Moving to The Hague as an Expat

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The Hague is the centre of government, international organisations, diplomacy, and NGOs in the Netherlands. The city hosts embassies, courts, and a large international community. Many expats choose The Hague for roles in policy, law, and international relations.

The city offers a quieter, more formal atmosphere than Amsterdam, with beach access at Scheveningen and strong international schools. It suits diplomats, NGO and policy professionals, and families who value the combination of international institutions and coastal living.

If you are coming from abroad to live in The Hague for 4 months or longer and do not yet have a BSN, you must register with the municipality in the BRP (Personal Records Database). Registration is required by law in these cases.

The Hague has separate official registration pages depending on your situation: EU/EEA and Swiss nationals; non-EU nationals with a residence permit; Dutch citizens coming from abroad. If you already have a BSN and are moving back from abroad or were deregistered, there is a separate “register again in the BRP” flow.

Highly skilled migrants and scientific researchers coming from abroad can use a specific BRP registration route. The Hague International Centre offers registration services for some newcomers and allows highly skilled migrants to register and collect residence permits in one appointment for supported municipalities. Check the official pages to see which route applies to you.

Your BSN (Burgerservicenummer) is issued as part of municipal registration in The Hague. The Hague International Centre explains that if you are staying in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you can obtain a BSN via the normal municipal procedure. You need it for tax, health insurance, banking, and access to government services.

DigiD is the Dutch government login. You can apply after you have a BSN and a registered Dutch address. You need: BSN, registered Dutch address, and a mobile phone. The activation letter is sent by post and generally arrives within about 3 business days. You must activate DigiD within 21 days. Many expats only realise later how often DigiD is needed—for tax matters, health insurance portals, municipality services, healthcare admin, and benefits or official letters—so applying early is practical.

People who live or work in the Netherlands generally need Dutch basic health insurance. In relevant cases, it usually needs to be arranged within 4 months. If you have a residence permit, you are generally required to arrange health insurance effective from the date the permit comes into force.

Compare providers, arrange cover soon after registration or when employment starts, and check whether you need supplementary insurance. Do not assume that employer setup means you can postpone this—confirm your own obligation and arrange it in time.

Expats often open a Dutch bank account early to receive salary, pay rent, set up health insurance, and use iDEAL. Requirements vary by bank; typically you will need ID, BSN (when requested), proof of address, and residence documents depending on your status.

The Hague is often attractive to internationals because it balances international-city amenities with a different feel from Amsterdam. Housing demand is high; The Hague International Centre’s family migrant checklist notes that newcomers should start searching early. Municipal registration and BSN are part of early arrival setup.

Rents and costs vary by neighbourhood, furnishing, contract type, and whether utilities are included. The figures below are practical estimates for planning—not official or regulated fees.

Many expats combine cycling with tram and bus (HTM in The Hague region) and train. The Hague is well connected by train to Rotterdam, Delft, Leiden, Schiphol, and Amsterdam. Transport setup is usually one of the easier first-week tasks.