Obtaining a social service number?

You must apply for your Burgerservicenummer (formerly SoFI number) if you intend to work in the Netherlands or receive any of the family credits available. This number is essentially your tax file and social security number. Application for residency is a prerequisite for applying for this service number. Many routine matters involving establishing yourself in the Netherlands will be easier once you have this number - this includes having your phone connected, opening a bank account and getting insurance.

You must apply in person at the Belastingdienst (Tax office) which, in order to prevent fraud, has been reduced to 16 regional tax offices around the country (Alkmaar, Almelo, Amsterdam, Den Haag, Breda, Doetinchem, Eindhoven, Goes, Groningen, Heerlen, Leiden, Leeuwarden, Nijmegen and Utrecht). The Rotterdam Belastingdienst is located at Laan op Zuid 45, 3072DB across the river (over Erasmus Bridge).

You will need to make an appointment at the Belastingdienst to prior to completing the application forms. The Belastingdienst has an information line (complex menu system in Dutch), through which you can make an appointment, if this is too difficult, you may visit in person and queue up for an appointment, which will be at a future date. Caution: The Belastingdienst has a policy of not allowing staff to take any calls or have any conversations in any other language but Dutch. Oddly, this will be explained to you in English.

Remember to take your passport and proof of residency, proof of application for residency or identity card, i.e., verblijfsdocument. As the application forms are all in Dutch, it be helpful if you to take someone with you to help complete them. You are not able to take the forms away with you; they must be completed at this appointment.

The number will be allocated on the day of the application but you will not receive it. It will be sent in a letter to your home address.


Family benefits & tax credits

As a resident or temporary resident in the Netherlands and if you have children you are entitled to income from either the SVB (Sociale Verzerkeringsbank) and the Belastingdienst.

SVB "AKW" Kinderbijslag Child Benefit
The AKW benefit is a payment made quarterly to cover costs associated with raising children up until the age of 18. If you have recently arrived in the Netherlands, you can apply online for an application form to be sent to you (the website is in Dutch). If you arrive and have a child whilst here, you will automatically be sent an information pack from the SVB. This is because as soon as you register the birth, the appropriate government departments are automatically notified. The amount you receive is graded on how many children you have. Once you have completed the application form and returned it, you will be notified how much you will receive and it will be paid into a nominated bank account.

Algemene Heffingskorting (Personal Allowance Tax Credit)
This allowance is for the non-working spouse (or limited income to €5.500) of the partner working in the Netherlands. The allowance is paid per annum calendar year, which is the Dutch tax year and amounts to €1.894 per year.
You have to be in the Netherlands for a minimum period of six months in the calendar year, before you become eligible. Once you have your SoFI number, you can then make an appointment with your local Belastingdienst office to complete the registration forms.

If you don't directly apply, your partner can apply for a "provisional refund" for this in his annual tax return. For future payments/refund you or your partner can ask for it to be paid in monthly installments (or 1/12 payments).


Opening a Dutch bank account

For EU citizens you will require:
A valid passport or ID card,
Proof of residency with the GBA (or address verification document, eg. A signed Rental agreement)
Proof of income from your employer
SoFI tax file number

For non-EU citizens you will require:
Valid Work permit
Valid passport or ID card
Proof of registration with the IND
SoFI tax file number

It would be a good idea, once you have selected your bank, to phone and make an appointment with an English speaking person. ABN-AMRO have an expat division. It will make the paperwork much easier to cope with and cut down waiting times.
You will be required also to take out personal liability insurance in case you have any accidents, which you can obtain through your bank. It is best to get a quote for this and shop around.


Internet banking

The major banks offer internet banking but there are still forms involved. The site comes with the added security of a pin-card security logon system. The sites are most always in Dutch although the ABN-AMRO site has an English option. Speak to your branch contact for an information pack. It is worthwhile having internet banking set up as bank to bank transfer is a very common method of payment for products for companies that do not accept credit cards.
Applying for a Dutch credit card


Credit cards

Credit cards are not widely accepted in the Netherlands. Generally, they are only accepted in the larger chain stores in the main centres. Cash and increasingly pin are the main forms of payment accepted. You will need to carry photo id with your credit card as you will often be asked for passport, driver's license or residency card to identify you as the cardholder.

Many banks only issue Mastercard although Visa is more widely accepted. In some situations, such as phone credit card top-up accounts you can only use a Dutch issued card.


Cash, pin, chippen & geldautomaat

Cash
The is the most common and accepted method of payment in the Netherlands. If you are shopping at the market or in smaller cafes, takeaway bars, shops and restaurants the most accepted method of payment is cash.

Geldautomaat
This is the name of the cashpoint withdrawal machines. They are not overly frequent but are generally placed outside the banks and post offices. The denomination of currency changes depending on bank but generally is dispensed in €10 notes. However, if you select €50 and above you will receive a 50 euros then the other notes, if you choose 100 euros you will get two 50's. This is a problem as most stores don't appreciate receiving such high note denominations while generally not offering another form of payment. The blue Postbank machines do dispense in 10 euro denominations and often ask how you would like the amount broken up.

Chippen
This is a cash amount debited to your card that you can use for simple purchases like parking, train tickets and small ticket items. Most Geldautomats (cash point machine) have a separate facility to transfer cash from your account to your chipcard (generally on your pin card). Many parking meters only take chip cards, no cash or credit cards (central Rotterdam parking). There is no need for a 4 digit pin number, just insert the card, select the amount and the transaction is complete.

Pin or Eftpos point payment
Many larger shops especially in the main shopping centres have pin/eftpos facilities.


Giro banking

This simply means payment by bank transfer and is the most common form of payment of services. The company concerned will send you their bill in the form of a statement and GIRO slip; you fill in your account number (bankrekening) sign it (handtekening) and send to your bank. The bank will debit the money and transfer the payment.

You can set up direct debits for most regular payments such as utilities. You need to request a form from the provider, complete and return to the company. Expect a wait of at least 4 weeks to process.


Internet shopping

Internet shopping is not a particularly easy method to use. You will not generally be able to pay with a credit card online, rather GIRO bank transfer or payment in cash in full upon delivery of the item purchased. Payment policy changes from company to company.