north-western Europe where the quality of life is quite affordable, satisfying, safe, and healthy. Moving to the Netherlands? Good choice. It’s an attractive country to relocate to based on good public safety, easy-going lifestyles, bustling public activity, and high employment rates, just to name a few.

You’re going to want to add this complete checklist to the favorites list, as it covers everything you and your family will need to understand and prepare. We’ll start you off with three of the checklist items (as seen in EXPATICA) to get you thinking about what’s involved in this process.

Note: these three tips are only a brief segment of the complete checklist, and are paraphrased excerpts from the above noted source:

Moving your belongings to the Netherlands

Moving to the Netherlands from another part of the EU? So long as you’re not bringing anything from the exemptions list, you will not have to declare any of your personal belongings at customs.

Moving to the Netherlands from outside the EU? You will have to declare your effects at customs, however, if you are relocating to the country to live and work, you may apply for an exemption from import duties.

The cost of moving will depend on your preferred method of relocation, which can be accomplished a number of different ways:

•  Air Freight
•  Shipping
•  Train (if travelling from mainland Europe)
•  Road Freight (if travelling from mainland Europe)
•  Professional moving/relocation company

For more information on relocation to the Netherlands, check out Relocation options of moving to the Netherlands.

The country also has strict rules with regards to health and transportation, so you may also want to look into bringing a pet into the Netherlands and keeping pets in the Netherlands.

Immigration and registration after you arrive

EU/EFTA residents (along with relatives) can enter the Netherlands and can remain visa-free, apart from those arriving from Croatia, facing restrictions on long durations in the country.

EU/EFTA residents remaining in the country longer than a four month period will be required to register and obtain a citizen service number.

Those residing outside of the EU/EFTA will need to apply for a long-term entry visa (MVV) to enter the country, and a residence permit to reside in the country for three months or longer. The MVV will allow you to enter, and you’ll collect your residence permit within two weeks of arrival from the local immigration service (IND).

See the complete guide to Dutch visas and permits for all aspects of the immigration process.

Opening a bank account in the Netherlands

This process is fairly straightforward. In order to open a Dutch bank account, you will need:

•  Valid ID (and residence permit, if it applies)
•  Citizen service number (BSN)
•  Proof of Address
•  Proof of Income (a pay slip, for example)

Most banks offer online banking, as well as Credit Cards and international funds transfers, though, they are quite expensive.

Find out how to open a Dutch bank account. If you are unsure of the process, don’t worry. Many of the banks have staff and financial providers who speak English.

You’re only a fifth of the way through! Keep reading through the list, or, read on…

To review: Ready to get going? Alright – be sure that you visit the original article and check out all linked resources included under each of the 15 tips, as many are critical customs documents and applications which you’ll require to enter and remain in the country. There are still 12 left for you to review, and there is a lot to know so that you can integrate into Dutch culture as smoothly as possible.

For additional cross-border (and international) customs tips, periodically check out our frequent news updates.

As always, until next time, stay safe and stay customs compliant!