Understand DigiD, BSN, gemeente, and all the key organizations you'll encounter in Dutch daily life — and on the KNM exam.
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This is one of the most commonly confused topics on the KNM exam. Make sure you understand the difference:
| Organization | What They Do |
|---|---|
| Gemeente | Local government — passports, ID, marriage, divorce, driver's license |
| Belastingdienst | Tax authority — tax returns, toeslagen (benefits/allowances) |
| UWV | Unemployment and disability benefits, help finding work |
| SVB | Child benefits (kinderbijslag), AOW pension |
| DUO | Student finance (studiefinanciering) |
| KvK | Business registration (Kamer van Koophandel) |
| COA | Housing for asylum seekers (not for student finance) |
| NIBUD | Budget advice institute (not for divorce or registration) |
You must report (melden) these life changes to the gemeente:
Apply at the Belastingdienst for:
Important: If your income increases, your toeslagen typically decrease (gaat omlaag).
Your uitkering may change (verandert misschien) when your life situation changes — for example when you move in together (samenwonen), get married, or get a job. Always report these changes to the organization that pays your uitkering (usually UWV or gemeente).
Paid by tax money: WW-uitkeringen (unemployment benefits), building dikes (dijken), public roads, schools, hospitals, police, fire department, government employee salaries.
NOT paid by tax money: Salaries of bank employees (bankmedewerkers) — banks are private companies. Private company profits are also not paid by tax money.
From age 14, you must be able to show ID (identiteitsbewijs) when asked by the police. Even a 15-year-old must show ID.
Juridisch Loket provides free legal advice and helps with questions about your rights and obligations (rechten en plichten).
Aansprakelijkheid (Liability): Parents are liable (aansprakelijk) for damage caused by children under 14. If a 12-year-old breaks something in a store, the parents pay.
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DigiD is your digital identity, used to log in (inloggen) to official government websites like UWV, Belastingdienst, and gemeente. BSN (Burgerservicenummer) is your citizen service number — a unique 9-digit number for identification. BSN alone is not enough to log in; you need DigiD.
You must report moving or address change (verhuizen), getting married (trouwen), getting divorced (scheiden), and moving in together (samenwonen). Yes, moving in together is mandatory to report.
Toeslagen (benefits/allowances) include huurtoeslag (rent allowance), kinderopvangtoeslag (childcare allowance), and zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance). You apply for these at the Belastingdienst. If your income increases, your toeslagen typically decrease.
The Belastingdienst is the tax authority. It handles tax returns (belastingaangifte) and toeslagen (benefits/allowances). Filing taxes is often mandatory not just for businesses but also for individuals.
Gemeente handles local matters like passports, ID, marriage, divorce, and driver's licenses. UWV provides unemployment and disability benefits and helps you find work. SVB provides child benefits (kinderbijslag) and AOW pension. DUO handles student finance (studiefinanciering).
Information on this page is summarised for study purposes. Refer to the official sources above for binding rules and current details.