Your Hague Expat Survival Guide
Moving to The Hague as an expat? You’re not alone — over 55% of the city’s population has a migration background, and it’s home to 131 international organizations. Here’s everything you need to know about finding housing, registering, and settling in.
Finding an Apartment
The Hague rental market is competitive but less insane than Amsterdam. Budget €900-1200/month for a one-bedroom apartment, €1300-1800 for two bedrooms. Popular platforms: Funda (largest), Pararius (English-friendly), HousingAnywhere (short-term). Register with rental agencies early — Den Haag Huren and MVGM are reliable. Expect to provide: employment contract, 3x rent in gross monthly income, and BSN number.
Best Neighborhoods for Expats
Zeeheldenkwartier: Trendy, central, walking distance to everything. High demand, limited supply. Archipelbuurt: Quiet, elegant, close to embassies. Popular with families. Statenkwartier: Beautiful architecture, near the beach. Slightly more expensive. Bezuidenhout: More affordable, close to Central Station and The Hague Tech. Centrum: Right in the middle — noisy but unbeatable location.
Registration & BSN
Within 5 days of arrival, register at the Gemeente Den Haag (City Hall, Spui 70). Book an appointment online beforehand — walk-ins have long waits. You’ll need: valid passport, rental contract, birth certificate (apostilled and translated to Dutch/English). You’ll receive your BSN number immediately — this is essential for banking, healthcare, and employment.
Healthcare
Health insurance is mandatory within 4 months of arrival (but retroactive to day 1). Basic packages cost €140-160/month. Major providers: CZ, Zilveren Kruis, VGZ. Most expats add dental coverage. GP registration: use ZorgkaartNederland to find English-speaking doctors near your neighborhood.
Banking & Phone
Open a Dutch bank account with Bunq (fully English, app-based, instant setup) or ABN AMRO (largest, expat-friendly). You’ll need your BSN. For mobile, Simpel and Lebara offer cheap SIM-only plans (€10-15/month for 10GB).
Getting Around
The Hague is one of Europe’s most bike-friendly cities. Buy a used bike from Swapfiets (€19.90/month subscription, free repairs) or Marktplaats (€50-150 used). Public transport uses the OV-chipkaart — anonymous cards available at stations, or get a personal one for subscriptions. Tram lines 1, 9, and 11 cover most expat routes.
Expat Communities
Join The Hague Expat Meetup group (5000+ members, weekly events), Internations The Hague (formal networking), and the Expat Republic Facebook group. For families: Delft MaMa and The Hague Mothers are active communities.
