By Andrew - September 2024
You’ve planned, packed, and made the move—now you’ve finally arrived in the Netherlands! But what comes next? Stepping off the plane is just the beginning of your new adventure, and the first few days and weeks in a new country can feel both exciting and overwhelming. From registering with the local municipality to setting up a bank account, and even figuring out public transport, there are a few essential steps you’ll need to take to settle in smoothly.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to do after arriving in the Netherlands, helping you navigate the practical tasks while easing into Dutch life. Whether you’re focused on integrating into the community or just trying to get through the paperwork, this post will ensure you hit the ground running. Let’s dive into your next steps for making the Netherlands your home!
Arriving in the Netherlands:
The first few hours in the Netherlands was the most unsure and doubting we have been in our entire lives. When you touch down at the airport you think to yourself “What have I done?”. But it gets better, we promise.
Our relocation agent arranged a taxi to take us from the airport to our accommodation. If possible, I would recommend also arranging this in advance as it is a lot easier.
Welcome to the Netherlands!
As you begin your exciting journey in the Netherlands, here are some initial tasks to kickstart your adventure:
1. Get your BSN number from the Expat Centre
A BSN number is like a social security number and is necessary for all things going forward.
An appointment at the expat center needs to be made well in advance. If you are using a relocation agent or employer, they will most probably arrange this for you. If not, the following website can be used to determine if you can make an appointment here:
If not, you will have to go and register at the local gemeente.
2. Open a Dutch Bank account.
This is the biggest nuisance when coming to the Netherlands: you cannot open any accounts, get a cellphone contract, or internet if you don’t have your BSN. Most local stores also don’t accept Visa cards, so I would advise you to bring some cash. An appointment can also be made in advance.
A few of the more popular banks are:
ABN AMRO
ING
Rabobank
Another option would be to open a "mobile" bank account:
Revolut
N26
Wise
bunq
More information can be found here.
3. Get a local sim card/cellphone contract.
Obtaining a local SIM card in the Netherlands is straightforward and essential for communication, accessing services, and getting around. Here’s a quick overview:
Where to Buy: You can get a SIM card from major telecom providers like Vodafone, KPN, Lebara, or T-Mobile. You can visit their stores or kiosks at airports, train stations, and shopping centers.
Prepaid vs. Contract:
Prepaid: Ideal for short stays or those wanting flexibility. You top up as needed but may pay more per call/data.
Contract: Better for long-term stays, offering cheaper rates for calls, texts, and data. You'll need a Dutch bank account and may require a BSN (Dutch social security number).
Documents: For a contract, you'll need a valid ID (passport) and a Dutch bank account. Some providers may ask for proof of address.
Cost: Prepaid SIM cards typically cost €10-€20, with various data and calling packages available. Contracts offer more competitive pricing based on the package you choose.
Once you have your SIM card, you'll be able to use Dutch phone numbers for day-to-day communication, which is crucial for setting up services like banking and the internet.
4. Public transport in the Netherlands
Traveling in the Netherlands is easy, the public transport is reliable and cheap if you make use of all possible saving techniques.
You can by subscriptions which are fixed and allow you unlimited travels in specified zones. Now, you might say but that sounds limiting, it is not, you will soon notice you spend 85% of your time traveling the same routes, thus if you make use of the subscriptions you can benefit from savings.
Having a car in the Netherlands is nice, however, parking is very expensive in most areas and traffic is a nightmare. Try the public transport and if you don’t like it, get the car then.
If you find this information interesting, feel free to share your thoughts or comment before we proceed with the content. Let's get started!
“Nice to knows while still in South Africa”:
Below is some information on things we knew/would’ve liked to know while still in SA:
You will need some savings to get by during the first month in NL. Some companies do pay upfront and cover costs; however, it might not always be the case. In the budget I have given a breakdown of what you can expect to save up before coming here.
The assigned number of suitcases you can take with you on the flight from SA to NL will not be enough, more likely than not. We flew with KLM, and we were allowed 1x check-in luggage and one hand luggage. We purchased 1x additional check-in per person the day we bought our tickets, and 1x additional check-in a few days before we left.
TIP: the closer to the date of departure, the more expensive additional luggage gets. Don’t be scared to pack some personal things, as these will make you feel a bit more “at home”, if that is even possible. Turkish Airlines allows two suitcases in the flight cost; however, a layover is part of the flight.
Certain food items are not available in the Netherlands: Rooibos tea, Five Roses tea (they do have English Tea, but it isn’t the same), Milo, Bovril, Chutney, Braai Spices, Rajah Curry Powder, Potato Bake, Salt and Vinegar Simba Chips, etc. There is an online store (Die Spens), but don't expect to pay South African prices. You can bring certain things with you, but all fresh produce, dairy, meats, etc., are not allowed. Please make sure before you pack something, as the fines for prohibited items are very excessive. There are South African shops here so you can buy your favorites at a premium.
Whilst you will mostly hear the nice things about being in the Netherlands, there are also the not so nice things. The best advice we have is to just go with the flow. Of course, we didn’t do this. We wanted to fit in and have everything organized as easily as possible. Now looking back, we wish we didn’t try so hard, as you just put too much strain on yourself.
Examples of the not so nice things:
Now we get to the things that you will experience and might not find so fun.
Saying goodbye to friends and family at the airport is tough, and that feeling will stick with you for quite some time.
You will be converting everything from EUR to ZAR because the Netherlands is very expensive to live in (it is one of the most expensive countries to live in the EU). Even though this is normal, try not to fret about it too much.
People are not as friendly and warm as they are in SA. The Dutch are quite blunt, direct, and to the point. This takes a bit of getting used to. We took this quite personally in the beginning, but now we know this is just how they are and has nothing to do with us.
In the first month, everything is new, and it feels like an extended Eurotrip. In month 2, you start to form new routines and start to get a hang of where to buy groceries, you get to know the bus routes, etc. Month 3 is the best. You start realizing how amazing the country is and how blessed you are with this opportunity. Also, by now you would’ve traveled a bit. But, months 4-6 are tough. It is a roller coaster of emotions, one day you are up and the next day down. In this period, you miss everyone in South Africa (even the people you didn’t like). You realize how much you are missing out on: weddings, birthdays, parties, weekends away, and family time. The most important thing to remember is: “This too shall pass.”
So, after all of the above here are the great things:
Even though the salt here isn’t very “salty”, the cheese and bread are amazing. The Dutch are truly the cheese masters.
The supply of beer is endless here. With regular “acties” i.e. a special at the supermarket, you can buy a crate of beer for cheaper than in SA!
Safety is the norm, not a luxury. You can bike, walk, and take the bus while listening to music with your phone in your hand without the fear of getting mugged. (Don’t be oblivious to the general risks, but the overall feeling of safety is the norm and will take a few years to get used to).
Children still play in parks until dark, and people walk their dogs without having to live in estates.
The sun rises just before 05:00 and sets after 22:30 in summer. Long days!
You can travel Europe without paying an arm and a leg.
You meet new people and get to know new cultures.
Even though there are a lot of taxes to pay, paying them bothers you less because you can see your tax money being spent wisely. The Dutch way works well.
To finish the information overload, yes, it is expensive, and yes, you will think to yourself, "What have I done?" But you will also say, "Yes, it was worth the effort." If you thought you knew everything about yourself, I can tell you, you don’t. Doing this, I assure you, will teach you things about yourself you never knew. Take the leap; it is worth more than you can imagine!
If you have any questions about anything (and we mean anything) or would like any other information, don’t hesitate to contact us!
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