DigiD is your digital identification in the Netherlands. It allows you to identify yourself online when dealing with various organisations, including the government, educational and healthcare institutions. You can use it to do pretty much anything that concerns getting money from the government; in fact, you need it to apply for subsidies. Other uses include telling the municipality that you’ve moved house, getting health insurance, and even getting messages from government agencies. It works by linking your BSN number to a username and password that you will be able to use to access most Dutch government websites.
How it works
It’s not a legal requirement that you get a DigiD. However, we recommend that you make one due to the number of government organisations that use this digital identification method. It will definitely make your life in the Netherlands easier.
You can identify yourself in different ways. Sometimes logging in with a password is sufficient. However, more and more organisations require that you use your phone to log in. For this, you’ll need to install the DigiD app. It’s a simple process, but also a safe and secure one.
After completing all the steps and filling your information in, you will receive a letter with an activation code within three working days. Activate your DigiD with the username, password and the code you received. It’s important to activate your DigiD within 20 days of receiving the letter, otherwise you will have to restart the application process.
