Registering with the gemeente (BRP)
This is the first bureaucratic step, and almost everything else depends on it. Do this as early as you legally can.
What it actually is
The BRP (Basisregistratie Personen) is the national register of residents, administered locally by the gemeente. Registering there is what makes you an official resident of Arnhem, and it is the step that generates your BSN (citizen service number) — the number that unlocks almost everything else described on this site.
Who needs to register, and when
If you expect to stay in the Netherlands for four months or longer, you are legally required to register with the gemeente where you live. (Shorter stays are handled differently, through the non-resident register rather than a local gemeente — if that is your situation, check the specific process before assuming this page applies to you.)
What you need to bring
- A valid passport or national ID card.
- Proof of your address in Arnhem — your signed rental contract, or if you are not on the contract yourself, a signed permission statement from whoever is (a toestemmingsverklaring, usually with a copy of their own ID attached).
- If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen: proof of legal residence, such as your residence permit or the appointment confirmation from the IND if it is still being processed.
How to actually do it
Book an appointment (afspraak) online through the Gemeente Arnhem website — walk-ins are generally not accepted. The appointment itself is short. Your BSN is usually issued on the spot or confirmed shortly after by post to your new address.
Do this in your first week if at all possible. Your BSN is a prerequisite for DigiD, health insurance, opening a Dutch bank account, and often even a phone contract or salary payment from an employer.