Before Leaving The Netherlands
Before you depart the Netherlands, there are important matters to take care of. Below is a checklist of issues which require one’s attention…
RESIDENCY & REGISTRATION
If you have registered with your Embassy or Consulate in The Hague or Amsterdam, you will need to advise them that you will be moving away.
De-Register with Your Municipal Office
There is a record with your name and address in the Dutch national database (BRP) which is managed by your local municipal administrative office (gemeente). Depending on the system used by the council, you may be able to de-register online, however most require an in-person visit for de-registration or in some limited cases by post or proxy (a person permitted to act on your behalf). De-registering generally can be done a maximum of one month before you leave, if you are able to supply an accurate departure date.
Return Your Resident’s Permit
Your residency permit is the property of the Dutch government and must be returned before you leave the country. This can be done at the nearest IND desk (loket). Some offices are by appointment only. The IND website has more information in English about how and where to return your Dutch residence permit.
EDUCATION
If you have a child enrolled in a Netherlands school, give the school a reasonable amount of notice that your child is departing. There may be outstanding bills for school fees, transport or meals that need to be settled.
It is likely that your child’s next school will require an official statement about your child’s previous education history. You should request documentation from the current school in the Netherlands stating the last grade level the child has successfully completed. Both Dutch and international schools will normally accommodate such a request with a summary of the child’s progress and up-to-date test results.
Leave a forwarding address with the school for future correspondence.
HOUSING
Rental Contract
A lease can, in theory, be for any fixed period, although it is common in the Netherlands for it to be for an indefinite period. If the notice period is not stipulated, the default is one month. Check the rental contract for the notice period and any other relevant clauses.
Standard practice is normally to have paid at least the first month’s rent in advance, along with a deposit (Borg) equivalent to one or two months’ rent. If the property was rented through an agency, it will probably be holding this deposit. Contact the agency to find out if the deposit can be offset against the last month or two of rent.
The landlord or agent may need to visit and inspect the property prior to departure. There is often an inventory that needs to be completed.
House Sale
Information regarding the property will need to be prepared; the agent will do this as well as viewing the property in order to value it.
Viewings are arranged by the agent as part of their service and they will almost always accompany potential buyers. There is no requirement for the owner to be present at these viewings if for example they have already left the country.
Once a sale is agreed, completion should be relatively straightforward. Sometimes a deposit is paid – particularly if the process is expected to take more than eight weeks.
Property Management
If you own a property in Holland and plan on returning to it in the future, a property management firm will be able to take care of things including marketing it as an available rental, singing a lease agreement with a tenant, collecting rent, organizing any necessary repairs, etc.
Insurance Policies
House and other insurance policies can be cancelled when the policy-owner is leaving Holland for good and in some circumstances a partial refund may be due. When cancelling your Dutch insurance policies, it is strongly recommended to phone the relevant companies at least one month before departure. While some companies allow a policy to be cancelled online, there is usually a 30-day notification period required in order to avoid the cost of an extra month’s premium. Some companies only accept cancellations by post.
Utility Bills
As with any house move, there are utility bills to be settled and meters to be read. If meters are not outside the property, access will be required.
Bill totals are estimates based on the previous year’s consumption for the property and discrepancies between estimated and actual usage are normally reconciled at the end of the year. However when moving, this should all be sorted out and a final bill or refund arranged.
Leave a forwarding address with all the companies involved.
Electricity and Gas: Simply contact the supplier in question with a reasonable amount of notice so that final accounts can be settled. The new tenant/owner may be choosing a different supplier.
Water: Water bills are sometimes paid by the landlord in rental properties. Water is supplied by local water boards and it is necessary to contact the correct one for the area so that they can prepare a final account based on consumption.
Telephone and Internet: This service may have been provided by one of a number of suppliers. They need to be contacted and final accounts settled for line rental and call charges.
HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SECURITY
Any private health insurance cover which has been in force may need changing or cancelling. Ensure that Dutch health insurance remains valid until arrival in the new country of residence.
Having left Holland, cover by the Dutch national insurance schemes ceases. Contributions will also stop and normally it is no longer possible to build up pension rights under the AOW after emigration (previously accumulated AOW pension rights remain valid). These may be transferred in many cases within EU countries.
However, there are situations in which one can remain covered by Dutch national insurance schemes after emigration.
For more information on Dutch tax after leaving the Netherlands, consult the Dutch Tax Administration website
If you have received dental or medical treatment while in Holland, ask the service provider’s office to forward records to the new practitioner. It is normally possible for these details to be provided in English.
It is also necessary to contact the local Social Insurance Centre (SVB) particularly if in receipt of any benefits. A re-migration grant is sometimes available for those returning to their country of origin.
For more details on migration grants and social security payments, see the SVB website.
Pets
Depending where you are moving to, a pet may require a period of quarantine. Their move will almost certainly require documentation and possible additional vaccinations or similar medical treatment. Make sure you have these prior to departure.
BUSINESS & TAX ISSUES
Banking
A Dutch bank account should be kept open for a short period to settle final bills (in Euros). Any direct debits in place should be cancelled. Many banks allow clients to close accounts and change addresses online. If this service is not available, accounts should be closed in person or by sending a letter via registered mail.
Credit card companies will also need to be notified of a new address for statements.
Dutch Tax
Those leaving the Netherlands may still need to pay tax in the year following emigration. However, the rules relating to refunds and payments are quite complex.
For tax information relating to emigration from the Netherlands, visit the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) website
Mail Forwarding
The Dutch postal service (PostNL) is one of a few providers that can provide a mail redirection service. It is best to arrange this for just a short period of time as it is fairly expensive
More information from PostNL on forwarding mail to an address outside Holland.
VEHICLES & DRIVING
Vehicles purchased in Holland or which were brought in and registered there will need to be officially exported from Holland and imported into the new country of residence (if the vehicle is being taken).
To cancel a vehicle registration number, contact the Dutch Road Transport Directorate (Rijksdienst voor het wegverkeer, RDW)
Dutch vehicle registration must be cancelled before relocation irrespective of whether the move is to a country in or outside the EU. If the registration is not cancelled, road tax will continue to be assessed.
There is no refund available for vehicle taxes paid for the year.
Vehicles will still need to carry valid insurance while being exported. Dutch companies will provide evidence of no claims bonus if requested.
Not everyone will have changed their driving licence to a Dutch one. But if this is the case it may be necessary to apply for a new licence on arrival in a new country (depending on reciprocal licencing arrangements between the destination country and the Netherlands).
Related information…