Plan your move

If you have children, inform their schools and any other memberships about their termination.  

Investigate the schooling/childcare possibilities in the Leiden region. You can consult our education page to find out what types of school there are in the Netherlands, and what (international) schools are located in the Leiden region.    

Plan your flight and accommodation for pricing and availability considerations. It is strongly recommended that you start the preparation of your accommodation well in advance. Our housing partners can help you.

The first and most important thing you will need to arrange upon your arrival in Leiden is to book your registration appointment to receive your BSN number. Visit our Registration page  to find out more.

Arrange your health insurance is another important step in your arrival phase. In the Netherlands, a basic health insurance is mandatory for all residents of the country and should be arranged as soon as possible. Find out about the dufferent options on our Health Insurance page.

You should also register at your local doctor and dentist (in Dutch: ‘huisarts’ & ‘tandarts’). A detailed information can be found here for doctors and here for dentists.  

You will need to open a local bank account. You can make use of  Rabobank's expatriate service: the Rabobank Expat Desk. You can also visit our bank services webpage for more information on the subject.   

Exchange your driving licence (if required). This usually needs to be done within the first 185 days. Read more here.  

Get connected (arrange a Dutch telephone number, an internet provider, utilities, etc.)  

Learning Dutch is important for making new friends and communicating with your potential colleagues or employers. We recommend taking some of the Dutch classes provided by Partners in Language Services.   

Get active in the local and/or expat community and join social (media) groups, clubs, sports and associations.  Our Leisure page has plenty of suggestions. And why not come along to our monthly Meet & Mingle? These events are a great way to meet other internationals! Find the next one on our Events page.

Looking for a job? Adapt your CV/Resume to match the Dutch style and begin contacting local recruitment agencies and career coaches. And check our Events page for upcoming career workshops!

Stay informed with the ECL newsletter and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn) where you can find out about every aspect of expat life in Leiden.