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Notifying a change of address: who do you need to tell?
When you move, your new address has to reach a surprising number of parties. The good news: notify the municipality and, via the population register, many government bodies are informed automatically. But banks, insurers, your employer and subscriptions fall outside that. This guide shows exactly who the municipality informs, who you must do yourself, and when to arrange it.
Moving tipsMaking space
Moving
June 24, 2026
Luuk Kamman
6 min
Notifying a change of address: who do you need to tell?
When you move, your new address has to reach a surprising number of parties. The good news: notify the municipality and, via the population register, many government bodies are informed automatically. But banks, insurers, your employer and subscriptions fall outside that. This guide shows exactly who the municipality informs, who you must do yourself, and when to arrange it.
Moving tips
Making space
Moving
June 24, 2026Luuk Kamman
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: WHO DO YOU INFORM?
Short answer: report your change of address to both old and new municipality, from 4 weeks before to at most 5 days after your move. Via the population register (BRP), many government bodies are then informed automatically. The parties not covered by that — bank, insurers, employer, subscriptions — you notify yourself. See also our moving checklist for the full timeline.
🏛️ Municipality (old and new) — registration in the population register
🏦 Do yourself: bank, insurers, employer, subscriptions
⚡ Arrange energy, water and internet separately
📬 Mail-forwarding service as a safety net for what you forget
1. MUNICIPALITY & REGISTER
Notify the municipality = registration in the BRP. Via the Dutch population register (BRP), many government bodies (tax office, vehicle agency, pension funds, student finance) are informed automatically. Which exactly can be checked on your municipality's website.
2. WHO YOU MUST DO YOURSELF
Quite a list falls outside the BRP — you notify these yourself.
- Bank + credit card company
- All insurers (health, contents, buildings, car)
- Employer, GP, dentist, pharmacy
- School, childcare, gym
- Subscriptions: phone, streaming, magazines, webshops
3. UTILITIES & PROVIDERS
Arrange energy, water and internet separately — and in time. See our dedicated guide on switching utilities for the exact steps — terms vary per provider. Note meter readings on departure and arrival — that stops you paying for usage that isn't yours.
4. MAIL-FORWARDING SERVICE
Safety net for what you forget — a mail-forwarding service. The Dutch PostNL Verhuisservice automatically redirects your post to your new address. Some variants also inform larger companies directly. There's a fee — but less than a missed bill or reminder.
WHEN DO YOU ARRANGE WHAT?
Handy order — see also the full moving checklist:
- 4 weeks ahead: municipality + energy contract
- 2-4 weeks ahead: bank, insurers, employer + mail-forwarding service on
- Moving day: note meter readings old + new
- First weeks after: go through forwarded post — update the last senders. Full moving checklist with all details.
By Bram Jansen — Lead Storage Advisor at Inbox Storage. Updated: June 2026.
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SPECIAL SITUATIONS
Not every move is standard. Moving abroad, as a student, or temporarily between two homes — slightly different rules apply. Below are the exceptions and the questions we get asked most.
🌍 Moving abroad: deregister instead of changing
🎓 Students: out-of-home address + effects on allowances
🏠 Between two homes: temporary address + mail forwarding
🗓️ Keep an eye on forwarded post and update the rest
WHEN DO I REPORT IT?
At the municipality: from 4 weeks before to at most 5 days after your move — at both municipalities. The sooner you arrange the rest (bank, insurance, subscriptions), the less post goes to your old address.
DOES THE MUNICIPALITY DO IT ALL?
No. The municipality registers you in the BRP, which informs many government bodies automatically. But commercial parties — bank, insurers, employer, subscriptions — you really must give your new address yourself.
WHAT IF I FORGET SOMEONE?
That's what the mail-forwarding service is for. Go through the forwarded post in the first weeks and update those senders — then your address is up to date everywhere within a month or two.
DO I NEED TO DEREGISTER?
Within the Netherlands: just report a change — no deregistration. If you move abroad (longer than 8 months in 12), you do deregister at the municipality. The exact rules are on Rijksoverheid on emigration.
TEMPORARILY BETWEEN TWO ADDRESSES?
Stuck between two homes for a while — old place vacated, new one not ready? Register at a temporary address and switch on the mail-forwarding service. If not everything fits in that temporary place, we pick up your belongings and bring them back once your new home is ready — see our guide on moving between two homes. For students temporarily cancelling their room: see student storage — with the specific approach for internships or a gap year.
Municipality first, then the rest yourself — with a forwarding service as a safety net you miss nothing.
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Need space during your move?
We pick up your belongings at your door and store them until your new home is ready — so you can focus on the rest.
- Throughout NL and Belgium
- Picked up & returned to your door
- From 1 month onwards
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