Municipal services
Amsterdam's City Hall and the City District Offices (stadsdeelkantoren) are the administrative hubs of the city, offering various municipal services for residents.
What can I do at my City District Office?
There are many municipal services offered at Amsterdam's City District Offices. The list below offers an overview of services with useful links to further information.
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Municipal registration: If you plan to live in the Netherlands longer than four months you will need to register with the municipality.
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Application for a BSN: Everyone in the Netherlands has a BSN registration number; it's your personal public service number. You will receive your BSN number (burgerservicenummer) as a result of your registration with the municipality.
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Change of address: When moving to a new address you will need to notify the municipality.
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Present birth certificate and/or marriage certificate: If you are required to present certificates (birth or marriage) as a result of your appointment at the Expatcenter, you can do so at your local district office.
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Exchange driving license: You can exchange your license for a Dutch one if you meet certain conditions.
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Obtain an extract (uittreksel) from the Municipal Personal Records Database (Gemeentelijk Basisadministratie or GBA): You may need an extract in order to buy a house or register for a course of study.
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Obtain a letter of invitation/guarantor’s declaration (garantverklaring): If a family member wishes to apply for a tourist visa you will need to get a letter of invitation.
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Register a birth, marriage or death: If you get married or have a child while living in the Netherlands you will have to notify the municipality. When a person dies in the Netherlands a death certificate must also be prepared.
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Deregister: Before leaving the Netherlands you must deregister from the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA). The municipality will adjust your personal residency details in the database and inform other government authorities of your departure.
Which district office can I visit?
There are several district offices in the city. For addresses and opening hours, see City District Offices and select which district you live in.
Further information
If you need information from a City District Office but are not sure which department to contact, call the city information number 14 020 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 18:00). They should be able to connect you to the correct department.
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You can also reach us by phone:
+31 (0)20 254 79 99