Letter address

If you do not have a permanent residential address in the Netherlands, you can register temporarily at the address of someone else or an institution. This is called a postal address. You will then receive your mail at this address. You can apply for this postal address at the municipality.

How does it work?

A postal address is always an address in the Netherlands and may not be a PO Box.

The person or institution registered at the letter address is called the letter address provider. The letter address giver must make sure you get your mail from the government. For example:

  • Letters;
  • Tax forms;
  • A voting pass;
  • A subpoena.
     
  • You apply for a letter address at the municipality of the letter address provider. When doing so, state why you want a letter address.
  • If the municipality agrees, you will receive all mail from the municipality and other government agencies at this letter address.
  • Be sure to disclose your letter address to other agencies as well.

To do so, make an appointment by calling 14 0511 (no area code).

How does it work?

A postal address is always an address in the Netherlands and may not be a PO Box.

The person or institution registered at the letter address is called the letter address provider. The letter address giver must make sure you get your mail from the government. For example:

  • letters
  • tax forms
  • a polling card
  • a subpoena

Who can apply for a letter address

  • The individual himself (the person who will live in an institution, or who has no residential address)
  • Parents, guardians and caregivers of youth under 16 years of age who need a letter address.

Requesting a letter address for another person

  • A partner(married or registered partnership) can apply for a letter address for the other partner if he/she is authorized to do so in writing by that partner
  • Major children can apply for a letter address for a parent if they are authorized to do so by that parent

In addition, the following persons can also apply for a letter address for someone else:

  • Any adult for a person who has authorized him/her in writing to do so.
  • The head of the institution where you will live.

What should I bring?

  • your valid ID
  • signed, written consent of the letter-addresser
  • proof of identity (or a copy thereof) of the letter sender