First Week in Amsterdam: Essential Tasks Checklist

When we landed at Schiphol with our suitcases and our Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) permits, we had no idea what to do first.

Do we get a phone number? Open a bank account? Register somewhere? We had a list of tasks but zero clue about the order or urgency. We wasted three days trying to open a bank account before realizing we needed our BSN first.

Here's the prioritized checklist we wish we'd had—organized by day, with exactly what to do and why it matters.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• Day-by-day task breakdown for week one
• What must happen immediately vs. what can wait
• Common mistakes that waste time
• How to set yourself up for success

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Before You Arrive: Pre-Landing Prep

If you're reading this before your flight, do these NOW:

Book Your BSN Appointment

• This is your #1 priority
• Some gemeentes (municipalities) book out 2-3 weeks
• Book online before you leave the US
• You need this for literally everything else

Secure Temporary Housing

• Airbnb for first 2-4 weeks minimum
• Hotel works but gets expensive
• You need an address to register

Download These Apps

• WhatsApp (everyone uses it here)
• Google Maps (works great for public transport)
• 9292 (Dutch public transport planner)
• Too Good To Go (discounted food—you'll thank us)

What We Wish We Knew: We didn't book our BSN appointment until after we arrived. Big mistake. We couldn't do anything for two weeks while waiting. Book it before your flight.

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Day 1: Arrival Day

Realistic expectations: You're jet-lagged. Don't plan too much.

Essential Tasks

Get Cash Euros

• Withdraw from Schiphol ATM
• Get at least €200
• Many small shops are still cash-only
• Your US debit card works fine

Buy a Prepaid SIM Card

• Available at Schiphol airport
• Lebara or Lycamobile work well
• €10-20 gets you started
• You need a Dutch number for appointments

Get to Your Accommodation

• Train from Schiphol to Centraal: €5-6
• Download NS app for train tickets
• Or take a taxi (€40-50 to city center)

Buy Groceries

• Find nearest Albert Heijn or Jumbo
• Get basics: bread, cheese, coffee
• Stores close early (8pm usually)

Optional If You Have Energy

• Walk around your neighborhood
• Find nearest pharmacy (apotheek)
• Locate your local gemeente office

Pro Tip: Don't try to do too much on day one. We were so jet-lagged we got lost trying to find our Airbnb. Just get settled, eat something, and sleep.

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Day 2-3: Registration & Admin

Priority: Get registered at your gemeente

BSN Registration Appointment

If you already booked this, great. If not, book it NOW.

What to bring:

• Valid passport
• Proof of address (rental contract or Airbnb confirmation)
• DAFT residence permit
• Birth certificate (sometimes required)

What happens:

• 15-30 minute appointment
• They verify your documents
• You get your BSN number immediately
• Usually printed on a paper

Cost: Free

The BSN (Burgerservicenummer) is your Dutch social security number. You literally cannot do anything without it—no bank account, no phone contract, no utilities, nothing.

For more details on the entire DAFT process, see our Complete DAFT Guide.

After Getting Your BSN

Register with IND

• Some gemeentes do this automatically
• Others require separate IND appointment
• Ask at your BSN appointment
• This finalizes your residence permit

Get a DigiD (if possible)

• Digital ID for government services
• Some gemeentes start the process at BSN appointment
• Takes 5-10 days to receive by mail
• You'll need this for taxes and official stuff

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Day 3-4: Banking & Phone

Now that you have your BSN, you can function like a human.

Open a Dutch Bank Account

Banks that accept Americans:

• Bunq (easiest, fully online)
• ABN AMRO (traditional, good service)
• ING (popular, sometimes difficult for Americans)

What you need:

• BSN number
• Valid passport
• Proof of address
• DAFT residence permit

Timeline:

• Bunq: Account in 5 minutes
• Traditional banks: 1-2 weeks for full setup

Why you need this:

• Pay rent and utilities
• Receive business payments
• Use iDEAL (Dutch payment system)

For more on figuring out the Dutch banking system as an American, see Opening a Dutch Bank Account for Your DAFT Business.

Get a Proper Phone Plan

Providers we recommend:

• Lebara (cheap, no contract)
• Simyo (good value, month-to-month)
• KPN (expensive but best coverage)

Cost: €10-30/month

Pro tip: Keep your US number by porting it to Google Voice before you leave. You'll need it for two-factor authentication on US accounts.

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Day 4-5: KVK Registration

This is required for your DAFT business.

Book KVK Appointment

How to book:

• Visit kvk.nl
• Select "Register a business"
• Choose appointment time
• Usually available within a week

What to bring:

• BSN number
• Valid passport
• Business plan (simple one-pager is fine)
• Proof of address

What happens:

• 30-45 minute appointment
• They register your business
• You get KVK number immediately
• Costs €0 (registration is free)

Why this matters:

• Legally required for DAFT
• Needed for business bank account
• Required for invoicing clients

For a complete walkthrough of what happens at the appointment, see KVK Registration for DAFT: Everything You Need to Know.

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Day 5-7: Life Setup

You've handled the critical stuff. Now make life comfortable.

Get a Bike

Options:

• Buy used: €50-150 (Marktplaats.nl)
• Buy new: €200-400 (any bike shop)
• Rent monthly: €15-25/month

What you need:

• Good lock (spend €40-50, theft is real)
• Lights (legally required)
• Rain gear (trust us)

Where to buy:

• Local bike shops (best for new)
• Marktplaats (Dutch Craigslist)
• Swapfiets (rental subscription)

Set Up Utilities

If you have permanent housing:

Electricity & Gas:

• Vattenfall, Essent, or Eneco
• Compare prices on independer.nl
• €100-150/month average

Internet:

• KPN, Ziggo, or T-Mobile
• €40-60/month
• Installation takes 1-2 weeks

Water:

• Usually included in rent
• If not, contact Waternet (Amsterdam)

Get an OV-Chipkaart

What it is: Reloadable public transport card

Where to get it:

• Any train station
• Albert Heijn stores
• Cost: €7.50 for card

Why you need it:

• Cheaper than buying individual tickets
• Works on trains, trams, buses, metro
• Essential for getting around

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Week One Priority Order

The first week is about doing things in the right order. Most tasks depend on something else being done first.

Critical path:

1. Get your BSN (everything depends on this)
2. Open bank account (needs BSN)
3. Book KVK appointment (needs BSN)
4. Get bike and phone

The full prioritized checklist with day-by-day timing is in our guide.

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Common Mistakes We Made

Starting the bank account process too early We tried opening an account on day one. Turns out you need your BSN first. Wasted half a day.

Not booking BSN appointment in advance We waited two weeks for an appointment. Book this before you leave the US.

Buying a cheap bike lock Our first bike was stolen within a month. Spend €40-50 on a good lock. It's worth it.

Not getting cash We assumed everywhere took cards. Wrong. Many small shops, markets, and cafes are cash-only.

Trying to do everything in one day We were exhausted and jet-lagged. Spread tasks over the week. You're not in a race.

Reality Check: Your first week will feel overwhelming. That's normal. We felt lost and frustrated multiple times. By week two, things started clicking. By week three, we felt almost normal.

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What About Finding Permanent Housing?

We intentionally left this off the week-one list.

Why?

• You need time to explore neighborhoods
• Landlords want to meet you in person
• You need your BSN and bank account first
• Rushing leads to bad decisions

Our advice:

• Book 3-4 weeks of temporary housing
• Spend week one on admin tasks
• Start serious housing search in week two
• Plan to move into permanent place by week 4-6

Budget: €1,500-2,500 for temporary housing (depending on location and season)

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After Week One: What's Next?

Week 2-3 priorities:

• Start serious housing search
• Sign up for Dutch health insurance
• Activate your DigiD
• Start your business activities
• Explore neighborhoods

Month 2-3:

• IND appointment for residence card pickup
• Register for Dutch taxes
• Build local network
• Get comfortable with Dutch systems

For a complete overview of the entire DAFT process and timeline, see our DAFT Application Timeline: Week by Week.

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FAQ

Q: Can I do all this in one week?

A: The essential tasks, yes. But you'll be exhausted. We recommend spreading it over 10-14 days if possible. The appointments (BSN, KVK) are the bottlenecks—everything else depends on those.

Q: What if I can't get a BSN appointment for 3 weeks?

A: This happens in busy municipalities. You can still explore, buy a bike, and settle in. But you can't open a bank account or register your business until you have your BSN. Book it as early as possible.

Q: Do I need to speak Dutch for these appointments?

A: No. Most gemeente and KVK staff speak excellent English, especially in larger cities. All our appointments were conducted in English without issues.

Q: How much money should I have accessible in week one?

A: At least €2,000-3,000 in cash/accessible funds. You'll need it for deposits, groceries, bike, phone, and unexpected expenses. Your US cards work, but having a buffer helps. For a complete breakdown of costs, see How Much Money Do You Need for DAFT?

Q: Can I start working/invoicing clients immediately?

A: Technically, yes, once you have your KVK registration. But practically, you'll want your Dutch bank account set up first so you can receive payments and use iDEAL. Give yourself 1-2 weeks to get everything in place.

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Want to understand the complete DAFT process from start to finish? Our guide walks through everything from eligibility to arrival, including timelines and real costs. Get the Complete Guide →

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We're not immigration lawyers—just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.