🇳🇱 Netherlands

Three Dutch banks open a personal current account for foreigners: bunq, Knab, and Triodos, each with a different procedural shape. The fintech bunq is mobile-only with English service and a 90-day BSN grace. Knab is a web-portal-first online bank requiring a BSN at intake, now a Dutch branch of Austrian BAWAG since 29 November 2025. Triodos is a values-based mid-tier bank requiring residency in the Netherlands and communicating in Dutch only.

Basisverzekering is the mandatory Dutch health insurance every resident and worker must take out with a private insurer within four months of becoming insurable. The basispakket is federally uniform, so insurers compete on monthly premium, voluntary deductible tier, policy form, and supplementary cover rather than on what is covered.

The BSN is the 9-digit personal number issued automatically when you register with your gemeente in the BRP. It unlocks bank, health insurance, payroll, and tax.

The kennismigrant residence permit is an employer-paid track filed by a Dutch employer registered as an IND-recognised sponsor (erkend referent). Your employer submits the joint MVV-plus-residence-permit application via the Business Portal and the leges are debited automatically from the company account. The IND decides within 90 days. You collect the physical residence document within two weeks of the positive decision.

Three foreign-licence groups can exchange at the gemeente without sitting Dutch tests: EU/EFTA holders, designated-country holders (RDW Article 4), and 30%-ruling beneficiaries. The municipality submits the application to RDW; the new Dutch rijbewijs is collectable five working days after RDW notifies the gemeente, which happens within fifteen working days of submission.