Before you go to open your bank account, you need to choose which bank suits your needs or principles. You should also take into account that most banks charge a yearly fee for having an account with them. Most banks have packages specifically for students or young people. You can ask about this while setting up your account.

Biggest banks in the Netherlands

• ABN AMRO
• Rabobank
• ING
• SNS Bank
• ASN Bank
• Triodos

To open a private bank account in the Netherlands you will need to either make an appointment online, or simply walk into your nearest branch with all of your details.

To open a bank account in the Netherlands you will need the following:

• Your BSN number (Burgerservicenummer)
• A valid form of ID (passport or identity card - often a drivers licence is not acceptable)
• Proof of address (i.e. a rental contract)
• Residency permit if you come from outside of the EU

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number and is a number attached to all accounts in the EU countries. It is made up of a unique code that identifies the country in which the account is opened, the account holder's bank and the account number. The IBAN helps to make the process of cross-border payments easier and faster. The bank assigns an IBAN to your account. You need to use the IBAN when sending interbank transfers or wiring money from one bank account to another, especially across international borders.

The structure of the IBAN is as follows: The country code NL / 2-digit control number / 4 letters that identify the bank / 10 digits, which consist of the current account number supplemented with zeros.

Example of a Dutch IBAN:  NL73 INGB 123 456 78 00

Documents

Students should bring the following documents in hand luggage:

• Valid passport (with a valid visa for non-EU/EEA students)
• Medical records and vaccination reports (if relevant)
• Wittenborg Admission Letter
• Original birth certificate in English or with a certified legalised English translation
• Passport-type photos

 Clothes

The Netherlands is a country with a pleasant, temperate maritime climate. Daytime temperatures vary from 3°C-37°F in the winter and 19°C-66°F in the summer. As a result, you will need to pack an assortment of clothes, such as:

• Winter coat and winter accessories, like gloves, scarf, warm headgear
• Summer clothes
• Waterproof jacket and shoes (+ umbrella)
• Business attire for formal occasions, company meetings, presentations, and events

Money

Please bring enough money in cash to cover the first weeks’ expenses, since it may take a few weeks to open a bank account. Foreign currency can be changed to Euro at Grenswisselkantoren. For information and locations, visit https://www.gwktravelex.nl/en.

Electrical equipment

• Computer/laptop/tablet + charger
• Mobile phone + charger
• Power adapter if needed. The Netherlands uses Type C&F Euro electricity outlets with 230 V with 50 HZ frequency. Some appliances do not need a converter. If the label states 'INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz' the appliance can be used in all countries in the world and is standard for chargers of tablets/laptops and phones

If you wish to speak to any of the Wittenborg staff, please invite them for an appointment using the Outlook Calendar. You can find the email addresses of all staff in your Outlook address book.

If you want to make an appointment with your process tutor, you need to fill in the form provided to you in your process tutor area.

In the attached document you will find a detailed guide.

Please note that the meetings with your process tutor are only online and will be held on MS Teams. 

Source: Course: Student Resources - General Information for all Students |STU001| (wittenborg-online.com)

The “Burgerservicenummer” (BSN) is a unique personal number that enables reliable and efficient data exchange between residents, the government and various other organizations. In the Netherlands, you need the BSN for opening a bank account, visiting a doctor, getting health insurance, receiving your salary (if you are working part-time while studying), applying for tax benefits and many other administrative processes.

The requirements and process:

Whether you are a Dutch citizen or an international, everyone living in the Netherlands is required to be registered at their home address. You need to register (inschrijven) at the town hall in the municipality (gemeente) where you are living. 

To register your address and get a BSN from the gemeente, you need to make an appointment. 

If you live in Apeldoorn: the University Front Desk will make the appointment with the Gemeente (City Hall) on your behalf. For the appointment, students should bring the following documents:

• Residence permit
• Passport (original copy)
• Birth Certificate (with legalised translation in Dutch or English) (if applicable)
• Accommodation contract

The process of registration will take between 20 to 30 minutes. Once you are registered at the municipality, you will receive a document which states your particulars and your BSN. An official welcome letter will be mailed to you at your home address.

Take note that you cannot open a bank account unless you have your BSN. So ensure that you have sufficient cash with you when you arrive.