Dutch public administration is distributed across specialist organisations. The fastest way to solve a problem is usually to identify who owns the decision before calling anyone. DigiD may be the login method for several portals, but it does not mean those portals are the same organisation.
Who handles what?
| Organisation | Main things newcomers commonly use it for | Typical portal |
|---|---|---|
| Municipality (gemeente) | BRP/address, civil affairs, local permits/support and local services | Municipality website/account |
| IND | Residence permits, many immigration procedures, residence documents and naturalisation assessment | My IND |
| Belastingdienst | Income tax and other national tax administration | Mijn Belastingdienst |
| Dienst Toeslagen | Healthcare, housing, childcare and child-related income-tested benefits | Mijn Toeslagen |
| UWV | WW unemployment benefit and several employee-insurance/sickness/disability functions | Mijn UWV |
| SVB | AOW state pension, child benefit and several national-insurance schemes | My SVB |
| DUO | Student finance, study-related administration, diploma services and state exams | Mijn DUO |
| RDW | Vehicle registrations, vehicle records and Dutch driving-licence register functions | My RDW |
| CBR | Driving theory/practical exams and medical fitness-to-drive procedures | Mijn CBR |
| MijnOverheid / Logius | Cross-government Berichtenbox and selected personal-data view; not the body that decides your tax/benefit/permit case | MijnOverheid |
Tax and benefits are related but not the same file
The Belastingdienst handles tax. Dienst Toeslagen handles income-tested benefits such as zorgtoeslag, huurtoeslag, kinderopvangtoeslag and kindgebonden budget. They share government data, but you should still treat a tax assessment and a benefit calculation as separate decisions with separate change/objection routes.
Employment support: municipality versus UWV
UWV administers employee-insurance schemes such as WW and handles many sickness/disability cases. Municipalities administer social assistance under the Participatiewet and local support. Which route applies depends on your employment and insurance history; do not apply to the municipality simply because you are unemployed.
Family and pension payments: SVB versus Toeslagen
SVB implements national-insurance schemes including AOW and child benefit. Income-tested child-related benefits can be handled by Dienst Toeslagen. Families can therefore have files with both organisations at the same time.
Immigration: municipality registration does not replace IND
Municipal BRP registration and IND residence procedures are connected but legally different. IND states that anyone coming to live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months still registers with the municipality, but non-EU residents may also have residence-permit obligations. If your residence status changes, check IND rather than assuming the municipality has resolved it.
Education: DUO is broader than student finance
DUO handles student finance and study administration and also operates diploma services and state exams, including Staatsexamen NT2. For course admission itself, however, the school/university remains responsible for admission decisions.
How to route a confusing letter
- Look at the sender/letterhead and reference number.
- Open the sender’s official website yourself; do not rely on links in an unexpected email or SMS.
- Check the same case in the sender’s logged-in portal if available.
- Find the decision date and objection/payment deadline.
- If the letter is in your MijnOverheid Berichtenbox, remember that MijnOverheid delivered it; the sender still owns the underlying decision.
Do not call the wrong authority with your BSN
Government.nl explicitly warns not to share sensitive personal data such as a BSN in ordinary social-media/WhatsApp enquiries. Use the secure portal or the official contact route of the organisation that owns your case.