Thinking about moving to Amsterdam?

You are a student, or you just want to experience living in another country? We have got all the answers to the questions you are probably asking yourself…

Table of Contents

Why choosing Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is a fun and multi-cultural city. Did you know there is more than 176 nationalities living in Amsterdam? But more importantly it is a small capital city, not too small but not too big either, just the right size! You can cycle everywhere, and the city has world-class museums, cultural centres & events, international cuisine and vast green parks. Also, you don’t need to be fluent in Dutch or even learn it (though we would encourage you to learn Dutch!), they are all very proficient in English. It is a great alternative to London and the UK in general.
If you already have a job or you are from the EU, EER or Switzerland, you don’t need a work or residence permit to live here. That’s good news, no?

1. Find a job

Obviously, it’s always much easier moving to a city with a job than without one. However, it’s not essential to have a job before getting a BSN (burgerservicenummer) which is a citizen service number. It is a unique number for everyone who has dealings with the Dutch government. With it you can deal with your municipality, the hospital, schools, your employer or benefits agencies, for example.
There are many international companies who have headquarters or offices in Amsterdam and are used to employ expats.

Get Your BSN Number

To get your BSN number, it is time to head to your Town Hall (Gemeente) after having made an appointment.
For Expats with jobs, a faster way to get your BSN number is through “IN Amsterdam”, a government-supported service whose sole purpose is to help highly skilled migrants and EU citizens settle into Amsterdam. They help to look after all the immigration documents such as residence and work permits, registration, the 30% tax ruling … They obviously charge a fee for their services.

From the UK and thinking about moving to Amsterdam after 01/01/2021?

The rules for travelling or working in Europe will change from 1 January 2021.

If you hold a British Citizen passport, you don’t need a visa to enter the Netherlands. If you’re planning a stay of longer than 3 months, see the Living in the Netherlands guide or contact the Netherlands Embassy.

At border control for the Netherlands, you may need to:

show a return or onward ticket
show you have enough money for your stay, and
use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing

Image source: ClinkNOORD

2. Find a place to stay

In order to get a BSN (burgerservicenummer), you’ll first need to have a permanent address.
Finding an apartment in Amsterdam can be difficult and expensive. Not easy also when you don’t know the city and which area you would like to live in.
When looking for a rental, always look for a property that can provide registration. This means that you can register yourself as living at that address and legally pay taxes.
You can choose to use and Estate Agent but note you will be asked to pay a non-refundable fee which is usually about 1 month rent.
From our own staff experience, we suggest you rent a place to stay for a month, so you don’t over commit. This way, it gives you time to look for your perfect home in an area of Amsterdam that you love.

ClinkNOORD offers monthly rentals in private rooms or shared accommodations. We can even help you to register…make us your first home in Amsterdam!

ClinkNOORD

3. Open a bank account

Sooner rather than later, you will need to open a bank account. Either go to a bank branch in your area or visit their websites. There are many banks to choose from, but the two major ones are ABN AMRO and ING.

Image Source: ClinkNOORD

Looking for accommodation in Amsterdam? we’ve got you covered.

4. Get Health Insurance

Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to contract a standard health insurance. Check out www.zorgwijzer.nl to compare offers.

Image Source: Clink Hostels

6. Get a Bicycle

Bikes are everywhere in the Netherlands. Just do like the locals do and get a bike. You can bike anywhere in the city and is the fastest way to go around. You can of course purchase a new bike but if you are on a budget, there are lots of second hands bike on sell. Check out www.fietspiraat.nl/second-hand-bikes.