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Settling Into Europe: What to Do in Your First 30 Days

Settling Into Europe: What to Do in Your First 30 Days

Everyone lands in Europe with a to-do list that feels manageable. Then the first week hits, and you discover the list has a list. The bank needs a registered address before they'll open an account. The address registration needs a landlord confirmation letter. The health insurance needs your employer contract. The tax office needs your address registration.

It's not chaos — it's just a sequence. Once you know the order, everything clicks into place within a few weeks. Here's what that sequence looks like, what to do before you even board the plane, and a few things most expats wish someone had told them before they arrived.

Settling Into Europe: Key Facts at a Glance

Task Germany Netherlands
Address registration Anmeldung — within 14 days BRP registration — within 5 days
Where to register Local Bürgeramt (book online in advance) Local gemeente (city hall)
What you need Passport + landlord confirmation form Passport + rental contract
Health insurance Day 1 of employment — mandatory Within 4 months — no retroactive cover
Tax ID Steuer-ID arrives by post 2–4 weeks after Anmeldung BSN issued at BRP registration
Fintech banking Open before arrival (Wise, Revolut) Open before arrival (Wise, Revolut)
Local banking Needs registered address (N26, DKB, Bunq) Needs BSN (ING, Rabobank, Bunq)
Driving licence Valid 6 months from establishing residency Valid 185 days from establishing residency
Public transport Deutschlandticket: €58–63/month, all of Germany OV-chipkaart (regional, city-by-city pricing)

Before You Land: Two Things Worth Sorting Now

Open a Wise or Revolut account before you leave the US. Both work with an American address and are available immediately — no European registration required. You can receive salary payments, pay bills, and convert currencies at close to mid-market rates, which matters a lot when you're moving large sums. Local bank accounts (N26, DKB in Germany; ING, Bunq in the Netherlands) require a registered address or a BSN number, so you won't have access to them for a few weeks. Wise and Revolut bridge that gap cleanly.

Book your registration appointment before you arrive. In Germany, Bürgeramt slots in cities like Berlin and Munich fill up three to six weeks in advance. As soon as you know your arrival date, go to your city's portal and book. In the Netherlands, check whether your gemeente requires an appointment or has walk-in hours for BRP registration — it varies by city, and knowing beforehand saves a wasted trip.

Week 1: Register Your Address First

Everything downstream depends on this. In Germany, you must register (Anmeldung) within 14 days of moving into your flat. In the Netherlands, it's 5 days. This isn't paperwork for its own sake — it triggers your tax ID, it's required to open a local bank account, and your employer needs it for payroll.

What you need for the German Anmeldung:

  • Your passport or national ID
  • The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — a one-page form your landlord fills in to confirm your tenancy. Landlords are legally required to provide this. If yours is slow, remind them it's a statutory obligation under §19 Bundesmeldegesetz.

Once registered, the federal tax authority automatically mails you a Steuer-Identifikationsnummer within two to four weeks. You don't apply for it — it just arrives. Your employer will ask for it, so let HR know it's on the way if they request it before it shows up.

In the Netherlands, your BSN (Burgerservicenummer) is issued at the BRP registration appointment — you walk out with it that day. It serves as both your national ID number and your tax identifier. You'll need it for employment, banking, and health insurance.

Arriving in temporary accommodation like a serviced apartment or corporate housing? Some short-term landlords won't issue the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Before you book, confirm explicitly that they will — several operators in Berlin and Munich (like The Base, Quarters, or ADAGIO apart-hotels) handle this regularly and know the process.

Health Insurance: Don't Wait on This One

In Germany, statutory health insurance (GKV) starts on your first day of employment. Your employer handles the registration with the system, but you need to choose a provider — called a Krankenkasse — before your start date and tell HR which one you've selected. TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) and AOK are the two most common choices for expats. TK in particular has solid English-language customer service and a well-regarded app.

In the Netherlands, you have four months from arrival to take out a Dutch health insurance policy (basisverzekering). That sounds generous. The catch: coverage is not retroactive. If you're in an accident in month two without a policy, you're uninsured for that entire period. Sign up within your first few weeks. Standard insurers include Zilveren Kruis, CZ, and Menzis. The base premium runs around €140–170 per month in 2026.

Banking: Sequence Matters

Start with Wise or Revolut before you land. Once you have your registered address (Germany) or BSN (Netherlands), move to a local account.

In Germany, N26 and DKB are the most expat-accessible options — both are fully English, low-fee, and straightforward to open with just your Anmeldung confirmation. Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank are the traditional alternatives if you want branch access. One thing to know going in: Germany is still significantly more cash-dependent than you'd expect. Plenty of small restaurants, bakeries, and markets don't accept cards at all. Keep €50–100 in cash on hand for the first few weeks.

In the Netherlands, the dynamic flips entirely — the country is essentially cashless. Most transactions happen by card or iDEAL, a local online payment system. ING and Rabobank are the main banks; Bunq is popular with expats and quick to open once you have a BSN.

Getting a SIM Card

Do this in the first day or two. In Germany, prepaid SIMs from Aldi Talk, Congstar, or Klarmobil work with any unlocked phone and cost nothing to set up. Monthly plans with usable data start around €10–15. Telekom (the best network coverage nationally), O2, and Vodafone offer contract plans if you want more data long-term.

In the Netherlands, Ben, Lebara, and Simyo cover the basics affordably. KPN has the widest national coverage.

Your Driving Licence

Neither Germany nor the Netherlands has an exchange agreement with the US, so your American licence doesn't convert automatically. You're allowed to drive on it for 6 months from establishing residency in Germany, and 185 days in the Netherlands. After that, you need to go through the local licensing process — theory exam, practical test, and all.

German driving school (Fahrschule) is not cheap. Full qualification typically runs €2,000–3,500, and waiting lists at good schools can stretch several months. If you're planning to drive long-term, start looking into this early rather than leaving it until you're already out of time on your US licence.

Things That Catch Most New Expats Off Guard

Tipping is optional, not expected. In Germany and the Netherlands, the custom is to round up to the nearest euro, or add 5–10% at a sit-down restaurant if the service was good. There's no social contract around 20% tips the way there is in the US. In Germany, when you pay cash at a restaurant, saying "stimmt so" (it's fine, keep the change) is the standard way to tip.

Sunday is genuinely quiet in Germany. Almost all retail — supermarkets, pharmacies (except emergency ones), clothing stores, hardware shops — is closed by law. Stock up on Saturday. This surprises almost every American in their first week.

ELSTER is how you file German taxes. After your first full tax year, you can file for free through elster.de, the federal government's online portal. It's in German only, but apps like Taxfix and Wundertax have English interfaces and walk you through the same process. Filing is technically optional for most salaried employees, but almost everyone who does it gets a refund.

The Netherlands has the 30% ruling for highly-skilled migrants. If you're recruited from abroad for a role in the Netherlands, you may qualify for a tax ruling that treats 30% of your salary as a tax-free allowance — a significant benefit. Your employer applies for it on your behalf, but you need to ask about it within four months of starting work. Missing that window means losing eligibility.

Your First 30 Days in Order

The sequence that makes the most sense:

  1. Before arrival: Open Wise or Revolut, book your registration appointment
  2. Days 1–5: Get a local SIM card
  3. Days 1–14: Register your address (Anmeldung / BRP) — do not let this slip
  4. Days 1–14: Choose and enrol in health insurance
  5. Days 7–14: Open a local bank account once you have your registration confirmation
  6. Weeks 2–4: Steuer-ID arrives by post (Germany) / BSN already in hand (Netherlands)
  7. Ongoing: Start German or Dutch basics — even a few phrases reduce friction significantly

It's a lot in the first two weeks. But the people who get through it smoothest are almost always the ones who knew the sequence before they arrived — not the ones who figured it out as they went.

At Move2Europe, we help professionals through every stage of the relocation — including the administrative maze of the first few weeks. Book a free consultation and let's map out your first month in Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first when settling into Germany or the Netherlands? Register your address within the first few days — this is the first link in the chain. In Germany, the Anmeldung must be done within 14 days at a local Bürgeramt. In the Netherlands, BRP registration at the gemeente is required within 5 days. Almost everything else — bank accounts, tax IDs, health insurance choices — follows from this step.

Can I open a bank account before I have a registered address in Europe? Not a local account, but yes for fintech options. Wise and Revolut can be opened from the US and work immediately with no European address needed. For N26, DKB, ING, or Bunq, you'll need your Anmeldung confirmation (Germany) or BSN (Netherlands) first.

Do I need health insurance from day one in Germany? In Germany, statutory health insurance begins on your first day of employment — your employer registers you with the system. You just need to choose a Krankenkasse and inform HR before your start date. In the Netherlands, you have four months, but coverage is not retroactive, so there's no good reason to wait.

How long can I drive on my US licence in Germany or the Netherlands? Six months in Germany from establishing residency, 185 days in the Netherlands. After that, you need a local licence. There's no exchange agreement between the US and either country, which means a full theory and practical test — start planning for this early if driving matters to you.

What is the 30% ruling in the Netherlands? The 30% ruling is a tax benefit for highly-skilled migrants recruited from abroad. It allows 30% of your salary to be treated as a tax-free expense allowance, significantly reducing your income tax. Your employer applies for it, but you must request it within four months of your start date. Missing that window means losing eligibility.

What is a Steuer-ID and how do I get one in Germany? The Steuer-Identifikationsnummer is your German tax ID. It's issued automatically by the federal tax authority and sent by post to your registered address within two to four weeks of completing your Anmeldung. You don't need to apply separately — just make sure your address registration is done promptly so it arrives before your employer needs it for payroll.

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