From April 1, 2024, students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom will receive a Citizen Service Number (in Dutch, Burgerservicenummer or BSN) when applying for student finance in the Netherlands. This move enables them to arrange practical matters for their studies before departure.
Until now, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius, Aruba, Curaçao, or St. Maarten students could only apply for a BSN upon registering with a municipality on their arrival in the Netherlands, delaying the handling of many matters. To address this issue, the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), and the National Office for Identity Data (RvIG), have made it possible for Caribbean students to obtain a BSN earlier.
Track five of the Work Agenda
Track five of the Values-Driven Digitalisation Work Agenda focuses on strengthening the digital society in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. This move supports the agenda’s priority 5.2 actions, also aimed at providing incoming students with a better start in the digital society.
Simplifying procedures with the BSN
Students can apply for a DigiD before their departure, which allows them to log in to websites of the Dutch government. For instance, students can log in to My DUO to view their student finance details, submit changes, and receive personal messages. They can also make an appointment with certain municipalities for their impending resident registration.
