05 Government Bodies and Institutes

Question 1

What services are provided by the Gemeente?

Answer 1

1. Personal Records (BRP, BSN).
2. Passports and ID Cards
3. Marriage and Birth Registration
4. Parking permits
5. Social assistance (bijstand en sociale hulp)

Question 2

What are the types of taxes you must pay in the Netherlands?

Answer 2

1. Income tax.
2. Municipal Tax
3. Value Added Tax

Question 3

Who handles income tax and who handles the municipal taxes?

Answer 3

Belastingdienst handles income tax, municipal taxes are handled by the gemeente.

Question 4

How do you file a tax return (Belastingaangifte)?

Answer 4

Taxes are automatically deducted if you’re employed. If you’re self employed you must file your own taxes. You can file taxes via the Mijn Belastingdienst.

Question 5

What are some tax benefits you can gets? (Belastingvoordelen)

Answer 5

You can get healthcare benefits (zorgtoeslag) if you have low income. Rent benefits (huurtoeslag) to help with housing costs.

Question 6

Who decides if someone should be in jail?

Answer 6

The judge (rechter), decides if someone should go to jail.

The police (politie) can arrest a person and keep them in custody for a short time.

A public prosecutor (officier van justitie) decides whether a case goes to court.

Only a judge can sentence someone to prison.

Question 7

How does the police custody and arrest work?

Answer 7

The police can arrest someone if they’re suspected of a crime, the suspect is taken to the police station for questioning.

The police can hold a suspect in custody (inverzekeringstelling) for up to 9 hours for questions. But night hours (00:00 until 09:00) don’t count towards the 9 hours!

If more investigation is needed the public prosecutor (officier van justitie) can extend custody up to 3 days (aka detention by public prosecutor - voorlopige hechtenis). Sometimes it can be extended by another 3 days (6 days total).

Then a pretrial detention occurs (gevangenhouding) if the case is serious. This is done by a judge while waiting for trial. This can last weeks or months.

Question 8

What elections can you vote in with a foreign passport?

Answer 8

Gemeenteraad elections (municipal council) only if you have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 years (non-EU)

If you’re EU you can also vote in European elections.

CANNOT VOTE FOR PROVINCIAL ELECTION