SEPTEMBER 2021 | 13
NATIONAL
Bureaucratic backlash As if authored by Kafka himself, foreigners and Dutch nationals returning to the Netherlands have landed in a bureaucratic nightmare. According to Dutch law, every new resident, whether they are a foreigner or a Dutch citizen returning to the Netherlands, is required to register at their municipality’s Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) or Personal Records Database, if they will be staying longer than four months. If they fail to register within five days of arrival, individuals risk a fine of 240 euros. For the registration, applicants are required to appear in person and the municipality office and identify themselves with official documents such as a passport. They also have to prove their residence in the municipality with either a rental agreement or ownership contract of a home. Before the Corona pandemic, registration within five days was not a problem. However, since the implementation of 1.5-meter-restrictions, municipalities have been restricted visits to city halls, requiring citizens to first make an appointment. That by itself created a greater workload for civil servants. But since June, after travel restrictions for Dutch citizens were lifted, the same municipal authorities have been faced with an avalanche of requests for travel documents. Many travellers found their passports had expired during lockdown and urgently needed new documents to go
on their long-awaited holidays. With the reopening of society, many local offices in major Dutch cities, especially cities with universities and international companies, are now swamped with requests for travel documents. This results in a backlog in registering new foreign students and expats, as well as Dutch nationals returning home after residing abroad. Whereas in the past, civil servants could easily register newcomers within five days of arrival, now the delay in inperson appointments has grown in some towns to almost six weeks. Although it is understandable that municipalities are dealing with unprecedented circumstances, for the individuals required to register the delay causes farreaching problems. Without a formal BRP registration, foreigners cannot apply for health insurance, cannot get vaccinated, cannot open a bank account, cannot start a job, cannot buy a car and car insurance, and cannot register their children in school. After all, it’s only when someone registers with the BRP, they are given a Burgerservicenummer (BSN) or Social Security Number. Just as in many other countries, without a BSN, citizens stumble in a Kafkaesque labyrinth, one they cannot find their way out of.
bureaucratic backlash is causing serious trouble. The university offers more than 150 Master’s programs in English, which attract many international students. For the 2020-2021 academic year, due to the lockdown the university was forced to offer most of its courses online. However, for the 2021-2022 academic year, the University of Amsterdam eagerly welcomed students back on its website using slogans such as “come to Amsterdam” and advertising “oncampus education without restrictions”. Now, the 4,500 to 5,000 students that have traveled to Amsterdam and enrolled for the 2021-2022 academic year are forced to wait almost six weeks before they can officially register with the BRP. Although the university has notified students that they will not be required to register within five days of arrival and their legal status is not affected, they are expected to make an appointment for registry as soon as possible.
For international students wishing to study at the University of Amsterdam the
Nevertheless, international students who are staying in the Netherlands for more
than four months, are still faced with the problem that they are not able to open a bank account. For some students this might not be a big issue as they can still get cash from an ATM from a bank in their home country. But if students get sick and need medical treatment in a hospital, they have a problem, as foreigners are required to have a BSN to visit a doctor or get treatment at a hospital. To ease the stress foreign students might have, the University of Amsterdam provides international students with a step-by-step guide, which anticipates anything that can go wrong and what kind of alternatives can be taken, including encouraging them to have an international insurance policy that covers their stay in the Netherlands. Hopefully, the Covid-19restrictions and the registration issues are only temporary. Bureaucracy, on the other hand, is not.
Written by Benjamin Roberts
Co van der Horst opens Molteni Experience on the Zuidas
high-end interiors with the most beautiful view in the Netherlands International, high-quality and state of the art: you’ll find it all on the Zuidas. After the successful opening of Flexform in 2017, Co van der Horst is establishing a new flagship store in the area. Together with Molteni&C|Dada, he will open the ‘Molteni Experience’ – an international design premiere. This unique interior concept will come to life in 2022 in the iconic Valley building. That’s what rising to great heights means! Molteni&C|Dada has flagship stores in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Dubai, Milan and Paris. The Molteni Experience Amsterdam is designed by international top architect Vincent van Duysen. Spectacular Owner Stephan van der Horst says: “The double floor on the highest two floors of the Valley building, including a 12-meter high atrium, lends itself perfectly to create the atmosphere of Molteni&C. With over 800 m2 on the ground floor, 26th and 27th floor – including a private elevator, a sky apartment, heritage museum and a restaurant & bar – it will be the most beautiful design experience in Europe.”
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Italian allure and craftsmanship The Italian family-owned business Molteni&C|Dada has been designing and producing unique furniture for more than 80 years. The collection includes design classics, contemporary masterpieces and modular cabinet systems, but also luxury kitchens and (home) workplaces. Molteni&C|Dada is known for its collaborations with designers such as Gio Ponti, Jean Nouvel, Rodolfo Dordoni, Patricia Urquiola and Vincent van Duysen.
a one-stop shop for kitchens, bathrooms, custom fireproofing solutions, art, parquet floors and image & sound.
Co van der Horst Binderij 2, Amstelveen www.covanderhorst.nl Flexform Flagship Store Beethovenstraat 396, Amsterdam www.flexformamsterdam.nl Molteni Experience (from 2022) Beethovenstraat 305, Amsterdam www.molteni.amsterdam
Valley is an innovative and sustainable building with mixed functions, combining homes, shops and office spaces. Co van der Horst is the interior partner of Valley and has designed three ‘Inspiration Residences’, each in a different style. In addition to personal interior advice, Co van der Horst offers extensive design services. Valley residents can choose an interior lease plan. Family business Co van der Horst was founded in 1905 and is currently led by the fourth generation, brothers Edwin and Stephan. Co van der Horst is a household name in the design world and carries the title Purveyor to the Court. Together with its in-house partners, Co van der Horst is
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