Once you've arrived in your new student town, you'll need to register at the city hall. It's something all international students need to do: register in the municipality of the city they study in. You should fix this up as soon as you arrive in the Netherlands (but not before) as you will then be issued with a citizen service number (BSN). This is your personal number and will be used by government, healthcare, financial and educational organisations. You will need this number in many cases, for instance, to get a student job, to apply for benefits and to open a Dutch bank account (which we can then use to pay you back your 'proof of financial means'). NB: you need to get an additional form from the City Hall to open a bank account.
For more information on the different ways of getting your BSN number, refer below to the specific information for the student city you will be studying in.
What to take with you:
You'll need to take 2 copies (you will need to hand them in) and show the originals of the following documents:
Passport or ID card (include all pages with your stamp/stickers & holder page)
Rental contract of your student room/house
Original birth certificate with the official translation (please check this link to legalise or translate your birth certificate (if it’s not already in English, French, German or Dutch)
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
The proof of enrolment from NHL Stenden (if you're an EU student, you can hand in a copy of your Letter of Admission)
Non-EU students will also need to provide a copy of their AON health insurance policy and their valid residence permit or proof that you have applied for a permit/letter from the IND.
City Hall registration on campus
For just a couple of weeks, the city hall comes to you on campus. Just to make things a little easier. 😊 You'll get your BSN during your appointment and there's no need to go to the city hall itself in the city centre.
Where and when
Staff from the city hall will be on campus from 17 August 2026 till 11 September 2026 (Rengerslaan 8, room 0.18).
Make an appointment for on-campus
Sign up for an appointment simply by filling in your name on one of the sign-up sheets hung on the wall outside room 0.18 (near the library and Cafe If). Each Friday, the sign-up sheets are posted for the following week. You need to sign up in person for an appointment and you can only reserve one time slot.
There are separate sign-up sheets for students with a residence permit (non-EU) and for EU students.
Important notes:
Make sure you arrive on time for your appointment.
There's no fee for registration
You can register at the city hall in Emmen:
Gemeente Emmen
Raadhuisplein 1
7811 AP Emmen
Without an appointment
You can register without an appointment during walk-in hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm - 4pm.
Make an appointment
From an international phone, call +31 591 689 000 to make an appointment.
If you have a Dutch phone, call 14 0591. After the “beep” say “Emmen.”
If you need assistance with making an appointment by phone, please ask a member of staff from student info. Alternatively, you can make an appointment at the city hall’s information desk.
Once you’re registered, you’ll receive your citizen service number (BSN).
You can register at the city hall in Meppel:
Gemeente Meppel
Grote Oever 26
7941 BJ Meppel
Opening times: Mon-Fri from 8:30-17:00 (Friday until 20:00)
Make an appointment
From an international phone, call +31 522 850 500 to make an appointment.
If you have a Dutch phone, call 14 0522. After the “beep” say “Meppel.”
If you need assistance with making an appointment by phone, please ask a member of staff from student info. Alternatively, you can make an appointment at the city hall’s information desk.
Once you’re registered, you’ll receive your citizen service number (BSN).
You can register at the city hall in Groningen:
Gemeente Groningen
Kreupelstraat 1
9712 HW Groningen
If you have an address in Groningen, you can find more information and make an appointment on the website.
If you need assistance with making an appointment by phone, please ask a member of staff from student info. Alternatively, you can make an appointment at the city hall’s information desk.
Once you’re registered, you’ll receive your citizen service number (BSN).
You can register at the city hall in Assen:
Gemeente Assen (link: Afspraakplanner graag toevoegen onder blauwe tekst)
Noordersingel 33
9401 JW Assen
If you have an address in Assen, you can find more information and make an appointment for first registration in the Netherlands on the municipality's website. (This leads you to a website in Dutch).
If you need assistance with making an appointment by phone, please ask a member of staff from student info. You can make an appointment at the city hall’s information desk as well.
Once you’re registered, you’ll receive your citizen service number (BSN).