Your First 6 Months After DAFT: The Practical Setup That Keeps You Compliant

DAFT is DIY friendly. The painful part is not the application. The painful part is what happens after approval, when you have to build a working system across address registration, business registration, taxes, and admin.

If you do the basics in the right order, everything stays calm. If you improvise, you create a messy proof trail you later pay to clean up.

Scope note: Educational information only. Expat Advisory provides planning, education, and coordination. We do not provide legal services, file applications on your behalf, file taxes, or execute investment transactions. Requirements and processes can change, so verify with official sources and the current IND form before you submit anything.

The one sentence goal

By month six, you want your address and BSN stable, DigiD working, your business registered with KvK, tax numbers in order, required insurance handled, and an admin binder that you can export in minutes.

My rule: a task is not “done” until it produces proof you can reuse. If you registered, save the confirmation. If you set up access, save the setup notes. If you bought insurance, save the policy and start date.

This is how you avoid the panic tax. The panic tax is what you pay when someone asks for documents and you start digging through emails and screenshots at 11:30 PM.

If you only do one thing today

Schedule the three bottlenecks: (1) municipality registration appointment, (2) DigiD application and activation follow-up, (3) KvK registration appointment. Your timeline becomes real the moment these are booked.

In this article

Why the first six months matter under DAFT

This window matters because it is where you prove you are actually operating as a self-employed person in the Netherlands, not just someone who filed an application correctly.

The IND’s residence permit page for self-employed persons includes a processing note (per April 2024) for first-time treaty applicants who did not yet have a residence permit in the Netherlands. The IND states you must register with the Chamber of Commerce within six months after you received your residence permit. The IND also states it may revoke your permit if you do not do this.

Translation: DAFT approval is not the finish line. It starts a compliance window. Treat the first six months like a project with deadlines and deliverables.

Once you accept that mindset, everything becomes easier. There are only a few real bottlenecks: getting a BSN, getting DigiD, and registering with KvK. Handle those first. Then build a clean admin system so you can respond quickly when a bank, insurer, or professional asks for proof.

Week 1: register with the municipality and get your BSN

Your first job is simple: register with your municipality so you are in the BRP and receive your BSN. Without a BSN, many other steps stay blocked or become slower than they need to be.

Government.nl states you must register within five days of arriving in the Netherlands if you are staying longer than four months. It also states you will be given a citizen service number (BSN) when you register, and you need this number when you contact the government for things like care and taxes.

This is an appointment-driven country. Book the appointment early. Show up prepared with whatever documents your municipality requires, and expect municipalities to vary in what they ask for.

Desk-ready tip: create a folder named 01 Identity and Address. Put every municipality and BRP document inside it. Do not let these documents scatter across your downloads folder.

Once you have a BSN, your timeline becomes real. DigiD becomes possible. Tax communication becomes possible. A lot of service providers stop treating you like a mystery person. That is why this is first.

If your municipality appointment is not available right away

Sometimes the municipality calendar is the bottleneck. That does not mean you do nothing. It means you handle it like a project manager.

Book the earliest available appointment. Save the booking confirmation as a PDF in your binder. If you need to follow up by phone or email, save that too. The goal is simple: you want proof that you acted promptly and you are following the municipality’s process.

What not to do: wait in silence and hope it fixes itself. Timelines do not fix themselves. People who plan win. People who hope scramble.

If you do not have a fixed address yet

This is one of the most common real-world problems: you arrive, you are in temporary housing, and you are not sure how to register. People get stuck here because they assume there is only one “perfect” way to do it.

Government.nl explains the concept of a correspondence address (briefadres). In short, if you do not have a home address in the BRP, you may be able to register under a correspondence address so authorities can reach you. The municipality manages this process and sets conditions, including what documentation is required.

Do this instead of spiraling: contact your municipality and ask, “What is the correct BRP registration process in my situation, and what documents do you require?” Save their response as a PDF in your binder.

If you are juggling housing and DAFT timelines, treat it like a timeline problem, not an emotional problem. Put dates on the calendar, identify bottlenecks, and remove them early.

Week 1 to 2: DigiD, MijnOverheid, and the Berichtenbox

DigiD is your personal login for many government and healthcare services. If you want life in the Netherlands to feel efficient, you want DigiD early and working correctly.

DigiD states it sends a letter with an activation code by post to the address where you are officially registered. In practice, it often arrives within a few business days, but mail and address changes can introduce delays. Treat the activation letter like a dependency. Track it.

Handle this like a professional. The day you apply, set a reminder to check for the letter. When it arrives, activate immediately. Then test it by logging into a real service. A login that “should work” is not the same thing as a login that works.

Practical test: once activated, log in and confirm you can access at least one official portal without errors. If something is wrong, fix it now, not later.

Do not skip MijnOverheid

Once DigiD works, set up MijnOverheid. MijnOverheid is your personal site for dealing with Dutch authorities, and it includes the Berichtenbox. The Berichtenbox is a digital mailbox where you can receive official messages.

This matters because important correspondence can be time-sensitive. If you ignore your Berichtenbox, you increase the risk of missing something and paying for it later. If you want a calm life, enable notifications and check it routinely.

Set-and-forget move: log in to MijnOverheid and enable email notifications for new mail in your Berichtenbox. Do it once, then you stop worrying that you missed something.

Month 1: register your business with the KvK the clean way

KvK registration is not a box to tick. It is the moment your business becomes legible to banks, payment providers, and tax systems. If you make sloppy choices here, you create friction that follows you for months.

Before you register, decide your structure. “Freelancer” and “zzp” are not legal structures. Many DAFT applicants start as an eenmanszaak because it is simpler, but structure should match your real situation and risk tolerance.

When you register, keep everything consistent: your name, your trade name (if you use one), your business address, and your activity description. Consistency is the invisible force that makes your admin life smooth.

Fees and proof you should save

KvK charges a one-off registration fee (see the KvK fee page for the current amount). Save the confirmation and invoice. Many banks and platforms also ask for a KvK extract. When you obtain one, store it in your binder and name it using a date-first format.

Desk-ready standard: if a bank or platform asks for proof, you should be able to export (1) your KvK confirmation, (2) your most recent extract, and (3) your most recent bank statement in under five minutes.

Month 1: banking and money separation (where most people fail)

If you want an easy DAFT experience, do not mix your money. Mixing money is the number one reason people later hate their bookkeeping and feel anxious about compliance. It also creates messy statements that invite follow-up questions from anyone reviewing your file.

Your target is a clean flow: client income lands in the business system, business expenses are paid from the business system, and owner transfers are documented clearly. When you do that, your records stay readable. When you do not, your records become a story someone has to interpret.

A simple structure that keeps you sane

Operations: where income lands and business bills are paid.
Tax reserve: a separate bucket (even if it is just a dedicated savings account) so taxes do not become a surprise.
Buffer: the “do not touch” money that keeps you calm during slow months.

This is workflow advice, not tax advice. Workflow prevents chaos.

Also, keep your banking documents exportable. Download monthly PDF statements and store them. If you ever need to show a proof trail, you want official statements, not screenshots.

Month 1 to 2: VAT numbers and invoices (do this once, do it right)

After KvK registration, the tax administration side becomes real. You start receiving numbers and letters. This is where people accidentally build a sloppy system by “figuring it out later.” Do it once, do it right.

Business.gov.nl explains how VAT numbers work, and that after you register with KvK the Tax Administration informs you whether you are an entrepreneur for VAT purposes. If you are, you receive a VAT ID and a VAT tax number. The key point is simple: you can end up with more than one number, and each number has a purpose. Do not guess. Use the official guidance and keep your records consistent.

Now treat invoicing like a professional. Business.gov.nl lists invoice requirements for businesses in the Netherlands. Use that page to build your template once. Then reuse it. If you are ever unsure, do not guess. Check the requirements and adjust your template.

Do this immediately: the day your VAT details arrive, update your invoice template and generate one test invoice (not sent, just saved). Store it in your admin binder. That one step prevents months of small mistakes.

If you sell products or services via a website, Business.gov.nl also discusses where VAT numbers must be shown, including on invoices and in some cases on your website. Use the official guidance, and if you are unsure, ask your bookkeeper or tax professional and document the decision in your binder.

Month 2: business portals, DigiD, and eHerkenning

At some point you will need to log in to business portals. The Tax Administration explains that business access can involve DigiD, eHerkenning, or other approved digital identity methods, and that which login applies depends on your legal form and situation.

eHerkenning is a business login. The Tax Administration explains that eHerkenning is comparable to DigiD but intended for businesses, and that you apply through authorised suppliers.

Practical rule: if a portal asks for a “business login,” do not waste two days confused. Recognize what it is, then either set it up or use a professional with the right authorisation.

Within 4 months: Dutch health insurance and the non-negotiable deadline

If you want to avoid expensive surprises, treat health insurance as a deadline, not a “later” task. People postpone it because it feels boring and confusing. That delay is exactly what creates problems.

Government.nl states that if you come to live or work in the Netherlands, you need to take out Dutch health insurance as quickly as possible and no later than four months after arriving. It also notes this applies even if you already have medical insurance in another country.

Non-negotiable move: put the four-month deadline on your calendar today. Complete insurance early enough that you can fix issues without pressure. Save the policy and start date confirmation in your admin binder.

Build your DAFT admin binder (and a 30-minute monthly routine)

This is the entire game: a clean binder. If your documents are clean and exportable, you move faster, feel calmer, and spend less money on “fixing” problems that should never have existed.

Create one folder called DAFT Admin Binder and inside it create numbered subfolders. Numbering matters because it enforces order and makes the binder easy to share with professionals.

Binder section What to save Why it matters
01 Identity and Address Municipality appointment confirmations, BRP registration confirmations if provided, and key IND correspondence. This proves you are registered, reachable, and lawful in the system.
02 DigiD and MijnOverheid DigiD activation notes, plus a note confirming Berichtenbox notifications are enabled. Access problems waste time. A simple record helps you troubleshoot fast.
03 KvK and Business Identity KvK confirmation, KvK number, fee invoice, and any extracts you order. Banks and platforms regularly ask for these documents.
04 Tax Numbers and Filing VAT ID and VAT tax number letters, plus any filing correspondence you receive. This keeps invoicing and compliance aligned from day one.
05 Banking and Statements Business bank confirmations and monthly PDF statements. Clean statements make your bookkeeping and proof trail simple.
06 Invoices and Contracts Invoice template, invoices issued, invoices received, and core client agreements. This is the heart of your bookkeeping and business proof trail.
07 Insurance Health insurance policy documents and start date confirmation. Easy to postpone, annoying to fix later. Save the proof once.

A 30-minute monthly routine that prevents problems

Once per month: export your bank statement PDF, file invoices sent and received, and save any important letters from authorities (especially in MijnOverheid). Do this consistently and your admin stays small and calm.

Record retention is real. Business.gov.nl states you must keep business records for at least seven years (and longer in some cases). The binder and the monthly routine are how you make that requirement painless.

Common mistakes that create delays and stress

Most DAFT stress is self-inflicted. It comes from missed sequencing and missing proof. Here are the mistakes I see most often, plus the fix.

Mistake 1: waiting to book the municipality appointment

People arrive and assume they can register tomorrow. Sometimes they can. Sometimes they cannot. Book early, save confirmations, and treat the BSN as a dependency for everything else.

Mistake 2: treating DigiD as “optional”

Without DigiD, simple admin tasks become slow. Apply, activate, and test it. Then set up MijnOverheid and enable Berichtenbox notifications so important messages do not sit unseen.

Mistake 3: sloppy KvK registration details

Your structure, start date, address, and activity description show up everywhere. Inconsistent details become a repeating problem with banks and platforms. Do it carefully once.

Mistake 4: mixing personal and business money

This makes bookkeeping harder, taxes harder, and proof harder. Separate flows, export monthly statements, and document owner transfers clearly.

Mistake 5: sending invoices without a locked template

Invoice requirements are not a vibe. Use the official guidance, build your template once, and reuse it. Small mistakes become annoying later when you need clean records.

Mistake 6: ignoring the health insurance window

Treat the four-month deadline as real. Put it on the calendar and handle it early. Save the policy and start date confirmation in your binder.

One simple standard: if someone asks you for proof, you should be able to export it in minutes. If you cannot, your system is not finished yet.

A simple six-month roadmap you can follow

You do not need a complicated plan. You need the right order. This roadmap is designed to remove bottlenecks and keep your admin clean.

When Primary action Deliverable you save
Week 1 Municipality registration (BRP) and BSN. Appointment and registration confirmations (if provided).
Week 1 to 2 Apply for DigiD, activate it, and test login. Activation date note and proof it works.
Week 2 Set up MijnOverheid and Berichtenbox notifications. A note confirming notifications are enabled.
Month 1 Register business with KvK in the correct structure and with consistent details. KvK confirmation, fee invoice, and extract if needed.
Month 1 Set up clean banking and separate business and personal money flows. Bank confirmations and first monthly statement export.
Month 1 to 2 Watch for VAT details, finalize your invoice template, and lock your admin system. VAT letters, invoice template, and a test invoice saved.
Month 2 Set up business portal access as applicable (DigiD and eHerkenning). Access notes and setup confirmations.
By month 4 Arrange Dutch health insurance if you are obligated under the rules. Policy documents and start date confirmation.
By month 6 Confirm your KvK requirement is satisfied and your binder is complete and exportable. A tidy admin binder you can share in minutes.

If you follow this sequence, DAFT stays DIY friendly. You avoid missed deadlines, you avoid mystery admin, and you avoid paying someone a premium to tell you what official websites already explain.

How we help without becoming a middleman

You do not need someone to “own” your DAFT process. You need the right sequence, clean proof, and a calm plan. If you want support without losing control, that is what we built.

Use the DAFT resources hub for the DIY guide, tools, and calculators. Use the DIY Companion if you want a second set of eyes on documents and decisions. Use financial advisory if your biggest stress is the money system around the move, including cashflow structure and cross-border organization.

DAFT resources hub: /portal/daft/

DAFT DIY guide: /portal/daft/diy-guide/

DAFT DIY Companion: /daft-diy-companion/

Financial advisory: /financial-advisory/

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Sources and official links

Use official sources for the latest wording, deadlines, and requirements.

lloydnapier
Author: lloydnapier

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