BSN and DigiD, explained
Two acronyms you will see constantly. One identifies you to every Dutch institution; the other is how you log in to prove it.
BSN — your citizen service number
Your burgerservicenummer is a unique personal number issued when you register with the gemeente. Employers, banks, healthcare providers, your insurer, and the tax office (Belastingdienst) all use it to identify you. You will be asked for it constantly — keep it somewhere you can find quickly.
DigiD — your digital identity
DigiD is the login system used across nearly all Dutch government and healthcare portals: tax filing, healthcare allowance applications, official mail from the gemeente, pension information, and more. Without it, most administrative tasks in the Netherlands require an in-person visit instead of five minutes online.
How to apply
- Go to digid.nl and start an application using your BSN.
- The fastest route needs a Dutch mobile number for verification. If you do not have one yet, there is a postal verification route instead — slower, but it works before you have a Dutch SIM.
- An activation code is sent by post to your registered address, usually within about a week.
- Once activated, install the DigiD app on your phone for two-factor login — most services now require app-based confirmation, not just a password.
Apply for DigiD the same week you get your BSN. Nearly every other settling-in task — tax registration, healthcare allowance, sometimes even your employer’s HR portal — assumes you already have it.
Next: sort out health insurance — it depends on the same BSN and DigiD you just set up.