Krakow's Main Market Square at night with the Cloth Hall lit up
Guide Poland → The Netherlands · moving · checked 1 Nov 2026

Moving from Poland to the Netherlands

A plain checklist: what to sort before you go, and your first weeks in the Netherlands.

Photo: Pexels
First, the good news

No visa, inside the EU

Poland and the Netherlands are both in the EU, so you can live and work there without a visa or work permit. A valid ID card or passport is enough.

The key step: if you stay longer than 4 months, register at the town hall (gemeente) within 5 days of arriving. You get a BSN number, which you need for work, a bank account and insurance.

Before you go

Your checklist in Poland

  1. A valid ID card or passport.
  2. Documents in one folder: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, work references, driving licence.
  3. Money for the start: a deposit (at most 2 months' basic rent), the first rent and a few weeks of living costs.
  4. Tell your Polish bank you are moving and keep the app working, so you can pay bills at home.
  5. Set up Polish TV before you go, so it works from day one (how to watch Polish TV in the Netherlands).
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Day one in the Netherlands

Polish TV, ready from day one

The first weeks abroad are the hardest. The news from home, your series and the kids' cartoons in Polish make the new flat feel like home faster.

How to watch Polish TV in the Netherlands →
Advertisement: almost 400 Polish channels live with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Your first weeks

Your checklist in the Netherlands

  1. Register at the town hall (gemeente) and get your BSN number.
  2. Health insurance (basisverzekering): compulsory when you live or work here; you have 4 months to take it out.
  3. DigiD: your login for government services once you have a BSN.
  4. Bank account: with your ID and BSN.
  5. TV fee: the Netherlands has none.
  6. Driving: a Polish licence is valid in the Netherlands.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Do I need a visa to work in the Netherlands?

No. As an EU citizen you can live and work there without a visa or work permit.

When do I have to register in the Netherlands?

If you stay longer than 4 months: within 5 days of arriving, at the town hall (gemeente).

Is health insurance compulsory?

Yes, when you live or work in the Netherlands. Take out the basic insurance (basisverzekering) within 4 months.

How big is a rent deposit in the Netherlands?

Since July 2023, at most 2 months' basic rent.

Can I watch Polish TV in the Netherlands?

Yes. Our Polish TV in the Netherlands guide shows every option, from the free TVP Polonia channel to all-in-one subscriptions.

More for Polish people in the Netherlands

Guides for you

Polish TV in the NetherlandsEvery Polish channel, live, and how the official apps compare.The Polish community in the NetherlandsHow many, where people live, Polish Mass and schools, and where people meet online.Moving from Poland to the NetherlandsA plain checklist: before you go and your first weeks.
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