{"id":165115,"date":"2024-03-13T10:14:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T09:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=165115"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:13","slug":"administrative-obstacles-removed-for-caribbean-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/03\/13\/administrative-obstacles-removed-for-caribbean-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Administrative obstacles removed for Caribbean students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Opening a bank account, obtaining insurance, online access to public services… All this will soon be easier for Caribbean students coming to the Netherlands. From 1 April, they will be issued with a citizen service number as soon as they apply for student financing.<\/p>\n

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The news has been announced by DUO, the executive agency in charge of student financing. The citizen service number \u2013 BSN in Dutch \u2013 will enable these students to make all kinds of practical arrangements before they come to study at a Dutch institution. The aim is to make their move easier.<\/p>\n

Previously, students from the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands \u2013 the islands of Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Aruba, Cura\u00e7ao and Sint Maarten \u2013 were only able to apply for a BSN when they registered with a Dutch municipality on arrival. This posed all sorts of practical problems.<\/p>\n

Obstacles<\/h2>

In late 2020, the National Ombudsman sounded the alarm<\/a> about the obstacles faced by Caribbean students. A report described discrimination and issues stemming from cultural differences and language problems, but also highlighted complications in connection with the BSN.<\/p>\n

No speedy solution was forthcoming, much to the annoyance of the Ombudsman, who called the situation in the Netherlands dire. He pointed out that it was easier for students from the Caribbean Netherlands to study in Belgium, for example, where they are treated as EU citizens.<\/p>\n

Now a solution has been found. The prospective students will be sent their BSN by letter. Because postal services to the Caribbean can be slow, prospective students will also be able to call DUO in advance to request their BSN over the phone.<\/p>\n

In April, DUO employees will visit the Caribbean islands to provide prospective students and their parents with information on student financing and other practical matters. DUO also plans to open a temporary service office on each of the islands.<\/p>\n\n\t

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