Living in the Netherlands

If you live in the Netherlands, you are probably insured under the child benefit scheme. Sometimes it is not immediately clear whether a person can be regarded as living in the Netherlands or in another country. If this is the case, we will look closely at the details of your situation. This is important so that we can decide whether you are insured under the child benefit scheme.

Choose the option that best describes your situation.

Registering with your local municipal authorities (gemeente) is not enough to prove residence.

If you are registered with your gemeente at an address in the Netherlands, this does not automatically mean that you qualify as a resident of the Netherlands under the terms of the child benefit scheme. To determine whether you can be regarded as a resident of the Netherlands we also look to see:

  • whether you work in the Netherlands
  • where your family is staying
  • whether you have a house in the Netherlands
  • the reason why you came to the Netherlands
  • whether you have Dutch nationality

If you do not have Dutch nationality

If you do not have Dutch nationality or the nationality of another EU or EEA country or Switzerland, you will need a residence permit . This is also true even if you are married to someone from the EU. You can apply for a residence permit to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

If you have started living in the Netherlands for the first time or you have returned to the country after a long time away, you will probably not be insured under the child benefit scheme as soon as you arrive in the Netherlands. This is also true even if you have Dutch nationality.

First we will have to look, for example, at why you have come to the Netherlands and where your family is living.

If you are staying in the Netherlands only for a short time, for example to study here or to visit relatives, you will not be insured under the child benefit scheme 

However, if you work in the Netherlands and have a work permit, you will probably be insured under the child benefit scheme.