Starting a Business in the Netherlands with the DAFT Visa
Real-world guide to setting up a ZZP business in the Netherlands after arriving on a DAFT visa: KVK registration, bank accounts, taxes, DigiD, and more.
This is Part 2 of my DAFT visa guide for Americans moving to the Netherlands. Part 1 covers the move itself: the DAFT visa (Dutch American Friendship Treaty), pre-planning, finding housing, and submitting the IND application.
This guide picks up after arrival: KVK registration, the €4,500 investment requirement, Dutch taxes, and the systems you need to actually run a freelance business here. Or at least, that's the plan.
Starting a Business in the Netherlands on a DAFT Visa: Life After Arrival
I landed in the Netherlands in October 2025. I registered my business in March 2026. That's five(ish) months, which is not the pace I had imagined. Between family vacations, Christmas markets, a gallivating birth certificate, the flu, and housing that took longer than expected, things just took the time they took. Everything still got done.
If you're in a similar spot, settled enough to start, but staring down a to-do list that feels enormous, this is the info I wish I'd had. I run a copywriting business called The Copy Trust, and I registered as a ZZP (zelfstandige zonder personeel, which just means self-employed freelancer) under the DAFT visa. That's the perspective this guide is written from.
What This Guide Covers
Getting your BSN, setting up DigiD, registering with the KVK, opening a Dutch business bank account, the €4,500 investment requirement, invoicing, health insurance, Dutch taxes, US tax obligations, and the mistakes I made so you don't have to.
Checklist: Starting a Business in the Netherlands on a DAFT Visa
Here's the full sequence as I did it before we get into the details. Order matters in a few places, which I'll flag as we go.
1. Register at your gemeente (city hall) to get your BSN
2. Set up DigiD once your BSN arrives
3. Register your business with the KVK (Kamer van Koophandel, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce) and pay the fee
4. Open a business bank account
5. Deposit the €4,500 DAFT investment requirement
6. Wait for your VAT identification number in the mail
7. Get mandatory health insurance
8. Set up invoicing and accounting
9. File quarterly VAT returns
10. Handle US tax obligations (FBAR, expat tax filing)
Each of these is more manageable than the list makes it look. Here's how it actually went.
Getting Your BSN: Do This Before Almost Everything Else
Your BSN (burgerservicenummer) is the Dutch equivalent of a Social Security number. You need it to register a business, set up DigiD, get health insurance, open a proper bank account, and more. It's the key that unlocks most of the rest of this process. I also didn't get mine until January, so this isn't something you need to get immediately after landing at Schiphol!
To get one, you book an appointment at your city's gemeente (municipal office, basically city hall). I'm in Utrecht. My first available slot was January 21st, but I kept checking the portal every few days and found a cancellation on December 23rd. Early Christmas present. Check often as spots can open up.
What to Bring
- Passport with your IND visa sticker
- Signed lease (proof that you live at the address you're registering)
- Apostilled birth certificate, if you have it
I did not have my birth certificate. I still do not have my birth certificate! Mine was mailed from the US and somehow traveled from the Netherlands back to the US and then back to the Netherlands again without actually getting delivered. The Consular Report of Birth Abroad for my partner (the document you get if you were born outside the US, apostilled by the State Department) is still stuck in government shutdown limbo. Utrecht's gemeente was understanding about both. Your city may be less flexible, so it's worth calling ahead to ask what they require and whether there are any rules about how recent your documents need to be.
After the appointment, your BSN arrives by mail in about two weeks. Over the holidays it might take a little longer. Mine arrived in almost exactly two weeks.
Do Not Mail Important Documents from the US
I have tracking numbers for my birth certificate. It has not helped. All I can do is watch a frustrating game of document ping pong. Carry documents with you if you can.
DigiD: Your Digital Identity for Everything Official
DigiD is how you log into Dutch government systems online. Once you have your BSN and are registered at an address, you apply at digid.nl and an activation code arrives by mail in three to five days. Set it up immediately when your BSN arrives. You will need it for the KVK registration, the tax authority (Belastingdienst), health insurance platforms, and a long list of other things.
The app is great. A website asks you to log in using DigiD, you open the DigiD app, enter your PIN, get a code, scan a QR code, done. My partner doesn't have a Dutch phone number yet and still uses it without problems, you just need to be able to receive SMS messages.
KVK Registration: Making Your Business Official
The KVK (Kamer van Koophandel) is the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. Registering here is what makes you an official business. For a ZZP (sole trader / eenmanszaak), the process is genuinely straightforward. I say this having been anxious about it for weeks.
Step 1: Fill Out the Online Form
Go to kvk.nl and find the "Register your business" button. You log in with DigiD. The form asks for your business name, trade name, founding date, address, contact details, website, what your business does, whether you sell to consumers or other businesses, and your BSN. It is not scary. It's things you already know about your own business.
One thing to get right: the description of your business activities needs to be in Dutch. I submitted mine in English, knowing it would get translated later. It did get translated, but I think the result was slightly narrower than I intended. Write it in Dutch yourself, or run it through Google Translate and review it before you submit. This matters because your description feeds into your SBI code (Standaard Bedrijfsindeling, the industry classification code the KVK assigns you), which affects how your business is categorized for tax and regulatory purposes.
One more thing worth thinking through before you submit: your trade name. This is the name that appears on your invoices and in your KVK registration. I chose a generic trade name to give myself flexibility for side projects. My first client was confused because they expected to see The Copy Trust on the invoice, and instead they saw my KVK name, The HH Consulting. Think about what your clients will actually see, and make sure it makes sense to them.
Step 2: Book an In-Person Appointment
After submitting the form, you book an appointment at any KVK office to confirm the details in person. My local Utrecht office had a long wait. I checked the Eindhoven location, got a much earlier slot, and used the trip as an excuse to finally eat at Nico's Tacos (a small, family run restaurant that I grew up eating at in Arizona, who inexpicably have a Netherlands outpost). Highly recommended by the way!
What the Appointment Is Actually Like
I had scoured the expat Facebook groups trying to find out exactly what to expect. The answer, which I'll save you the search: it's a 20-minute conversation where a staff member confirms the details you already submitted. He had already looked at my website. We went through my trade name, address, and business activities together. He assigned my SBI code and translated my activity description into Dutch. Then he turned the mouse over to me so I could click to officially register my business. We celebrated (ok, just me). I received my KVK number before I left the building.
What I Brought
My passport and my residency permit. That is all. I showed up braced for a stack of supporting documents. It was not that kind of appointment.
ZZP vs. BV: Which Structure Makes Sense?
For most Americans using the DAFT visa to freelance or consult, a ZZP (eenmanszaak, or sole trader) is the right starting point. It's simple, inexpensive to set up, and doesn't require a notary.
A BV (besloten vennootschap) is the Dutch version of a limited liability company. If you're going after the 30% ruling (a tax benefit for highly skilled migrants) or have a more complex business structure, a BV might be worth exploring, but it's a more involved setup process and most guidance suggests starting it before you leave the US I have no BV experience, so if that's your situation, do your own research and talk to a specialist.
Your VAT Number
After you register, the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) assigns you a VAT identification number (BTW-id) and mails it to you. I registered on March 5th and was still waiting as of mid-March. Budget a couple of weeks, I guess! You'll likely need this number on invoices you send to Dutch or EU clients.
For US Clients
The VAT number is less immediately urgent. But get your invoicing system in order before you start sending bills regardless, you want a clean paper trail from the beginning.
Opening a Dutch Business Bank Account
I opened mine the day after my KVK appointment. For my mix of fees, features, and policies, ING worked best. I also looked closely at Bunq Business, Knab, and Revolut Business. My (possibly overzealous) advice: build a comparison spreadsheet, list every option, and work through the pros and cons methodically. Yes, this takes time. It also means you know exactly why you chose what you chose, which is useful when you're second-guessing everything else in your first year.
I had read that you need a KVK extract (a registration document that has variable costs for digital vs printed version) to open a business bank account. I did not need it. Check with your bank before paying for it.
The €4,500 DAFT Investment Requirement
As soon as my account was open, I transferred in €4,500, plus a little extra to cover upcoming expenses (KVK registration fee, bank fees, a few business subscriptions I'd been holding off on). Here's what you need to understand about this requirement.
The €4,500 is not a fee and it's not a deposit you get back.
It's a capital investment in your business, and what the IND is really checking is that your business has at least €4,500 in owner's equity (eigen vermogen). That's an accounting concept, not just a bank balance. Owner's equity is essentially the portion of your business assets that came from your own money rather than from debt. So: if you borrow €4,500 and put it in your account, that doesn't satisfy the requirement, even if the account balance looks right. The bookkeeper's job when they prepare your opening balance sheet is to verify, on professional authority, that the money genuinely came from your own assets.
A few other important things to know:
- The equity must stay at or above €4,500 for the entire duration of your permit, not just at the start. If it dips below that at any point and the IND checks, your renewal can be denied (and in theory, revoked retroactively).
- You can spend the money on legitimate business expenses and still satisfy the requirement, as long as the equity in your business doesn't drop below €4,500. You don't need to keep the cash sitting untouched in your account (even though that is exactly what I will be doing). You do need to keep your books clean so the equity is always demonstrable.
- A Dutch business bank account is the simplest way to demonstrate the investment to the IND. It doesn't technically have to be a Dutch bank, but it should be a business account, and the cleaner and more straightforward the paper trail, the better.
Invoicing and Moving Money Between the US and Netherlands
This section comes with a big caveat: I'm still refining this system and will be running it past a bookkeeper. Treat it as a rough model, not a recommendation.
Invoicing: Moneybird
I'm using Moneybird for invoices and basic bookkeeping. It's built for Dutch freelancers, designed to work with the Belastingdienst's requirements, and makes quarterly VAT filing easier to track. It costs money (although I got a free trial, so I haven't actually paid anything yet).
(My Anticipated) Payment Flow for US Clients (Billing in Dollars)
1. Client pays via Stripe or Wise
2. If via Stripe: transfer from Stripe to Wise first
3. Convert dollars to euros inside Wise (better exchange rate than Stripe/bank)
4. Transfer euros from Wise to my ING business account
At every transfer step, I'll include the invoice number. This creates a paper trail the Belastingdienst can follow. I'll update this once my bookkeeper has looked it over and told me what I've gotten wrong.
Use Wise for Currency Conversion
I'm planning on using Wise for currency conversion, not Stripe or a bank. The exchange rate difference adds up quickly when you're moving money regularly. This is one of the few places where the better option is also the cheaper one.
Health Insurance: Mandatory, and Easy to Apply For
Every person who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out standard health insurance. You can't skip it, and there are retroactive penalties for gaps in coverage. The good news: signing up is easy.
I used Independer.nl to compare plans and picked what worked for my situation. Basic coverage (basisverzekering) is standardized across insurers, every Dutch resident gets the same core package. You choose your insurer based on price and supplemental options (aanvullende verzekering), which cover things like dental, glasses, and physiotherapy.
Your monthly premium depends on which insurer you choose and what deductible (eigen risico) you select. The statutory minimum deductible is €385 per year for 2025/2026. A higher deductible means a lower monthly premium, which may or may not make sense depending on how much healthcare you expect to use. I chose the highest deductible, mainly as I'm a fairly cheap person, I have some savings for a high deductible, and aside from recently getting the flu, I'm usually quite healthy.
ZZP Insurance: What's Required and What's Worth Considering
Health insurance is the only mandatory insurance for a ZZP. Everything else is optional, but "optional" here means "you are fully on your own if something goes wrong." I'm still debating on getting any of these!
- Arbeidsongeschiktheidsverzekering (AOV): Disability insurance for when you can't work due to illness or injury. This is the one most freelancers are strongly advised to get. It's not cheap. Neither is being unable to work for six months with no income.
- Beroepsaansprakelijkheidsverzekering: Professional liability insurance. Worth it if your work could cause a client financial harm, like advice, deliverables, consulting.
- Pensioen (pension): There is no automatic pension as a ZZP. You build your own. I'm still researching the options. It's on the list.
If you're coming from the US and used to employer benefits, this is the adjustment that tends to catch people off guard. Budget for it before you need it.
Dutch Taxes for ZZP Freelancers
I want to be clear again: I am not a tax professional, and the Dutch-plus-US tax situation is still murky to me. I'll be finding a bookkeeper with ZZP experience and a tax advisor who handles American expats. That said, here's the landscape as I understand it, as of today.
The M Form (Migration Tax Return)
If you moved to the Netherlands partway through a calendar year, your first Dutch tax return is the M form (migratiebrief), which covers the year you arrived. The Belastingdienst sends these out around May 1st. The deadline to return it is July 1st. If you moved in 2025, watch your mail in May.
Quarterly VAT Returns
As a registered VAT entrepreneur, you file a BTW (VAT) return every quarter. File it even if you had zero income. The Belastingdienst wants to know you're on top of it. Missing filings without explanation can lead to penalties and assumptions you'd rather not deal with. Most small businesses file VAT returns quarterly unless the Belastingdienst assigns a different schedule.
Deductions Worth Knowing About
- Zelfstandigenaftrek: The self-employed deduction. Available if you work 1,225 or more hours per year on your business. Track your hours from the day your business starts.
- Startersaftrek: An additional deduction for the first three years of your business.
- MKB-winstvrijstelling: A small business profit exemption that reduces your taxable profit by a percentage.
- Business expense deductions: Internet, phone (proportional to business use), subscriptions, website hosting, co-working space, professional development, business travel.
- VAT reclaim on business expenses: Keep receipts for everything.
Start Tracking Your Hours Immediately
The zelfstandigenaftrek threshold (1,225 hours) runs from your business founding date. Log as you go.
US Tax Obligations: You Still Have Them
The US taxes based on citizenship, not residency. Moving to the Netherlands does not end your obligation to file with the IRS. Here's the short version of what you need to know.
Filing Deadline
American expats automatically get an extension to June 15th. You can request a further extension to October 15th. Make sure the IRS knows you're filing as an expat so you're flagged correctly.
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE)
If you meet the physical presence or bona fide residence test, you can exclude a significant chunk of your foreign-earned income from US tax. For 2025, the threshold is over $120,000. Verify the exact figure for your filing year.
Foreign Tax Credit
Taxes paid to the Netherlands can generally be credited against your US tax bill, which reduces or eliminates double taxation. The sequence I will be trying out this year: doing my Dutch taxes first, then applying any credit to my US return.
FBAR (FinCEN 114)
If your foreign financial accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during the year, you must file an FBAR. This includes your Dutch business bank account, Wise, and any other non-US accounts. The deadline is April 15th, with an automatic extension to October 15th. The penalties for non-compliance are not proportional to the mistake. File it.
Mistakes I Made (So You Can Make Different Ones)
Submitting My KVK Activity Description in English
The form says it needs to be in Dutch. I figured it would get cleaned up later. It did, but I think the translation came out narrower than what I intended. Write it in Dutch before you submit. Google Translate is fine for this rough version that will get approved at your appointment.
Not Thinking Through the Trade Name
I registered a generic trade name to leave room for future projects. My first invoice went out under that name, and my client was confused because they were expecting The Copy Trust, and they got my trade name, The HH Consulting instead. Think about what your clients will see on an invoice before you finalize anything.
Assuming the Timeline Would Be Tidy
I arrived in October and registered my business in March. That felt slow and stressful at the time. Looking back, everything that delayed me, the family visits, the housing situation, the flu, the birth certificate odyssey... it was just life. The process has natural pauses built in. You're not behind. Keep moving.
On Accountability as a Freelancer
This one surprised me. When there's no manager, no office, and no external deadline, my self-imposed timelines have a way of whooshing by. I am genuinely bad at this, and I'm saying so on the internet because I think it's worth naming (and shaming?).
What's helping: a biweekly check-in with a friend in the US who also runs her own business. I'm also starting to look for local or online Dutch entrepreneur groups. The other hard part is actually participating, in fact, writing these blogs is one of the first bits of outreach I'm doing! So if this brand of personality is your thing, and you are interested in learning and growing your business too, then I'd love to meet you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Business on a DAFT Visa
These are common questions I see from Americans preparing to move to the Netherlands under the Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT). The answers reflect my experience going through the process in Utrecht and what I’ve observed in DAFT forums and expat communities. Obviously, this is just free advice on the internet, so please do your own due diligence.
Can Americans Start a Business in the Netherlands with the DAFT Visa?
Yes. The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa is specifically designed for US citizens who want to live in the Netherlands as self-employed entrepreneurs. There's no required business plan and no minimum revenue threshold for the initial application, which makes it one of the more accessible entrepreneur visa routes available.
Do you need a certain income to maintain a DAFT visa?
Two different things matter here: the equity requirement and the income requirement.
For the equity requirement, your business must maintain at least €4,500 in owner's equity throughout the full two-year permit period. This is what the IND checks at renewal via your balance sheet and annual accounts.
For income, I've read that immigration specialists say that the IND generally wants to see that you earned at least €1,700 per month from months 7 through 24 of your permit. This is the figure cited online by Dutch immigration specialists as the standard renewal threshold, roughly equivalent to the Dutch social minimum. It's not an absolute number (supposedly) that disqualifies you automatically if you miss a month, but it's what reviewers look at when assessing whether you're running a genuine, self-sustaining business.
Neither of the above is an official IND webpage requirement with a single authoritative source, just what I've found online. Plus, immigration rules can change. Before my renewal approaches, I might talk to a DAFT-experienced immigration specialist who can assess my situation against the future IND practice (when the time comes!).
How Long Does KVK Registration Take?
The online form takes 15 to 30 minutes if you've thought through your business details in advance. Booking an in-person appointment varies by office. Check multiple KVK locations, not just your nearest one. The appointment itself is about 30 minutes. You get your KVK number the same day.
Do You Need a Dutch Bank Account Before Registering with the KVK?
No. You register with the KVK first, then open the business bank account. Open it as soon as possible after registration so you can deposit the €4,500 and start operating.
Do you need a bookkeeper as a ZZP?
For one specific task, yes: you need a bookkeeper with a BECON number (a Dutch registration for licensed tax service providers) to prepare your opening balance sheet. This is the document that verifies your €4,500 investment for the IND. A bank statement on its own isn't enough, because the IND isn't just checking that money is in your account. They're checking that the money came from your own assets and constitutes genuine owner's equity. A qualified bookkeeper certifies this on professional authority.
Under the current IND pilot process (in place since April 2024), you don't need to submit this balance sheet before your permit is approved. But the IND can request it any time from six months after approval onward, and as of early 2026 has been sending audit letters to some DAFT holders asking for exactly this documentation. Have it ready. Don't treat the expedited approval as meaning the paperwork doesn't matter.
Beyond the balance sheet, having a bookkeeper with ZZP and expat experience manage your ongoing accounts is genuinely worth the cost, especially as an American managing two tax systems. The equity requirement doesn't end at the opening balance sheet. If your equity slips below €4,500 at any point during your permit and you discover it at renewal, you can't fix it retroactively. Ongoing bookkeeping is how you catch that before it becomes an immigration problem.
Does the IND evaluate your business idea?
No. The IND does not assess whether your business model is viable or likely to succeed. There are no financial projections to submit, no requirement to prove your business benefits the Dutch economy, and no business plan at all. My residency permit was approved before I had even registered with the KVK. The IND checks that you meet the DAFT requirements. That's it. The KVK does ask about your activities when you register, but that information is used to classify your business for administrative and tax purposes, not to evaluate it.
Can you move to the Netherlands on DAFT and keep working for your current employer as a freelancer?
This one requires some caution. If you set up a ZZP and you only have one client, the Dutch tax authorities may consider it false self-employment (schijnzelfstandigheid). They look at factors like whether you have multiple clients, whether you control your own schedule, and whether you're genuinely operating as an independent business. You'll see advice in expat forums suggesting you should have at least three clients. I can't confirm that's a formal IND rule, but it circulates for a reason. If your plan is to freelance primarily for a former employer, research the Dutch rules around false employment carefully.
Do you need to apply for the DAFT visa before leaving the United States?
No. Unlike many visa programs, DAFT doesn't require you to start the process before you arrive. Most ZZP applicants get to the Netherlands first, register with their gemeente, receive their BSN, and then begin the application. The process is sequential: IND application, biometrics and temporary residence sticker, KVK registration, business bank account, €4,500 deposit. The exception is if you're setting up a BV (besloten vennootschap, a private limited company) rather than a ZZP. A BV typically needs to be established before you move and requires a Dutch notary. A lot of DAFT applicants go the ZZP route and handle everything after arriving.
How important is learning Dutch?
More important than most expats expect, especially if one partner plans to work locally. Many international companies operate in English, but a lot of Dutch job market roles still expect at least conversational Dutch. Government correspondence, tax forms, and KVK materials are all primarily in Dutch (with English available, but sometimes incomplete). Starting language study early, well before you arrive, makes most of this easier. Even little things, like answering the door for packages is easier!
Useful Resources
- kvk.nl/en: Business registration, SBI codes, and a solid checklist for starting a business. The English version is comprehensive and genuinely useful.
- belastingdienst.nl: The Dutch tax authority. VAT registration, quarterly filing, deductions.
- digid.nl: Apply for DigiD here as soon as your BSN arrives.
- independer.nl: Health insurance comparison tool that I used. There are others.
- wise.com: Currency conversion and international transfers. I use this instead of my bank when moving money between dollars and euros.
- moneybird.com: Invoicing and bookkeeping software built for Dutch freelancers.
- ind.nl/en: Official IND site. Immigration info, permit status, and the actual rules.
Summary: Starting a Business in the Netherlands After Arriving on a DAFT Visa
- Register at your gemeente to get your BSN. Bring your passport, IND sticker, signed lease, and apostilled birth certificates.
- Apply for DigiD as soon as your BSN arrives. Activation takes three to five days. You need it for almost everything that follows.
- Complete the KVK registration form at kvk.nl. Write your business activity description in Dutch. Book an appointment at whichever KVK office you want.
- Attend your KVK appointment with your passport and residency permit. You'll get your KVK number before you leave.
- Open a Dutch business bank account immediately after.
- Deposit the €4,500 DAFT investment requirement into your business account.
- Wait for your VAT number from the Belastingdienst. Budget two or more weeks. Add it to all invoices for Dutch and EU clients once it arrives.
- Get health insurance through a Dutch insurer.
- Set up invoicing and bookkeeping software. Moneybird is designed for Dutch ZZP freelancers, but there are other options. Start tracking expenses and hours from day one.
- Find a bookkeeper with expat and ZZP experience. Find a tax advisor who handles both Dutch and US returns. Both are worth the money.
- File quarterly VAT returns even if you had no income. File your FBAR if any foreign account topped $10,000 at any point during the year.
This guide reflects my experience moving from Queens, NYC to Utrecht under the Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) and registering a freelance copywriting business in 2026. I moved from Queens to Utrecht in late 2025 and didn't register The Copy Trust until early 2026. Your timeline will look different and your specific situation will have different complications. That's fine. The process is finite. The paperwork has an end. You'll get there.
Questions? Want to compare notes? I'm happy to help where I can. Reach out via the button below.
Moving to the Netherlands Under DAFT: My Practical Relocation Blueprint
My NYC to the Netherlands using the Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) with budget details, timeline, tips & suggestions to make the move as smooth and easy as possible.
What Is DAFT?
The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa is a work and residence permit available exclusively to American citizens who want to start a business in the Netherlands. It's remarkably straightforward compared to other visa options:
- Who's eligible: Any U.S. citizen who wants to be self-employed and live in the Netherlands
- Main requirement: Deposit €4,500 in a Dutch business bank account (this must stay there for the duration of your visa)
- No business plan required (unlike other entrepreneur visas)
- No minimum revenue requirements for the initial application
- Partner/spouse can work: They get full work rights once your visa is approved
My Budget Reality (What I Actually Spent)
Note: My initial budget estimate was around $35,000, but reality was a bit more harsh, especially with paying a full year's rent upfront and last-minute decisions. Your costs will vary based on your choices.
My Timeline: The Long View
Make sure everyone in your household is on board with this move before you begin. This is a massive life change, and having everyone aligned from the start will make the entire process smoother.
6+ months before: Started researching cities, passport renewal, birth certificate apostille process
3-4 months before: Scouting trip to Netherlands, serious decluttering begins
2 months before: Final shipping decisions, selling belongings intensifies
Final month: Intense countdown of tasks (see detailed breakdown below)
After arrival: IND appointments, city hall registration, setting up life
Pre-Move Preparation (6+ Months Out)
The Passport Situation
You need at least 3 months validity remaining on your passport to visit other countries. However, if you're planning to stay long-term (like my plan for 5+ years), you should renew your passport well before it expires. Your passport needs to be valid throughout the residence permit application process and beyond. You can renew while living overseas, but doing it before you move is one less thing to worry about.
Birth Certificate Apostille (Start Early!)
This was one of my biggest mistakes. I thought I could get it done same-day in NYC, but that only works if you were born in New York State. Since I was born in a different state, I had to mail my original birth certificate to my birth state.
Critical Apostille Info
Start 2-3 months before your move. I sent mine way too late and it was stressful. Check your birth state's processing times because some states take forever!
If you or your partner is a U.S. citizen born outside the United States: They'll have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) instead of a regular birth certificate. This needs to be apostilled by the U.S. State Department, not by a state. The process normally takes 3-6 MONTHS, but we got caught in a government shutdown and are STILL waiting months later.
Pro tip: Request a new certified copy instead of sending your original baby birth certificate like I did!
Scouting Trip (Consider Your Needs)
In March 2025, I took a train trip through the Netherlands from Groningen to Maastricht (the top of the country to the bottom). This helped me narrow down where to live. I decided Groningen, Zwolle, Den Bosh, Maastricht, etc. all felt too small. I narrowed it to Utrecht and The Hague, both great size with lots of amenities and charm.
Should you do a scouting trip? It depends on whether you're the kind of person who needs to see and feel a place in person, or if you can do enough research online (reading forums, watching videos, studying neighborhoods on Google Maps). A scouting trip is expensive, so weigh whether it's worth the cost for your decision-making process.
U.S. Banking & Residency Strategy
This is complicated but important. Many U.S. banks require account holders to maintain a U.S. address, though this isn't a legal requirement, it's a bank policy. Some banks will close accounts if they discover you're living abroad permanently, while others are more flexible. I wanted to keep my US credit union accounts, so here's what I did:
- Chose to establish residency in Washington State (no state income tax, I was a previous resident, and had a friend willing to help)
- Set up a mailbox with TravelingMailbox.com (a virtual mailbox service)
- Got a Washington driver's license
- Maintained my Chase and Capital One accounts with my U.S. address
- Opened a Charles Schwab account (they're known to be expat-friendly and don't require a physical U.S. address)
Understanding U.S. Banking for Expats
While there's no law requiring U.S. citizens abroad to have U.S. bank accounts, many banks have internal policies requiring a U.S. residential address. Some banks will close accounts if they detect you're living abroad permanently, particularly if you switch to a foreign address. I'm keeping my U.S. based banks and credit cards to continue earning credit card points.
Expat-friendly options include: Charles Schwab, State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU), and some credit unions like USAA or Navy Federal. Traditional banks like Chase or Bank of America may close accounts if they discover foreign residency.
Virtual mailbox services: Many expats use these, but be aware that banks can detect Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) addresses and may not accept them as your physical address. An actual residential address (like a friend's or family member's) is preferred.
Why I Waited to Change Residency
I didn't change my driver's license and addresses until RIGHT before the move (late September) because I didn't want to mess up tax implications with my NYC job. Once I quit, I took a quick trip to Washington to handle everything.
Other expat-friendly states to consider: Florida, South Dakota, Texas, Nevada. These states have no income tax and are often chosen by expats. Research what works for your situation because establishing residency in a state with income tax could create ongoing tax obligations even while living abroad.
Medical/Dental Appointments
Schedule these throughout the year before you leave. Get everything checked while you still have easy access to your U.S. providers and insurance. I'm a fairly healthy person with no pre-existing conditions, but if you have any medical conditions or ongoing treatments, make sure to get relevant documentation, medical records, and prescriptions that you can share with your new Dutch doctors.
The Great Purge: Downsizing Everything
This was the hardest part for me. Start as early as you can, seriously, the minute you know you're moving.
Shipping: Air vs. Sea Freight
I chose air freight and paid $4,000 for two pallets (under max height/weight limits). It arrived in days instead of 6-8 weeks. Worth it for me as a procrastinator who was revising my shipment up until the day before pickup! Which, I also don't advise, but the shipper was very accommodating in spite of my last minute changes.
I worked with Mark at ExpatShipping.com. He was great, though I wish he'd given me all the info upfront instead of doling it out as it became relevant. I'm a planner and want to know EVERYTHING at the beginning. Another popular option I researched was UPakWeShip, which seems to be highly recommended in expat communities as well.
My Shipping Reality
Air freight: $3,500-4,000, arrives in days, more flexible timeline
Sea freight: Slightly cheaper, 6-8 weeks transit time
My advice: Start with things that have been in closets forever. Make your inventory list first, THEN get quotes. Consider whether you need professional movers to help pack or if you can handle it yourself.
Selling Your Stuff
- Facebook Marketplace: Great for furniture and my car
- Poshmark: Nothing sold until I posted "FINAL WEEK - MOVING SALE" then suddenly people bought things
- Buy Nothing groups (NYC): AMAZING. Posted a time window for people to pick up free stuff. Had a steady stream of grateful neighbors
- Final day: Put remaining items outside my building with a "curb alert" notice on the Buy Nothing Group page
Luggage Scale Pro Tip
BUY A LUGGAGE SCALE. I paid $500+ in overage fees because I frantically packed without weighing anything. Don't be me.
My Final Month: The Countdown
The last month is intense. Here's what I focused on:
Early in Final Month
- Terminated lease (gave proper notice in August)
- Booked temporary housing on Booking.com for 2 months (€2,700/month because it was somewhat last-minute)
- Finalized shipping arrangements
- Sourced a free pallet from grocery stores
- Started assembling and packing the pallet
My Mid-Month Tasks
- Continued aggressive decluttering and packing
- Decided what goes in suitcases vs. shipping (remember: you can't ship food, so pack spices!)
- Got various forms notarized
- Multiple library trips to print documents (we didn't own a printer)
- Got quotes from cleaners
- Finalized storage facility in Netherlands (Shurgard Storage was great)
- Listed my car for sale on Facebook Marketplace
USPS Forwarding - Do This Earlier!
Set up mail forwarding to your new mailbox service SOONER than I did. They send confirmation letters to your OLD address, which meant we had to have them opened/scanned at our TravelingMailbox. Do this 2-3 weeks before you leave, not days before.
My Final Week
- Finalized what stays, what ships, what gets donated
- Cleaned apartment
- Final neighborhood walk for coffee and bagels (take time to say goodbye!)
- Called car insurance company, canceled policy as soon as the car sold
- Transferred rental insurance to Netherlands coverage (same company operated there!)
- Final laundry runs
- Final luggage packing
- Put anything that didn't fit downstairs for neighbors to take (one reason to love NYC!)
- Deposited cash from Facebook Marketplace sales
- Posted curb alert on Facebook with photos of remaining items
- Turned in keys to building super
- Ubered to airport
Arrival in the Netherlands
First Few Days
Give yourself grace. We were exhausted. Schedule a recovery day if you need it, especially with the time change if you're coming from the West Coast.
We took the train from the airport to our temporary housing, though there are other options like taxis, Uber, or expat pickup services. We chose the train because we could manage it (and my mom surprised us by meeting us at the airport, so we had extra help with luggage!). Choose whatever transportation method works best for your situation and amount of luggage.
The Banking & Phone Sequence That Worked For Me
This is SO important and I didn't fully understand it until I was here:
The Sequence That Worked For Me
1. Opened Wise.com account (mid-September in NYC). Wise is a financial technology company (not a bank) that provides multi-currency accounts with European IBANs. Key benefits: transparent fees (no hidden markups like traditional banks), transfers often arrive instantly or within 24 hours, you can hold 40+ currencies, and get local account details for multiple countries. This gave me a way to pay for things in Europe before having a Dutch bank account.
2. Opened Bunq account (in NL). You can open this Dutch bank with just your American passport, then submit your BSN within 60 days. This gives you a Dutch IBAN. Note: I know there are several other Dutch banks that allow you to open without a BSN, so do your own research to find which bank works best for you. I chose Bunq for convenience but plan to switch to a different bank later.
3. Got Dutch phone number. Went to Odido and got a phone number (eSIM on my cell phone) AND home internet. You need a Dutch IBAN for this, as well as a physical card or ApplePay using your new Dutch card. Thankfully Bunq's card and ApplePay integrated seamlessly while standing in line at the store!
4. Registered at city hall (gemeente). This gets you your BSN number (arrives in mail in about 2 weeks), which is roughly the equivalent of your Social Security Number.
5. Applied for DigiD. After BSN arrives, apply online. Takes 3-5 days to be finalized. This is your digital ID for conducting official business online in the Netherlands.
The Dutch Phone Number Problem
SO MANY THINGS require a Dutch phone number: ordering online, setting up utilities, opening better bank accounts. You can't do much without one! Get that phone number ASAP after you have a Dutch bank account.
The IND Process
When we went through customs, the immigration officer asked us, "Do you have an IND appointment?" We didn't yet because we couldn't schedule it until we had an address for mail. It wasn't a problem, he just reminded that the IND appointment stops the clock on your time in the Schengen Zone.
How to book: Call the number on IND.nl. The woman who helped me was lovely and suggested the closest location to our temporary housing. You can book appointments at various IND offices around the country.
What you need:
- Your passport
- Completed forms (7524 for sponsor (you!), 7518 for your partner or children)
- Money for fees (check the exact amount the day before, it changes! Verify current fees at IND.nl) I had read that you needed to have cash or a Dutch bank account, but they seemed to be set up for VISA/Mastercard. Another thing to verify if you call!
- An address where mail can be sent (we waited until we had a signed lease)
Additional forms if unmarried: We're unmarried, which is why we received a follow-up request for Form 7625 (questionnaire about our relationship). If you're married, you'll need to provide an apostilled marriage certificate as part of your initial application.
What happened for me: In ONE appointment (if you book it right by calling), you can submit the application, do biometrics (photo/fingerprints), and get your residence sticker in your passport. Most people have to do this through multiple mail appointments, but calling and booking in-person saved so much time. However, the only reason I applied this way was because I didn't have a way to get mail yet. If you have housing and a mailing address, the standard way to apply is to send your application via mail after you arrive.
Google Translate Is Essential
All IND letters come in Dutch. Have Google Translate on your phone ready to scan documents.
Finding Permanent Housing
The rental market is BRUTAL. I spent 1.5 years not-so-casually watching Funda.nl and Pararius.com, so I knew the market.
What we did:
- Found a listing ourselves on Funda right after it was posted
- Sent it to our makelaar (real estate agent) IMMEDIATELY
- She had a relationship with the listing agent and got us a viewing (they usually only do 5-10 viewings total)
- We sent a letter introducing ourselves: responsible, no pets/smoking/former homeowners, willing to pay 12 months rent upfront
- Included redacted bank statements showing we could afford it
Start This Process BEFORE You Arrive
I reached out to real estate agents in March but didn't follow up well enough. They got booked or we lost touch. Start 3-4 months before arrival and STAY on top of it. Know what you want from browsing listings obsessively. The competitive market means having an agent can make the difference in securing housing.
Registering at City Hall (Gemeente)
Book an appointment at your city's gemeente. Check with your specific city about whether you need your IND sticker first (I'm not 100% certain this is required, and each city can be different, but we had ours when we went).
What we brought:
- Passport (with IND sticker)
- Printed copy of our lease
What we didn't have yet: Our original apostilled birth certificates (they were understanding and we submitted them later).
Your BSN number arrives in the mail in about 2 weeks. This unlocks SO MUCH: better bank accounts, registering your business at the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), official business, and more.
Setting Up Your Business
I haven't completed this yet, but here's what's next for me:
- Open Dutch business bank account (need KVK number)
- Deposit €4,500 (this must stay in the account)
- Register with KVK (Chamber of Commerce) (costs €51, you get a VAT number)
- Get company extract (€15, needed for business bank account)
- Get health insurance (required in Netherlands)
- Get ZZP insurance (for self-employed individuals)
I'm registering a copywriting business with some side projects, including digital marketing and travel planning services.
Note From the Future (March 2026)
I've just completed setting up my business, and will be writing up a more thorough and up to date account of that. In the meantime, I've learned that the €4,500+ that needs to be invested in your Dutch business doesn't have to be placed in a Dutch bank. In practice, most DAFT applicants deposit this into a Dutch business bank account, though the IND primarily requires proof of the investment in a business account rather than specifying the bank location. The IND has a link on their site to the "rules on substantial capital investment" if you too feel like some quality time reading legalese!
What I Didn't Expect
- Sometimes it feels like everything requires a BSN or Dutch phone number. Can't order from some websites, can't set up utilities. You're locked out of so much until you have these.
- The stress of purging belongings. Start this process the MOMENT you know you're moving.
- How much easier air freight made things. Being able to revise my shipment until the day before pickup was a lifesaver, but also stressful.
- Family visits right after moving. My family visited a week after I arrived, and I had a pre-planned trip to France during our first week in our new house. Both were wonderful, but not ideal timing for settling in and handling immigration tasks.
My Biggest Mistakes
- Birth certificate apostille timing (should have started months earlier)
- Not securing a real estate agent before arrival (scrambled to find housing)
- USPS forwarding too late (cost us extra money in Traveling Mailbox scanning fees)
- Not weighing luggage ($500 in overage fees)
- Underestimating the emotional toll (the purging and goodbyes were harder than expected)
Resources & Links That I Used
- IND.nl/en (official immigration site, forms are here)
- kvk.nl/en/ (Kamer van Koophandel, aka Chamber of Commerce, where you register your business)
- Funda.nl (main housing listing site)
- Pararius.com (another housing site)
- Wise.com (international money transfers with transparent fees)
- Bunq.com (Dutch bank you can open with just US passport)
- TravelingMailbox.com (mail forwarding service)
- ExpatShipping.com (air freight shipping)
- UPakWeShip (another popular expat shipping option)
- Shurgard Storage (Netherlands storage facility)
Final Thoughts
Moving to another country is intense, chaotic, and exhausting. But it's also incredible. Take time to enjoy the journey, get those final bagels in your neighborhood, sit in a cafe in your new Dutch city, and give yourself permission to feel overwhelmed.
This guide is based on my experience moving from Queens to Utrecht in late 2025/2026. Your journey will be different. Laws change, processes evolve, cities have different procedures.
Have questions, want some feedback on your plans, want to learn more, or want to grab a coffee? Let's talk - send me a message via the contact form (see button just below!).
Perspective
I've had Loki for almost a year. In that year he has gone from being a lounge pony on pasture, to a working arena horse. During that process I was starting to wonder about him, and his suitability for riding. If you follow my Instagram, I have a picture of him tripping over poles from a few months ago. I have countless unpublished videos of him tripping under saddle and a few of him taking really awkward steps while on the longe line or at liberty. So, I slowed down my riding, bought him a fancy saddle pad, emphasized his trot pole work, and bought some side reins to help with self collection. Basically, we went back to basics.
And then. I had a friend come out to the barn one night after work, and she watched me ride him. She said everything I've been needing to hear, without knowing I needed it! Just the simple perspective of having another person tell you to sit back 5 degrees to be actually straight is life changing. Since that friend has come out, we are having longer, more productive rides. And no tripping!
All it took was an outside eyes (and some well deserved harsh words!) to wake up my potential.
It's amazing what happens..
...when you ride halfway well!
Back in Action...Almost
Two weeks ago my car got broken into, and the thieves took my (apparently) eye catching tote bag. I will admit, it was pretty cute, black with white polka dots, and they must have expected it to be a purse, or laptop bag, or container for valuable jewels.
Let's take a moment to imagine their disapointment when it only contained my bridle, girth and helmet! Poor thieves!
Anyway, my family took pity on me and my birthday presents this year were all gift cards to Dover & SmartPak, so I've already gotten a new bit and bridle from SmartPak, and am expecting a replacement helmet from Dover.
So Loki has been on half vacation for two weeks. And I think it's gone to his head.
Needless to say, I'm waiting for my new helmet to arrive before I hop on my sedate steed.
How Not To Train Your Horse
Since I'm apparently running a masterclass on 'How Not To Do Things' (see how not to buy a horse below, and how not to keep an updated blog, here), I thought I'd share my most recent 'ride'.
(Side note: I'd actually typed this all up earlier this week, and it was hilarious and well written, and then it was eaten by the internet gods, so please also file this under 'How Not To Save Your Work')
Back to the horse story. The day before I went on vacation for two weeks, I switched Loki's home. I moved him to a new barn with a huge indoor arena, and knowledgeable staff that I trust to take care of him in my absence. They turned him out in the arena while I was away, but it was still a change from the daily pasture turnout he was used to.
So while Loki wasn't a fire breathing dragon, he was pretty spicy and fired up when I got back (see Instagram for shenanigans in the arena). I turned him out and lunged him for two days, and on day three he seemed pretty chill, so I decided to hop aboard.
What I didn't think about was that I hadn't brought my saddle or bridle. What I also didn't think about was the construction work going on at the barn. Also not on my mind: my weak two-week vacation legs and how freezing cold it was.
So I looped my lead rope and tied it to his halter, shimmied up, and off we went, at a sedate walk. Our steering isn't all that great, so the two of us looked like drunks having an argument, weaving all over the arena. I was just starting to think that the whole ride idea was a bad idea, and I should find a good stopping point when there was a NOISE.
Keep in mind that there are noises at this barn alllll the time. It is still under construction, there are barking dogs, and the train tracks are really close, so we get freight and commuter trains at all hours.
However, this particular NOISE was apparently something new to Loki (it wasn't) and he decided to give a little wiggle. That turned into a shake. That turned into a trotting, jumping, prancing parade across the arena. I had initially grabbed mane and sat back, but by the time we ended up at the other side of the arena I was nearly riding his ears. Thankfully he stopped at the gate, and I melted off, thanking every deity that I could think of to thank.
We had a nice in-hand lateral work session after that, I groomed him, and we chilled for a while before I put him away. I'd like to hope I didn't do any lasting damage (ie-linking the 'I buck/jump and she comes off!' in his head), but we'll see! It has been way to cold to ride lately (lack of feeling in fingers isn't condusive to good hands!).
Totally not related, but I found a photo of him in training, in Heather Sacha's wonderful Facebook albums. She takes such nice pics, and is so great about being at the track all the time. Thanks Heather!
Look at this fatty! No wonder he was so slow...
I'm in Love
Anyone else here hit the jackpot? I have had the pleasure of working with this super cute, gorgeous, fun horse...who may or may not have the mental abilities of a toddler. It's ok. He's only 4; we have time!
Timeline, for those late to the show:
Saturday- Suprise purchase!
Sunday- hand walk around new boarding farm. Except, less walking and more bouncing with single limbs on the ground. Or no limbs. It was fun. We ended the day with 10-15 minutes of turnout in the "covered" "arena". It has a cover. It is techinically an arena, however it leaves a lot to be desired in fencing. Suffice to say, Loki did not attempt to be a steeplechaser.
Monday- More handwalking, equal amounts of bouncing. I really wanted to get it on video, but its hard to control an iPhone when you have a bounching horse. Where are my photographers?! Light longing in the arena. To the left, no problem! To the right? Problems.
Tuesday- Less bouncing! I was actually off this day, so we did some serious longeing both directions, then went and played around with ground manners. Like turn on the haunches. Or as Loki knows it, "Poke the new lady with your nose as she pokes your shoulder". Fun game.
Wednesday- He we come to a snag in our otherwise excellent behavior. Loki, for only the second time, was exercising in the field on the longe line, when HORSES came running up on the farm next door. HORSES. That's when the rope burns happened. And the swearing. Pretty sure the neighnours are scandalized. We finished on a good note.
Thursday- That's today! Only time for handwalking before work, but he was very good! The turn on the haunches is much snappier, even if a random front leg was tossed about. I didn't say we were doing the hokey pokey, but someone must have.
Tuesday is my next day off. I'm thinking of bringing out the saddle...and longeing. I'm not crazy!
Meet Loki
Or, what not to do when not shopping for a horse.
What should you do when horse shopping?
- Put together a list of goals
- Evaluate yourself as a horse owner and rider
- Get guidance from respected advisors
- Make a budget
- Read the booklet on OTTB Shopping and Buying that lives on your own computer, that you wrote
Don't do any of the below:
- Buy a horse straight off the track, with no vetting, not even seeing it outside the stall
Hey guys, guess what I did on Saturday!?
Meet Loki:
Back to Work
In one sense. The barns at work close for the winter, and they have just reopened. Today is the first day for training on the track; it really makes the coming racing season seem quite imminent!
I brought out my camera for the first time in an embarrassing while. Click on the pictures for a mini slide show.
Is there such a thing as too much guacamole?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Can it still be considered procrastination if you are being productive in other areas of life?
Answer: I really hope so!
I was exceptionally productive last weekend. There was a party to be held on Friday. I was bringing guacamole. I made that guacamole, and I made it good. It was everything a good guac should be; creamy, limey, one batch was even a touch spicy for those who are so inclined. I made it in such quantities that no party goer should have to go without. For to go to a party and not be able to partake in everything (or at least everything you like) is a sad occurrence, warranting a lament of a Tolkien-esque variety.
Turns out the party is today. So I'm off to the grocery store for another batch of avocados and limes. I think it is impossible to be glum on a day where there are avocados and limes (and salt!), even when the weather is a bit lackluster (read: grey and wet).
I did manage to go over more pictures from my trip, so peruse the adorable town of Rothenburg. A town so cute it was painful. That may have also been the bitingly cold wind and snowflakes, but who is keeping score?!
The most famousest view of the town
Why can't I have a house with lamps like that?
I love how you can change this view from freezing German town to Italian villa by fiddling with the saturation-- assuming you can look past the snowflakes
Back to Normal
Vacations never last quite as long as you want. I meant to keep updating...and then the trip got away from me...just the same way my turtle Shelly got away from me in the 6th grade. One moment here, the next moment racing away, a speck in the distance.
Anyway, away from the subject of runaway turtles, more pictures soon. As soon as I look at them.
Part One - London
One city, one and a half days. Fish and chips, Sunday Roast, Turkish dinner, and dim sum. British Museum, Harrods, aimless walking, and a trip across the Thames to Putney. Entire family can now navigate The Tube (all limbs accounted for), catch a bus, and remain in mostly good spirits. With the help of spirits - a strict minimum number of pubs per day policy has been instituted.
Tomorrow flying to Germany!