New country, new town, new house... basically, a new life. Moving to a foreign country on your own can be overwhelming, especially for a first-year student who's just getting to grips with life. You arrive in the Netherlands, in your new home; you go to the shop, your card is rejected; you go to the bank to open a Dutch bank account, but you don't have a BSN. What is BSN, you wonder, as you walk dejectedly home.
How to plan them and what to do sooner?
Here we have put together 10 essential things to do as a student during your first week in the Netherlands.
1. Register with the municipality and get your BSN.
Now you may be wondering what the BSN is and why it is so important: the BSN is your citizenship number in the Netherlands, like a kind of Romanian CNP, and you will be asked for it everywhere, so it is important to get it as soon as possible.
Once you have signed the rental agreement for your home in the Netherlands, you will be able to register with the municipality (town hall) and get your BSN. The process is very simple, you register online on the website of the municipality of the city where you live, present your documents at the counter, and that's it, you are officially registered in the Netherlands. For the necessary documents, you can check the municipality's website, but usually you need your identity card and rental contract, but I've heard that in some cities they also require an apostilled birth certificate, so you might want to check before coming to the Netherlands.
Tip: when you get your rent, make sure that registration is possible, otherwise you won't be able to get your BSN.
2. Dutch bank account
Why are MasterCard and Visa not accepted in the Netherlands? Good question, the Dutch people I asked didn't know the answer either, so it will remain an enigma.
Most shops only accept Maestro and V-Pay, so make sure you open a Dutch bank account. The process is very simple, you usually do it directly in the bank's app and the card is sent to you by post.
Among the most popular banks are those in the iDeal group - ING, Revolut, ABN AMRO, etc.
3. OV - chipkaart
Maybe you don't like cycling and want to use public transport. This is the card you can use for all public transport: train, bus, metro, etc. Once you order it, you can choose to add the money manually, or have it taken automatically from your bank account. You scan it when you get on, check-in, and when you get off, check-out, and pay according to distance travelled. You can order it on the OV-chipkaart.
4. Bicycle
Are you in the Netherlands and don't have a bike? You'll raise a lot of questions among those who already live here. Although I was sceptical about the bike at first, I have found it to be extremely useful. Sometimes you get to places faster by bike than by public transport. Among students it is very popular the option of renting a bike, costs around 20euro/month.
If you still want your own bike but don't want to pay too much, you can try to find a used one on Markplaats. Along with your bike, make sure you buy a reliable anti-theft device! ????
5. Medical insurance
I don't think an explanation is needed, it's important to have medical insurance, especially when you're so far from home. If you're in the Netherlands just for studies and you don't have a job, it's not possible to have Dutch health insurance; so either you take out a domestic health insurance that also covers you in the Netherlands, or you choose an international health insurance.
Because the subject of health insurance is very broad and complex, I recommend you take a look at Zorgverzekeringslijn.
Also, most of the time there is information on university websites about health insurance, so it's best to check to make sure you're doing it right and choosing the best option for you.
6. Register with a GP
General Practitioner or GP, as it is abbreviated, is a kind of family doctor. If you have an emergency, you must first go to the GP, who will find it is an emergency and refer you to hospital. Basically, whatever medical problem you have, you have to go to the GP first.
7. Discover the city
Now that the formalities are over, take some time to discover the city you've moved to: you're going to be staying here for the next few months and you'll get to call it home. You can go for a walk with no particular destination in mind, or visit the city's main attractions. I would recommend that you set aside some time to walk around campus, to get a little familiar with it so that you don't get confused in the first few days - the excitement can be overwhelming.
As for discovering the city's attractions, it's all a Google search away. To avoid getting lost in the Netherlands (as I did for the first few days), I recommend using Google Maps, where you can even plan your bus trip around the city. You can also use Google Maps to see your bike route, but beware, it's illegal to use your phone while cycling, and the fines are quite high! So, for bike trips, either get a phone holder or rely on your own memory and spatial orientation.
8. Make friends
Are you single, in a new city, haven't started college yet and don't know anyone? Don't panic, people here are very friendly and eager to have fun. A good way to meet people is to take part in Introduction Weeks, offered by various student associations. One of the most popular student associations is ESN.
9. Dutch phone number
Although you don't have to have a Dutch phone number, and you can get by with a Romanian one, sometimes it's useful to have a Dutch phone number, especially if you need to set up your own utility contracts.
10. Get your CJP card
CJP (Cultureel Jongeren Paspoort) will be your best friend if you want to visit museums, go to the theatre or the cinema. If you're under 30, you can get discounts on certain cultural activities, from discounts on museum tickets to discounts on magazine subscriptions. The card is valid for one year, and you can get discounts at over 1,000 venues.
Article by Alexandra Runceanu.
Alexandra is a first year student in the Netherlands studying Marketing Management. She joined the Rompro team recently to share her student experiences in the Netherlands. She is a sociable person who likes to get involved in as many activities as possible. Paradoxically, she absolutely loathes the Dutch weather, and cycling.
