You are a student in the Netherlands and you come from the former Netherlands Antilles or Aruba

If you have come from one of the BES islands or from Aruba, Curaçao or Sint Maarten to study in the Netherlands, you may be insured under the Dutch state schemes for long-term care (Wlz), old-age pension (AOW), child benefit or survivor benefit (Anw). This will depend on your situation, for example if you are considered a resident of the Netherlands. Check the complete list of conditions here.

Becoming insured in the Netherlands

You will become insured for the Dutch social insurance schemes if:

  • you have Dutch nationality, and
  • you are a resident of the Netherlands and you do not work outside the Netherlands, or
  • you are not a resident of the Netherlands but you work in the Netherlands alongside your studies

If one of the above situations applies to you, you do not need to ask us to assess your Wlz insurance position.

We look at the date you came to the Netherlands. If it was already probable on that date that you would be staying in the Netherlands for 3 years or more, you are regarded as resident in the Netherlands as from that date if:

  • you receive student finance from the Dutch Education Service (DUO), and
  • you support yourself for the most part with income generated in the Netherlands, and
  • you only return to the BES islands, Aruba, Curaçao of Sint Maarten for holidays or family visits

If you are not sure whether you are resident in the Netherlands, or if you live in the Netherlands but you work in another country, please send us a request for an assessment of your Wlz insurance position.

If it was already clear on the date you came to the Netherlands that you would be staying here for less than 3 years, you are not regarded as being resident in the Netherlands.

What happens if you are insured in the Netherlands?

If you are resident in the Netherlands, you will normally be insured under the Dutch state schemes for long-term care (Wlz), old-age pension (AOW), child benefit and survivor benefit (Anw). 

The long-term care scheme (Wlz) and Dutch basic health insurance (Zvw)

If you are insured under the Wlz scheme, you are obliged to take out basic Dutch health insurance.