Dutch at the gemeente: registering, BSN, DigiD and more

Dutch at the gemeente in five short game lessons: registering and getting your BSN, DigiD, rubbish and recycling, reporting a problem and local elections. Every word has audio.

Gemeente means municipality: the local council where you register your address (inschrijven) and, through the BRP, get your BSN. (Government.nl)

Good to know

BSNEveryone who is registered in the BRP (the personal records database) automatically gets a BSN. You use it for government services and healthcare.Source: Government.nl โ€“ Citizen service number (BSN)
DigiDYour digital ID for logging in to government and healthcare websites, such as the tax authorities.Source: DigiD
VotingEU citizens can vote in municipal elections; other non-Dutch residents after five years of legal, uninterrupted residence.Source: Kiesraad โ€“ Niet-Nederlandse inwoners
The mayorA burgemeester is appointed by the Crown on the council's recommendation, not elected.Source: Rijksoverheid โ€“ Burgemeesters

Dutch at the gemeente: words and phrases

All the Dutch at the gemeente from the five lessons, grouped by situation: the example conversation, then every word with its English meaning. Tap โ–ถ to hear it.

Registering at the gemeente in Dutch

Inschrijven, your huurcontract and getting your BSN. (Source: Government.nl โ€“ Citizen service number (BSN))

Example conversation

  • Ik wil me inschrijven in de gemeente.I'd like to register with the municipality.
  • Heeft u een afspraak gemaakt?Have you made an appointment?
  • Ja, om tien uur. Ik heb mijn paspoort en mijn huurcontract bij me.Yes, at ten o'clock. I have my passport and my rental contract with me.
  • Prima. Dan krijgt u over een paar dagen uw BSN.Fine. Then you'll get your BSN in a few days.

Word list

DutchEnglish
de gemeentemunicipality
inschrijvento register
het huurcontractrental contract, tenancy agreement
krijgento get, to receive
het burgerservicenummercitizen service number (BSN)
het loketcounter, desk
het formulierform
de handtekeningsignature
invullento fill in
ondertekenento sign
de legitimatieID, proof of identity
gemaaktmade (past participle of maken)

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: Registering at the gemeente

DigiD and applying online

Aanvragen, inloggen and the letter with your code. (Source: DigiD)

Example conversation

  • Hoe vraag ik toeslag aan?How do I apply for a benefit?
  • Dat doe je online, met je DigiD.You do that online, with your DigiD.
  • Ik heb nog geen DigiD.I don't have a DigiD yet.
  • Die kun je aanvragen op digid.nl. Je krijgt een brief met een code.You can apply for one on digid.nl. You'll get a letter with a code.

Word list

DutchEnglish
aanvragento apply for
de toeslagbenefit, allowance
de briefletter
de codecode
inloggento log in
het wachtwoordpassword
de websitewebsite
onlineonline
het accountaccount
de overheidgovernment

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: DigiD

Rubbish and recycling words

Afval, gft, glas and when the bins are collected.

Example conversation

  • Wanneer wordt het afval opgehaald?When is the rubbish collected?
  • Op dinsdag. Plastic gaat in de oranje container.On Tuesday. Plastic goes in the orange container.
  • En glas?And glass?
  • Glas breng je naar de glasbak op de hoek.You take glass to the bottle bank on the corner.

Word list

DutchEnglish
het afvalrubbish, waste
de containercontainer, bin
het plasticplastic
het glasglass
het papierpaper
het gftorganic waste (vegetable, fruit and garden)
scheidento separate
brengento bring, to take
het milieuenvironment

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: Rubbish and recycling

Reporting a problem to the municipality

Een melding doen about broken street lights or holes in the road.

Example conversation

  • Ik wil een klacht indienen over de straatverlichting.I'd like to make a complaint about the street lighting.
  • Wat is het probleem?What's the problem?
  • De lamp voor mijn huis is al twee weken kapot.The lamp in front of my house has been broken for two weeks.
  • U kunt een melding doen via de app van de gemeente.You can report it through the municipality's app.

Word list

DutchEnglish
indienento submit, to file
kapotbroken
de meldingreport, notification
viavia, through
de straatverlichtingstreet lighting
de stoeppavement
het gathole
reparerento repair
oplossento solve

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: Reporting a problem

Local elections in Dutch

Stemmen, de gemeenteraad and de burgemeester. (Source: Kiesraad โ€“ Niet-Nederlandse inwoners)

Example conversation

  • Mag jij stemmen bij de gemeenteraadsverkiezingen?Are you allowed to vote in the municipal elections?
  • Ja, ik woon hier al meer dan vijf jaar.Yes, I've lived here for more than five years.
  • Op welke partij ga je stemmen?Which party are you going to vote for?
  • Dat is geheim!That's a secret!

Word list

DutchEnglish
stemmento vote
de verkiezingenelections
de partijparty
de gemeenteraadmunicipal council
de burgemeestermayor
geheimsecret
de democratiedemocracy
het rechtright, law
meer danmore than

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: Local elections

How to practise Dutch at the gemeente

Many appointments follow the same pattern, so replay the matching lesson before you go: registering, DigiD or reporting a problem. Using Dutch at the gemeente is easier when you know the key words in advance.

Read the letters and websites of your gemeente with the word lists on this page next to you. Words like inschrijven, aanvragen and melding come back all the time.

Frequently asked questions

What does gemeente mean?

Gemeente means municipality, the local council. You register your address there.

How do I get a BSN?

Everyone who is registered in the BRP (the personal records database) automatically gets a BSN (source: Government.nl).

What is DigiD?

Your digital ID for logging in to Dutch government and healthcare websites (source: DigiD).

Can expats vote in Dutch municipal elections?

EU citizens can. Other non-Dutch residents can after five years of legal, uninterrupted residence (source: Kiesraad).

How do you say I want to register in Dutch?

Ik wil me inschrijven in de gemeente.

Related on The Dutch Daily

Word meanings checked against Wiktionary. Audio uses your deviceโ€™s Dutch voice where available.