AzSA, Azerbaijani Student Association at Erasmus University Rotterdam

The first two weeks: arrival checklist

Last checked 14 Aug 2026

2 min read

Something out of date? Tell us. That is how these stay useful.

Most arrival problems come from doing things in the wrong order.

You cannot open most bank accounts without a BSN. You cannot get a BSN without an address. You cannot apply for DigiD without a BSN. So the order below matters more than the speed.

There is a printable one page version of this list. Print it before you fly, while your phone still has data.

Before you fly

Housing first. Do not board a plane without a signed contract, or at the very least a confirmed temporary place where you can register. Read finding a room and then rental scams, in that order.

Documents. Passport, valid well beyond your stay. Your MVV sticker if you need one. Birth certificate with apostille and certified translation into English or Dutch. Diploma and transcript. A stack of passport photos. Your EUR admission letter.

You get the apostille at the Notarius desk in ASAN Xidmət, before you leave. You cannot do it from Rotterdam, so treat it as part of packing.

Money for the gap. You may go two to four weeks without a Dutch bank account. Bring a card that works here, and know that plenty of Dutch shops and ticket machines still refuse credit cards. Debit and contactless are the norm.

Phone. An eSIM or a cheap Dutch prepaid SIM in the first days makes everything else easier. You are about to receive a lot of confirmation texts.

Week one

  1. Register with the gemeente and get your BSN. Everything else unlocks from here. Full guide.
  2. Collect your residence permit when the IND says it is ready. Check your EUR emails, since the university coordinates this for most students. Full guide.
  3. Start the bank account process the same day the BSN lands. Some banks take days to approve. Full guide.

Week two

  1. Apply for DigiD, the login for everything official. Full guide.
  2. Sort your insurance. Studying only? Your student policy is probably fine. Taking a job? The rules change immediately. Full guide.
  3. Get moving cheaply. Decide between OV-chipkaart and OVpay and a bike. Most people end up with both.
  4. Register with a huisarts, a GP. You do not want to be hunting for a doctor for the first time while ill. Practices near campus fill up in September and registering costs nothing.

Then, at your own pace

Find the shops that sell what you actually miss.

Note where the embassy in The Hague is before the day you urgently need it.

Come to an event. That part we can help with directly, and the events page has what is next.