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BSN Appointments & Registration

Learn about the BSN, and how to register for it through Leiden International Centre...

Dutch Language and Culture

Living in a new country with a different culture than your own might be an interesting journey. You will learn everything you need to know about Dutch culture and communicating with the Dutch on this page....

General Practitioners and Local Emergency Units

It is important to register with a GP. Always make an appointment with your GP before visiting the hospital....

Dentist

Registering at a dentist is highly recommended if you plan on staying in the Netherlands long-term....

Dorpscentrum Oegstgeest

Dorpscentrum Oegstgeest is a place where people from Oegstgeest can meet each other. There are many different rooms available at Dorpscentrum, where a lot of different activities are organised. Think about book clubs, coffee mornings or music performances. This makes it the ideal place to connect...

International job boards

The Leiden region offers a booming variety of jobs for internationals...

Digital COVID Certificates

If you are not yet fully vaccinated (or are in the process of getting your vaccination from another country approved) you can generate a certificate demonstrating that you have either: - tested negative for COVID-19 within a specific timeframe - have recovered from COVID-19 within a specific tim...

BRP extract for bank account application

Some banks ask for a BRP extract (Uittreksel) when you apply for a bank account. This is to prove you have properly registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP)....

Documents to Bring

Please check carefully which documents you must bring to your BSN registration appointment. There are different requirements depending on if you are an EU citizen or not. Please note, you may not receive your BSN, if the correct documents are not provided. Every person registering (includin...

Interview with an international: Aizhan

Expat Centre Leiden is often the first point of contact for internationals moving to the region, but we also offer support throughout their time living here. We spoke to Aizhan, an expat who moved here days before the covid-19 lockdown of March 2020, to find out how Expat Centre Leiden has helped...

Test and Vaccinations

Testing As of April 11, you should do a self test if you have any symptoms of COVID-19. Testing at GGD locations is only open to specific groups (health workers and people who need proof of recovery to travel). Take a look at testing for coronivirus for more information. PCR test for travel If...

Short Stay Visa for Visitors

If you have friends or family who would like to visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days, they may need to apply for a Short Stay Schengen Visa...

New Season of BplusC courses

BplusC is the organization for knowledge and art in the Leiden region BplusC offers many different courses from Arabic to Turkish. Learning another language expands your world! You can contact us for a large number of language courses, from Arabic to Turkish, from conversation classes to holiday...

Free Consultations for Employers

Leiden International Centre offers free consultations to provide advice and support to employers in the region who currently have – or are looking to hire – international employees. We can help with topics such as: Resources for attracting talent The 30% tax facility How to become a recog...

Networking in the Netherlands

Do you live in the Netherlands and want to make new connections? Networking is a fantastic way to meet interesting connections, build your personal brand, and hopefully find mutual opportunities to work together. Before you decide to start networking, it’s important to establish your networking...

Leiden's Ontzet

Leiden's 'Ontzet' ('relief') refers to the liberation of Leiden city on the 3rd October 1574 from the Spanish forces....

Staying in the Netherlands after residence as a privileged person

Sunja has Rwandan nationality and has been working in the Netherlands for seven years, as a judge at an international tribunal. Because of her job, she holds an 'MFA card' issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The MFA card is proof of her privileged status and is used as her identity card an...

Increasing Employee Attraction and Retention

Companies spend serious money on attracting the right employees to achieve business goals. Yours will be no exception. Part of that effort is positioning the company as an attractive employer. Marketing is not buying airtime but walking the talk; what do employees experience and how do they rate...

Dutch Citizenship

Being a Dutch citizen means that you are granted all the rights of a Dutch person living in the Netherlands....

European Commission Announces New Migration Policy Initiative

The European Commission recently announced that it will be revamping its migration policies, easing the process for skilled migrants and labourers who seek to work and reside in the European Union (EU). The Commission will be creating a streamlined process for obtaining work and residence permits...

Accessibility statement

Everyone should be able to easily find, view and use the "Leiden International Centre" website. That is why the organization pays a lot of attention to the online information on this website. Is this website or parts of it difficult to find, read or use? Then we'd love to hear from you! If you h...

End of summer holidays and back to work

In our blog from earlier this year, we discussed in detail the Act implementation EU-directive on transparent and predictable working conditions (Wet implementatie EU-richtlijn transparante en voorspelbare arbeidsvoorwaarden) and the related obligations. In the meantime, this Act has been in forc...

Amend Your Employment Contracts To Comply With New Regulations